How Many Test Rounds?

DiMP

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How many test rounds does everyone think is enough before just cranking out rounds? In my particular case, these rounds are just for plinking. I'm wondering because I got sent home from work 3 days ago due to a positive rapid test, and need to remain "quarantined" for 2 more days (PLEASE don't take this thread down THAT path....). I just started reloading 9mm on my single stage press as a way to burn up the winter and didn't think I would need to burn up time for another couple months. A few weeks ago, I had pressed together 4 loadings, 10 of each, in 0.2gr increments from min (4.4gr) to max (5.0gr) for the particular bullet and powder combo I had on hand. Out of the 40 loaded rounds fired from my Glock, I had no failures of any sort and no pressure signs out of any of the loadings. I had a slightly better grouping, off hand, using the 4.8gr loading

Now, with all that said. Would anyone have any concerns about pressing together my remaining ~450 projectiles worth of rounds having only done a test sample of 10 rounds of the loading I will proceed with? It would be a great way for me to burn up these next 2 days

I'll stop you before you say "Well, the range is like quarantine if no one else is there, just go shoot some"
My wife and I both work the same shift, and she didn't test positive, so unless I walk my ass the 14km to the range, that won't be happening :p
 
Here is my way of thinkin' for plinkin.

I grab some cheap commercial ammo and do some plinking.

I then reload some rounds that are near max( mind you max in one publishing may be lower than max in another, I go with the lowest published max values).

I shoot those and if my "plinking" ammo is in the same accuracy park as the cheap bought ammo, I call it done.
 
I will do 10 rounds of each increment. If I have 2 firearms using the same cartridge then I will load 20, trying 10 round groups for each. It’s a lot of loading and shooting but I love it! (Especially when your 1911 .45 likes 4.6 gr of titegroup but your JR carbine.45 likes 4.9).
 
... Out of the 40 loaded rounds fired from my Glock, I had no failures of any sort and no pressure signs out of any of the loadings. ...

It's not like with a rifle - In a pistol, you won't see pressure signs until you are WAAAAAY over max. You should use a chronograph to measure velocity, which can indirectly be used to determine approximate pressure.

Respectfully, you should consider reading "Modern Reloading" or "Reloading for Handgunners" with the time you have. If you don't own them, you can usually find scanned copies online.

Once you've done that, if you don't care about maximizing accuracy, then just pick the charge weight that meters most conveniently. As long as you are well inside the "normal" range of published charge weights, you'll be fine. I'd be very surprised if your Glock had trouble with any properly assembled handloads within the normal parameters.
 
I'll usually load 5 rounds per powder weight. Take out 4-5 batches & test. Pick the best grouping then work up or down from there.
 
Fired 200 of the rounds I loaded while on quarantine yesterday. No issues at all... except that I am out of projectiles now and crap is tougher to find
 
I do several batches of test loads. First I find the one or two nodes. Then I'll do a batch with .1gr charge increase. Then I will adjust for OAL. I like the holes to touch together but it doesn't always happen. I won't settle for anything bigger than 1 MOA. I'll try different powder or projectile if I cannot get a decent group.
 
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