I just recently went through the same process, but I was looking for increased accuracy more than anything else.
I started using factory loaded off the shelf, and really couldn't hit anything at 25 meters at all. Shortened to 10 meters with little improvement, sort of shrugged it off as my inability to shoot a pistol.
Started into reloading pistol rounds (have done rifle for years previous), and the only powder I could find was long shot. Little reading I did was that it was one of the few powders that really made the 40 pop, so to speak. Making a classic error, rather than starting at the bottom of the range load and working up, I started close to the top end 7.0-7.5. While there were no pressure signs, it sure did pop, and there was a lot of muzzle lift and it threw the shells a good long ways. Accuracy was so bad, I was seriously contemplating trading in for a wheel gun or a pistol in another caliber. It was difficult to even hit a 2 foot square piece of paper at 10 yards, I'd average 4 out of 10 rounds on paper, spread all over like a 2 year old throwing rocks.
Fast forward, I talk to a guy who has a few different powders (blue dot and unique), and offered me enough to try and few loads to see if I had any improvements. (Also shooting 180 grain fmj's). So, I started at the bottom for the recipes for those and worked up. Out of curiosity (and boredom), I loaded some extra long shot loads at the very low end of 4.8 up to around 6.2.
There was no improvement on the bottom end with the longshot, but that changed as I crested over 5.0. 5.3-5.9 yielded to me the best accuracy with light muzzle jump. I've dialled my powder to measure 5.5 knowing that it's not always precise, but will still deliver me an accurate load I can shoot all day. PS, could not match the same accuracy with blue dot or unique. This was all done with Remington brass.
