Post your Pistol Load

11B3XCIB

11B3XCIB

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
960
Location
Lexington, SC
Mods, I was hoping we could sticky these two threads about custom loads, obviously to be used at user's responsibility to verify minimum powders/charges, etc. A miss-key can cause some reloading data to become very inaccurate so again, USER BEWARE and ask questions/verify the load with manuals and/or powder manufacturer's information.

9mm

These are 2 very nice, soft shooting loads that work well through a suppressor or just on the range punching paper. Minimal recoil

#1
Powder: 3.4gr Hodgdon's Titegroup
Primer: CCI Small Pistol Primer #500
Bullet: Hornady 147gr FMJ
OAL: 1.131"
Velocity: 900fps

#2
Powder: 3.6gr Hodgdon's Titegroup
Primer: CCI Small Pistol Primer #500
Bullet: Hornady 124gr XTP
OAL: 1.125"
Velocity: 1005fps
 
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Caliber: 9mm
Gun: Coharie MP5 clone
Bullet: Ballisticast 125 LRN
Powder: 6.0 grains of Vihtavuori 3N37
Primer: CCI 500
FPS: 1298, 1293, 1290, 1297, 1300

Caliber: 9mm
Gun: AR15 - 7.5? Oly barrel
Bullet: Ballisticast 147 LFN
Powder: 3.6 grains of Vihtavuori N340
Primer: CCI 500
FPS: 1008, 1010, 1011, 1031, 1007

Caliber: 9mm
Gun: AR15 - 7.5? Oly barrel
Bullet: Precision Delta 147 FMJ
Powder: 4.2 Vihtavuori N330 powder
Primer: CCI 500
FPS: 1036, 1030, 1001, 992, 1001

Caliber: 9mm
Gun: AR15 - 7.5? Oly barrel
Bullet: Precision Delta 147 FMJ
Powder: 3.7 grains of Universal
Primer: CCI 500
FPS: 878, 932, 934, 915, 917, 893, 927, 900, 902, 918
 
Caliber: 9mm
Gun: Glock 34
Bullet: Montana Gold 124gr JHP
Powder: 3.8 gr Titgroup
Primer: Winchester Small Pistol Primers
OAL : 1.135"
FPS: 1050 (safe load for minor power factor)
 
357 Magnum
Ruger GP-100
Mixed cases
Winchester primers
195gr cast bullets
10grs of 2400
Should be near 950 fps

357Magnum
Ruger Blackhawk
Mixed cases
Winchester primers
158gr gas checked bullets
10.5grs 2400 @950 fps
Also loaded
3grs bullseye @750 fps


9mm Luger
Ruger Blackhawk
Winchester primers
Mixed cases
121gr cast RN
3.5grs Bullseye @990fps
Also loaded
124gr JHP
4grs Bullseye @1000fps

All velocities are estimated using simple math and info posted in load manuals
I do not have a chrony.
The above loads all work fine and are accurate fired in good guns in working order. To duplicate is at your own risk.
 
Since a lot of normal pistol powders are out of stock, I thought I'd try something a little different based on Hodgdon's load data and the fact that I'd seen people using Clay's in larger pistol calibers. Titewad, normally a shotgun powder, is on all the shelves I've seen. I figured after looking at the specs, I'd give it a try.

The load that cycled my 5" 1911 flawlessly and extremely soft was 3.3gr Titewad under a 230gr plated round nose bullet sitting at 1.265" OAL. It wouldn't quite cycle my 4.5" Springfield XD-M, but the recoil spring is 2lbs heavier on the XD-M than my Kimber 1911 which has a 16lb recoil spring. The data says this load combo is running about 770fps.

The Titewad was EXTREMELY soft shooting and was pretty clean...that is to say it wasn't noticeably any more dirty than normal loads. If you load .45 and can't find your normal go-to powder, grab some Titewad!
 
Caliber: 9mm
Gun: AR15 - 7.5? Oly barrel
Bullet: Precision Delta 147 FMJ
Powder: 3.6 grains of Solo 1000
Primer: Wolf Small Pistol
FPS: Didn't chrono but definitely subsonic, sounded better than my Universal load!


Caliber: 9mm
Gun: MKE HK94 clone
Bullet: Ballisticast 125 LRN
Powder: 3.8 grains of Solo 1000
Primer: Wolf Small Pistol
FPS: Didn't chrono. Very little smoke with my cast lead bullets, seems promising!
 
Load #1
Powder: Titewad, 4.1gr
Primer: CCI Small Pistol Primer
Bullet: Berry's Plated 185gr Hollow Base Round Nose .45 ACP
OAL: 1.265"
Host: Kimber 1911 5" with 13lb recoil spring
Avg Velocity: 785fps


I was having trouble between January and June finding 230gr or 200gr plated bullets for sale locally. I consistently saw Berry's 185gr HBRN bullets as well as Titewad on the shelf at Sportsman's Warehouse, I told myself I was going to make it work. I went through A LOT of charge weights to get a soft shooting load using these two components. This bullet/powder combo is usually seen on the shelves around here because 1) Not many people use Titewad (even though it's similar to Clay's in terms of burn rate and performance...just a hair faster) and 2) Hollow Base bullets because even though they share the same exterior dimensions as their 230gr counter part, the pressure drops due to the hollow base lead for very inconsistent or unreliable loads and the need to reinvent the wheel to find one that works. Working up to the charge of 4.1gr of Titewad, I started at 3.3gr (Hodgdon manual says start at 3.5 but I was loading some 230gr also and started at the same charge for both). While it was VERY soft, it would have been great in a 45 ACP wheelgun, but not in my 1911. I upped the next charges incrementally but stopped at Hodgdon's max listed load of 4.2gr (even though that was for a flat base bullet not taking into account the pressure decrease). 4.0gr was SOOO close...if I'd have a 12lb spring, it would have worked because 3 out of 5 rounds cycled fine and the other 2 were so close. 4.2gr cycled as well but I dropped back to the lowest charge that still cycled (4.1gr) to save powder and back off the max load.

Load #2 Reposted:
Powder: Titewad, 3.3gr
Primer: CCI Small Pistol Primer
Bullet: Berry's Plated 230gr RN .45 ACP
OAL: 1.265"

Soft shooting like the above listed load, Titewad and the .45ACP make a great combination. Like the label says: "A Little Goes a Long Way". The 230gr RN bullet takes much less powder because of the flat base; there is no pressure loss within the case, and believe it makes that much difference. The 185gr HBRN was designed using the 230gr profile so that chambering, loading, etc would fill the roll of the 230gr only in a lighter package.


With BOTH loads using Titewad, the cases come out more dirty than a factory load or a load using say Titegroup. I equivocate it to shooting suppressed; the cases come back dirty but are easily tumbled clean.

If anyone wants to give Titewad a shot and you're not sure...PM me and I'd be happy to swap notes!
 
As this is my very first load ever, here it is
.44 special
Bullet: 240 gr. plated Rainier .429
Powder: 6.2 gr. 800X
Primer: CCI Large Pistol
AOL: 1.600"
Pistol: Taurus M44 4in Barrel Ported
FPS: unknown (no chrony)

It shot to point of aim rather consistently, with very manageable recoil.

Second batch was almost the same but 6.5 gr. of 800X out of a Ruger Super Blackhawk SS w/4.5in barrel. I got the same results.
 
The joy I get from reloading is ..I experiment... a lot
Different bullet weights, ( & brands),different powders..constantly trying new combinations to see what works best, in whatever firearm I'm shooting @ the time.
Being blessed with a "few" pistols in the same caliber, what works best in 1 may not be the best in another of the same cal.
If I were (more) compulsive, I'd keep detailed reports of how a particular bullet brand / weight / powder charge combination worked in a specific firearm.
I even tried doing this, years ago.. didn't "take" for reasons I can't remember.
I do now ( & have been) making notes in my loading manual one powder charge / bullet weight combos that give better than average ( or usual) accuracy.

Here's a few notes from my 9mm data : Hornady 115 gr. XTP HP 4.6 gr Titegroup 1.12" OAL = very accurate in my PSA PA-9 (9mm 16" carbine )
and 125gr TC ( Hytek-coated ) behind 4.3 gr HP-38 / (W 231) OAL 1.10" = very accurate load in Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded Target (5")
this load also noted to be "soft shooting"

a few notes on 45 acp : 230gr. FMJ w/ 5.5gr HP-38 ( W 231) OAL 1.25" very accurate in a series 70 Colt Govt model (w/ Clark Hardballer" mod.)
also 185gr SWC Bayou ( coated pill) with 5.0gr. Titegroup OAL 1.135" very accurate in Colt Combat Cmdr.
and 200gr SWC Bayou coated bullet with 4.5 gr. Clean Shot OAL 1.18" very accurate in Dan Wesson CBOB.
 
I keep a log of loads for everything I load, but I have an issue with binge reloading, so don't remember the exact loads unless heading out to the shop to review the log.
Binge reloading equals typically 500 or more, usually a thousand rounds. Then they sit on the shelf until getting the urge to thin the ammo herd.
I make target loads, hunting loads and SD loads for each.
 
I've gotten away from loading large batches of ammo, now I'll only load 200-300 rds with the same load, w/o changing powder brand or weight , or bullet shape or weight. I shoot my loads in asst pistols, so finding a "best" load doesn't happen, just some loads have better accuracy than others, in a particular pistol.
If I was really wise, I'd only shoot 1 pistol in each caliber I shoot...but I'm not that smart.. err "disciplined. "

Lasted bench session has me loading 44 mag cases, with 258 gr. cast SWC , with gas checks,& 19.7 gr 2400 then some 180 gr. JHP w/ 25 gr of 2400,
Some more 180 gr. JHP's with 26.0 gr HS-7 next will load 240 gr JHP's with A/A #9 & Enforcer, maybe a few with 2400 & H-110.
 
Last edited:
should have added that the hotter 44 Mag loads that I load may be tried in a S&W or Ruger revolver, but most are actually shot in a Marlin 1894 lever action rifle..
 
A new load for 45 acp.. I've been experimenting with those lighter-than-usual weight / caliber ARX bullets..latest is a 118gr. ARX (composite bullet) for 45 acp
Was loaded with the starting load of 7.0 gr. Shooter's World Ultimate Pistol powder , ( load data & velocity from the Inceptor load data sheet, found online)
which reportedly produces 1163 fps ( ! ) OAL is 1.026"

Only loaded 50 rds to try them. Cycled & fired fine in both my RIA Officer-sized (3.5") 1911 & the STI Spartan V 1911 I took to the range. No feeding or extraction / ejection issues were experienced. Felt recoil was softer than the loads I shot to compare to them.

Comparison loads were 230 gr FMJ ball ammo, loaded with 6.0 gr. HP-38 (Win 231)
and 200gr HyTek coated SWC's with 4.1 gr. Clays.

as with other ARX pistol loads I've experimented with, the felt recoil is less, and brass does not fly as far as it does with usual bullet weight loads.

Accuracy was very good, surprising with the 3.5" RIA, perhaps due to less felt recoil, the pistol doesn't "jump" as much as heavier bullet weight loads.
I was able to put a few rds" in the box" of my target.

Conclusion : I'm ordering more of these bullets..;):)
 
Got in an order for more of the 118gr. ARX pills,, and just finished loading more of them with Win. Autocomp, 7.2 gr ( =1136 fps), per Inceptor data)
to compare to those loaded earlier with S.W/'s Ultimate Pistol. Sorta wish I had some Power Pistol to give a try.
I bought some P.P. years ago, but didn't like the extreme muzzle flash it produced in my hand loads using it, so when I finished the 1# I tried in my loading, didn't buy anymore of it. Will do my comparison using different 1911's , will inc. a Cmdr. size this time.
 
my target 45acp load is
4.8 gr of Bullseye
.469 taper crimp
200gr coated lswc
850 fps
Was Wilson Combat target load for ever
extremely accurate
 
Another new bullet from Raven Rocks Precision.... this time it's a 94 gr. Norma composite bullet. This bullet is much longer than the ARX 65 pill I've been loading in this caliber & it looks similar to a 147gr conventional bullet, with a longer body & RN shape. No load data avail from Norma, they load & sell ammo with this bullet to Military & Law enforcement agencies.. Raven Rocks says no published load data available, as Norma claims powder & load are "propitiatory" & they're not sharing that info. The Raven blog had some data guys there have worked up & posted their chrono results. I tried using Titegroup, since it was already in my hopper, and reportedly 3.8 gr = avg. 1215 fps and 4.1 gr = avg. 1271 Poster listed a st. charge of 3.5gr, for an avg of 1138fps.
Didn't try the 3.5 gr load, but 3.8 & 4.1 both cycled & worked well in the pistols I shot them in..a Sig 226, a Wather PPS M2, and a CZ-75B.

Raven Rocks is selling this bullet & the 65 gr ARX pill for around $.05/ bullet, which is probably the lowest price you'll find for a 9mm bullet, unless you cast your own. These leave no residue in the barrel. Get 'em while you can. forget to mention, price includes shipping!
 
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