match and practice loads?? why?

IM_Lugger

IM_Lugger

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At IPSC practice or matches people who get jams tent to blame it on the 'practice load'. Why would you make 2 loads?? Why not develop a load that works and stick to it? I'd be pretty embarrassed if my ammo/gun kept jamming. OR is it more of an excuse for an unreliable gun?
 
I know of some guys that practice so much, that they order bulk order of ammo loaded to thier specs from Wolf. But then load thier match ammo at home. (no one realy likes loading 40,000+ rounds a year on the home press.)

I have never loaded "practice ammo" on purpose. But sometimes you find something you don't like in a batch and it gets put aside "just to shoot."
 
Well I cannot speak for anyone else but I have a loading in 9mm that uses a 125 grain LRN which I use for practice and the same powder charge with a 124/125 gr FMJ which I use as a match load. I have the same setup in 40 S&W using lead bullets and jacketed bullet with the same powder charge. Both lead and jacketed loads make the IDPA power factor I need.

Lead bullets are slightly cheaper and more readily available in this town so I use them. The jacketed loads seem to generate less smoke and I prefer them for use at indoor matches.

As for the jamming issue I concur with PH Racing; "practice" loads should fail as much as your "match" loads.... and that is NEVER.
 
I have two loads. My match bullets are Gold Dots and my practice rounds are TMJ. So I need two different loads.
 
I use different bullets and powder in practice because they are cheaper and easier to get. Everything about it is not as good as my match loads (otherwise they would BE my match loads). When you have a practice load that is hard to shoot, the match load seems so much easier.
 
Honestly, the biggest reasons I've never used different loads for matches and practice are:
1. I don't deal well with adapting on-the-fly to different recoil sigs. I take a long time to dial in changes.
2. Changing my press around all the time would drive me insane. I know; it's just a tool head and powder measure, but I would mix it up and get practice loads on match day or vice-versa so I have to keep things super-simple.
 
I understand jamming in a practice scenario, and maby even loading a couple that would jam for practicing clearing a jam but if the jam happend at a match what would that have to do with practice ammo? Wouldnt he be using his match ammo at a match? Maby Im confused!
 
My match loads all come with same brass make, practice loads - I use mixed brass.
Powder charge, bullet and primer are the same.
 
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