Richard.Howe
Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2003
- Messages
- 887
Good afternoon everybody. I just got back from the range where I did accuracy load testing of 8 different factory loads in my Sig P245 and P220ST. Feel free to interpret the results however you like -- but I wanted to just put another data point out there for shooters of these fine sidearms.
I recorded the c-c dimension of my 5-shot groups, the best 3 shots of those 5 to filter shooter error, and whether the load hit High, Low, or Dead-on. Note that I am not going to say anything about windage, as that is easily adjustable on fixed signts.
Range was at 20 yards, wind was calm, day was sunny (and hot!). All shots fired from sitting position off a sandbag. I did not shoot over a chrony. I know that all of these loads are probably just fine in terms of velocity.
All I ask is that, after reviewing these data, and knowing what you know about the loads reviewed, please make a recommendation with respect to what I carry in each pistol. I will say that my immediate bias is toward the 200 gr. +p Gold Dots in both guns -- since 1) one pistol has a 4.4" bbl and the other is 3.9" and 2) the load "worked" well in both guns -- but what would you do, and why?
Starting with the 245:
PMC 45A 230 gr. FMJ
5 shot group: 1.6"
Best 3 of 5 group: 0.6"
Dead-on
Federal Premium Hydra-Shock 230 gr.
5 shot group: 3.8"
Best 3 of 5 group: 2.1"
High 2"
Speer Gold Dot 200 gr. +P
5 shot group: 2.1"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.0"
Dead-on
Remington 185 gr. Golden Saber +P
5 shot group: 10.5" (At first, I did not believe that I was shooting so poorly -- but this is the aggregate of the 5 best from a 10-shot string. If you shoot a 245, and want to carry this load, make doggone sure it works in your gun first.)
Best 3 of 5 group: 2.8"
Doesn't matter -- my 245 clearly hates this loading
Hornady 230 gr. XTP +P
5 shot group: 2.7"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.4"
Dead-on
Hornady 200 gr. non- +P
5 shot group: 1.6"
Best 3 of 5 group: 0.5"
Dead-on
Winchester Ranger RA45T 230 gr.
5 shot group: 3.7"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.5"
Dead-on
Winchester SXT 230 gr.
5 shot group: 3.2"
Best 3 of 5 group: 0.5"
Dead-on
And now with the 220ST
PMC 45A 230 gr. FMJ
5 shot group: 1.0"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.0"
High 2"
Federal Premium Hydra-Shock 230 gr.
5 shot group: 2.5"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.4"
Dead-on
Speer Gold Dot 200 gr. +P
5 shot group: 2.0"
Best 3 of 5 group: 0.8"
Dead-on
Remington 185 gr. Golden Saber +P
5 shot group: 1.6"
Best 3 of 5 group: 0.6"
High 2.5"
Same box of ammo as used in the 245 -- clearly, nothing is wrong with the batch
Hornady 230 gr. XTP +P
5 shot group: 2.4"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.0"
High 2"
Hornady 200 gr. non- +P
5 shot group: 1.7"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.0"
Dead-on
Winchester Ranger RA45T 230 gr.
5 shot group: 2.1"
Best 3 of 5 group: 2.0"
Dead-on
Winchester SXT 230 gr.
5 shot group: 3.0"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.1"
Dead-on
I recorded the c-c dimension of my 5-shot groups, the best 3 shots of those 5 to filter shooter error, and whether the load hit High, Low, or Dead-on. Note that I am not going to say anything about windage, as that is easily adjustable on fixed signts.
Range was at 20 yards, wind was calm, day was sunny (and hot!). All shots fired from sitting position off a sandbag. I did not shoot over a chrony. I know that all of these loads are probably just fine in terms of velocity.
All I ask is that, after reviewing these data, and knowing what you know about the loads reviewed, please make a recommendation with respect to what I carry in each pistol. I will say that my immediate bias is toward the 200 gr. +p Gold Dots in both guns -- since 1) one pistol has a 4.4" bbl and the other is 3.9" and 2) the load "worked" well in both guns -- but what would you do, and why?
Starting with the 245:
PMC 45A 230 gr. FMJ
5 shot group: 1.6"
Best 3 of 5 group: 0.6"
Dead-on
Federal Premium Hydra-Shock 230 gr.
5 shot group: 3.8"
Best 3 of 5 group: 2.1"
High 2"
Speer Gold Dot 200 gr. +P
5 shot group: 2.1"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.0"
Dead-on
Remington 185 gr. Golden Saber +P
5 shot group: 10.5" (At first, I did not believe that I was shooting so poorly -- but this is the aggregate of the 5 best from a 10-shot string. If you shoot a 245, and want to carry this load, make doggone sure it works in your gun first.)
Best 3 of 5 group: 2.8"
Doesn't matter -- my 245 clearly hates this loading
Hornady 230 gr. XTP +P
5 shot group: 2.7"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.4"
Dead-on
Hornady 200 gr. non- +P
5 shot group: 1.6"
Best 3 of 5 group: 0.5"
Dead-on
Winchester Ranger RA45T 230 gr.
5 shot group: 3.7"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.5"
Dead-on
Winchester SXT 230 gr.
5 shot group: 3.2"
Best 3 of 5 group: 0.5"
Dead-on
And now with the 220ST
PMC 45A 230 gr. FMJ
5 shot group: 1.0"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.0"
High 2"
Federal Premium Hydra-Shock 230 gr.
5 shot group: 2.5"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.4"
Dead-on
Speer Gold Dot 200 gr. +P
5 shot group: 2.0"
Best 3 of 5 group: 0.8"
Dead-on
Remington 185 gr. Golden Saber +P
5 shot group: 1.6"
Best 3 of 5 group: 0.6"
High 2.5"
Same box of ammo as used in the 245 -- clearly, nothing is wrong with the batch
Hornady 230 gr. XTP +P
5 shot group: 2.4"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.0"
High 2"
Hornady 200 gr. non- +P
5 shot group: 1.7"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.0"
Dead-on
Winchester Ranger RA45T 230 gr.
5 shot group: 2.1"
Best 3 of 5 group: 2.0"
Dead-on
Winchester SXT 230 gr.
5 shot group: 3.0"
Best 3 of 5 group: 1.1"
Dead-on