CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
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I know there are a few of us who have these CCW pistols. Thought I would share my brief accumulated knowledge from several range sessions with my reloads.
I get good accuracy and low cost with a plinking load of:
-4.0gr. Unique
-Laser-Cast 95gr cast bullet.
-OAL of .970
I don't get any leading with this load.
For a defense load, I get good results with:
-4.2gr Unique
-Speer 90 gr. Gold Dot
-OAL of .968
NOTE: Speer's manual list OAL of .970, but the ogive of the Gold Dot is such that it hung in the P-3AT mag at that length. Seating only .002 further gave good feeding.
NOTE: Speer's manual lists a max powder charge of 4.6gr. of Unique at .970 OAL for the 90 gr. Gold Dot. I loaded some of those, but they were too hot for the P-3AT. I had definite case bulges. The charge of 4.2 gr is Alliant's max for 95gr. FMJ, but is OVER MAX for their listing with 90gr. JHP. They list 4.0gr as max. (Seems curious to me that they list a higher charge for a heavier bullet....) So this load is under max according to Speer, but over max according to Alliant.
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
------------------
I know there are a few of us who have these CCW pistols. Thought I would share my brief accumulated knowledge from several range sessions with my reloads.
I get good accuracy and low cost with a plinking load of:
-4.0gr. Unique
-Laser-Cast 95gr cast bullet.
-OAL of .970
I don't get any leading with this load.
For a defense load, I get good results with:
-4.2gr Unique
-Speer 90 gr. Gold Dot
-OAL of .968
NOTE: Speer's manual list OAL of .970, but the ogive of the Gold Dot is such that it hung in the P-3AT mag at that length. Seating only .002 further gave good feeding.
NOTE: Speer's manual lists a max powder charge of 4.6gr. of Unique at .970 OAL for the 90 gr. Gold Dot. I loaded some of those, but they were too hot for the P-3AT. I had definite case bulges. The charge of 4.2 gr is Alliant's max for 95gr. FMJ, but is OVER MAX for their listing with 90gr. JHP. They list 4.0gr as max. (Seems curious to me that they list a higher charge for a heavier bullet....) So this load is under max according to Speer, but over max according to Alliant.
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
