3 gun / competition loads?

[dwalker460]

Have been poking around and looking for load data for softer shooting loads to help keep on target during competition and have not really come up with anything. Mostly looking for reduced recoil loads for 9mm, 45ACP, and 5.56/.223, and a mild recoil load for .300blk wouldnt hurt either! Mostly use Hodgon powders- H110, Clays, CFE 223, etc. but also have some No2, 2520, Tac, Xterminator, etc. and open to other powders. Thinking plated projectiles for pistol, FMJBT for rifle. Any input and discussion welcome!.

Details on my guns if it helps-

9mm- XDM, completely stock although likely to do a trigger fairly soon
45ACP- XD Tactical, also stock but would like to change trigger and possibly add comp to it.
5.56- 18" BHW barrel, rifle length gas system, Arredondo Comp, Fail Zero BCG, Spikes buffer currently, standard carbine spring. WHEN parts come available I want to swap in a JP light BCG and lightened buffer, but for now what I have is what it is. Might also have to change the gas block for an adjustable one.
300blk- 16" CMMG SS barrel, mid-length gas system, no comp as yet, probably will use as close to the Arredondo comp as possible when I upgrade it, standard buffer and spring, Spikes BCG phosphate. No plans to upgrade the BCG or buffer/spring on this rifle unless someone can add input as to why it would be a good idea.

Really hoping to get some load information and start the workup process as soon as I can so that I am ready for the upcoming events.

[CareyH]

disclaimer: these are my loads I am not telling you to use them just tell you what works for me.

9mm 124gr RN plated bullet, 3.6gr of clays OAL 1.120....soft shooting and clean burning.
45acp 230gr RN plated bullet, 4.0gr of clays OAL 1.200
5.56 55gr FMJBT hornady, 25gr of varget

[dwalker460]

Cool!Will try them. Thanks.

[Great-Kazoo]

22.5 X-terminator 2.25 OAL 55gr fmj (what ever is on tap) WSR or CCI SR

3.8 TG 1.140 OAL 124 gr FMJ (9mm) WSP or CCI SP

I went from H110 using 15gr down to 7 gr of TG for my .357 158gr jhp have a few ready to go if you like to road test with your components.

[Caithford]

One of the things I've learned in my attempts to reload for competition, and in talking to others is to load as long as you can and still perform a drop test. I've been running 4.8gr Bullseye with 230gr lead RN at 1.272" for my 45 acp, shooting Lim-10.

[MarkCO]

Is this only for 3Gun, or are you going to shoot some IDPA/USPSA/Steel, etc. with the pistols too?

[dwalker460]

I have not really thought about any other pistol shooting, with race season coming up I will have limits on my time for shooting and am really hoping to run every 3-gun match I can. Not sure if I will be able to squeeze in much pistol or precision rifle stuff. I am filling out the application for the CRC and sending that in by weeks end, so hopefully my range time will increase.

[NGCSUGrad09]

I've found Solo 1000 to be a very nice shooting powder for 9mm and .45 ACP with the right loads. I'm in the low 4 gr range for 125/130/135 gr bullets with excellent accuracy and mild recoil, but still meeting power factor levels for USPSA.

For the .223, I load on the hot side for velocity and just use a good compensator and technique.

I wouldn't worry so much with trying to improve your abilities via the power factor of your ammo, but work on your technique and skill to make up the difference. I won the 2009 Georgia State Single Stack title shooting 195 PF factory .45 ACP ammo out of my 1911 at the time. Shooting +P ammo might make a difference, but most ammo loads aren't going to make a difference for a good shooter.

[MarkCO]

Clays is not bad for 9mm and .45, but does not meter well. I use a powder without published data, so I'll not recomend it. WST is a better metering and more consistent powder IMHO that will work in the minor loads for 9mm and .45. Tightgroup and some of the Ramshot powders are worth consideration as well. Of course N310 or N320 will also work. Found Solo1000 to have too much variation.

Varget seems to be the Holy Grail, but I don't like it in .223. To me it is too slow for 55s and it wears out barrels and comps faster than other powders. X-Term is a good choice for 55s. Varget with the heavies is a good choice, but I prefer TAC. It seems to do best with Winchester primers. CCI primers produce the worst accuracy across all loads in my guns. If you are running one load, I'd go with Nosler 55s over X-Term. If you run a 55 and a heavy, run the 55 at about 2850 or so and the heavy at about 2750 or so to match trajectories and get max speed on your 55 splits. Velocity is a waste of powder, barrels and time on the hoser 55 loads.