Pistol load development questions

[cycbb486]

I am not an avid pistol shooter but do shoot my .357, .40, 9mm and .22 cal's on occasion.

When it comes to finding the most accurate load how do you avid pistol shooters do it? Similar along the lines of rifle?

One thing I have found out is that of your loaded round length is to long, you will have fail to feed issues. I had that with my .40. It was a matter of seating the projectile 20 thou deeper into the case and that issue went away.

Curious as to which way to go about it and at what distance. Not about to shoot IPSC but would like to find the most accurate loads I can find.

Any info or articles that can be sent my way will help.

 

[Ganderite]

Take the barrel out of the gun and do a plunk test. Set the bullet long so that the bullet engages the rifling (i.e. it fails the plunk test). Then seat 20 thou deeper and see if that works. Repeat if required. You want to be sure that the bullet is well clear of the rifling. Note that this is required for each different bullet brand, shape and weight. Note the length that works for each bullet.

Select a powder and load 10 or 20 of the Start load and then the same in 0.3 gr increments.

Shoot and note grouping. I typically find that there is a load that is clearly better than the others, with that bullet and powder.

 

[yodave]

serious guys use a ransom rest for handguns, weekend warriors shoot from the bench supporting the front of the pistol on a carpetted block of lumber or shooting bag of some variety. once you've found the COAL that both passes the plunk test and fits in the magazine load up from minimum load in either .2 or .3 graduations and shoot some groups at or close to the distance you like to shoot unsupported, what works well for me at 10 meters doesn't work worth a damn at 50 if and when you graduate to the likes of bullseye shooting, it's like benchrest shooting but for the more elite of elitists, and as many will tell you, is full of cheaters that drop a large percentage of their shots over into the dirt rather then into their target to increase their score, one day, moving backers may be in play.......

 

[4n2t0]

Unless you're shooting bullseye, or something similar, anything that functions properly and hits the target at 25 yards will do just fine.

Ganderite provided some good advice. I would add that not only should the max OAL be determined for each different bullet brand, shape, and weight, you'll also need to check it in every barrel you plan to shoot that ammo from. For example; I know that my CZ Shadow requires the shortest OAL of any 9mm handgun I own, so I load everything to fit its barrel. With a 147gr CamPro, that would be an OAL of 1.08. That makes life easy for me, but if I didn't load to my shortest barrel, the max OAL would vary from 1.08 - 1.15 depending on the handgun. Another consideration would be magazines, but generally you only need to worry about that when loading really long.

 

[Ganderite]

^^ Yes, the CZ has a short throat. Also, the Norinco 9mms are short too. Load for the shortest, if you have more than one.

 

[cycbb486]

Well so far I learned something new. The plunk test.......

My initial tests were that along the lines of my BR rifles. Load as long as one can as long as it fits the mag. That may even be were it is almost jamming. I will have to check some loads.....

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[4n2t0]

To help with visualization, here's a trio I post often on this board and others. The CZ specific information is just meant to show how different profiles in the same barrel load at different lengths. That concept will apply to all bullet/barrel combos.

 

[cycbb486]

Thanks 4N2 for your last post. Worth its weight in gold. Like I side the BR guy in me is thinking more BR than anything. With a pistol it is similar to rifle load development but bullet placement in the case to ensure proper bolt closing and function is paramount in a auto loader. Until you actually talk about it you miss certain steps that are key to load development and safety.

Thanks again.

Like I mentioned in my post before I would have never thought that a bullet 20 thou too long would cause fail to loads. The longer passes the plunk test but I could never run a mag without it ending with a fail to pick up a round and chamber. Went 20 thou deeper into the case and i can run 5 mags flawlessly.