Just posted this at the IPSC Alberta web site and thought I would cut and paste it over here as well...
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Just started loading .40S&W last weekend and got over to Phoenix today to chrono some ammo... so I thought I would share the results here just in case anyone might be interested... (and I did try to format this differently but couldn't get that figured out...)
Phoenix Indoor Range
~22C
Para P16-40 Ltd. 5"
Montana Gold 180Gr FMJ
Remmington Brass
Winchester SP Primer
C.O.L. 1.125"
Titegroup: 4.5Gr
String #1, 10 Shots
LO=948.3
HI=968
Av=957.3
ES=19.63
SD=7.07
String #2, 10 Shots
LO=941.3
HI=963.2
Av=953.2
ES=21.85
SD=5.74
String #3, 10 Shots
LO=933.2
HI=989.9
Av=957.1
ES=56.77
SD=14.89
Average 3 String Speed: 955.8
IPSC Power Factor: 172
Titegroup: 4.7Gr, Hodgdon lists this load w/180Gr FMJ @ 1.125" 979fps
String #1, 10 Shots
LO=979.3
HI=1005
Av=994.8
ES=25.67
SD=8.54
String #2, 10 Shots
LO=990.9
HI=1014
Av=1001
ES=23.48
SD=7.28
String #3, 10 Shots
LO=982.9
HI=1013
Av=998.6
ES=30.39
SD=10.44
Average 3 String Speed: 998.13
IPSC Power Factor: 179
Having never used Titegroup before, I have to say I like it alot... it meters like butta'... and I've never had results so close to what the book says I should get... for the 4.7Gr load book was 979, average actual was 998.. that's only a 19fps delta from the book (and in the right direction)...
From the above, looks like 4.6Gr should make an average of 976.9 for a power factor of 175.8... almost perfect...
And, I had some WST around so I thought I would see what that did for me...
WST: 5.0Gr
String #1, 10 Shots
LO=961.1
HI=1004
Av=982.3
ES=43.61
SD=11.70
String #2, 10 Shots
LO=964.3
HI=992.7
Av=981.1
ES=28.35
SD=7.61
String #3, 10 Shots
LO=956.2
HI=999.2
Av=972.6
ES=42.99
SD=12.64
Average 3 String Speed: 978.6
IPSC Power Factor: 176
I liked this one... pretty soft... and it's right where it should be... but, I've read lots about WST being inverse temp sensitive... the hotter the ambient temp the slower it gets, and I've experienced this myself in Strathmore where it was hot hot, and rounds that made major previously were way slow (made major by .7 fps using all 7 rounds)... Titegroup is supposed to care less about temp then WST, but this WST load was sure soft... and indoors anyway it made a 176PF...
The book on WST @ 5.0Gr in this load was 900fps so I wasn't thinking it would make major... and brought along this one as well...
WST: 5.2Gr
String #1, 10 Shots
LO=992.0
HI=1020
Av=1008
ES=28.22
SD=9.79
String #2, 10 Shots
LO=991.1
HI=1024
Av=1009
ES=24.83
SD=7.34
String #3, 10 Shots
LO=971.0
HI=1021
Av=1005
ES=50.85
SD=15.65
Average 3 String Speed: 1007
IPSC Power Factor: 181
This one was a little spicy... but not bad, and no signs of pressure issues... except for the "low" round in string 3, this load is seriously consistent (as you can see...)
Conclusion... I'm gonna try 4.6Gr of Titegroup v. 5.0Gr of WST for accuracy and feel, and decide from there, but either way, both of these powders were very consistent... the only "caution" I would give is that Hodgdon (who now makes all WW powders) says 1.135" for the C.O.L. using WST and I went 1.125" which is what they list for their Titegroup... that's why the book on WST at 5.0Gr was low... I looked at 5.4Gr WST in the .40 case and seated at 1.125" it was gonna be (or very very close to) a compressed load... so I dialed back to 5.2Gr and as it happens 5.0Gr will do the trick... so please be careful, and as always with this stuff...
YMMV...!!!
--
Just started loading .40S&W last weekend and got over to Phoenix today to chrono some ammo... so I thought I would share the results here just in case anyone might be interested... (and I did try to format this differently but couldn't get that figured out...)
Phoenix Indoor Range
~22C
Para P16-40 Ltd. 5"
Montana Gold 180Gr FMJ
Remmington Brass
Winchester SP Primer
C.O.L. 1.125"
Titegroup: 4.5Gr
String #1, 10 Shots
LO=948.3
HI=968
Av=957.3
ES=19.63
SD=7.07
String #2, 10 Shots
LO=941.3
HI=963.2
Av=953.2
ES=21.85
SD=5.74
String #3, 10 Shots
LO=933.2
HI=989.9
Av=957.1
ES=56.77
SD=14.89
Average 3 String Speed: 955.8
IPSC Power Factor: 172
Titegroup: 4.7Gr, Hodgdon lists this load w/180Gr FMJ @ 1.125" 979fps
String #1, 10 Shots
LO=979.3
HI=1005
Av=994.8
ES=25.67
SD=8.54
String #2, 10 Shots
LO=990.9
HI=1014
Av=1001
ES=23.48
SD=7.28
String #3, 10 Shots
LO=982.9
HI=1013
Av=998.6
ES=30.39
SD=10.44
Average 3 String Speed: 998.13
IPSC Power Factor: 179
Having never used Titegroup before, I have to say I like it alot... it meters like butta'... and I've never had results so close to what the book says I should get... for the 4.7Gr load book was 979, average actual was 998.. that's only a 19fps delta from the book (and in the right direction)...
From the above, looks like 4.6Gr should make an average of 976.9 for a power factor of 175.8... almost perfect...
And, I had some WST around so I thought I would see what that did for me...
WST: 5.0Gr
String #1, 10 Shots
LO=961.1
HI=1004
Av=982.3
ES=43.61
SD=11.70
String #2, 10 Shots
LO=964.3
HI=992.7
Av=981.1
ES=28.35
SD=7.61
String #3, 10 Shots
LO=956.2
HI=999.2
Av=972.6
ES=42.99
SD=12.64
Average 3 String Speed: 978.6
IPSC Power Factor: 176
I liked this one... pretty soft... and it's right where it should be... but, I've read lots about WST being inverse temp sensitive... the hotter the ambient temp the slower it gets, and I've experienced this myself in Strathmore where it was hot hot, and rounds that made major previously were way slow (made major by .7 fps using all 7 rounds)... Titegroup is supposed to care less about temp then WST, but this WST load was sure soft... and indoors anyway it made a 176PF...
The book on WST @ 5.0Gr in this load was 900fps so I wasn't thinking it would make major... and brought along this one as well...
WST: 5.2Gr
String #1, 10 Shots
LO=992.0
HI=1020
Av=1008
ES=28.22
SD=9.79
String #2, 10 Shots
LO=991.1
HI=1024
Av=1009
ES=24.83
SD=7.34
String #3, 10 Shots
LO=971.0
HI=1021
Av=1005
ES=50.85
SD=15.65
Average 3 String Speed: 1007
IPSC Power Factor: 181
This one was a little spicy... but not bad, and no signs of pressure issues... except for the "low" round in string 3, this load is seriously consistent (as you can see...)
Conclusion... I'm gonna try 4.6Gr of Titegroup v. 5.0Gr of WST for accuracy and feel, and decide from there, but either way, both of these powders were very consistent... the only "caution" I would give is that Hodgdon (who now makes all WW powders) says 1.135" for the C.O.L. using WST and I went 1.125" which is what they list for their Titegroup... that's why the book on WST at 5.0Gr was low... I looked at 5.4Gr WST in the .40 case and seated at 1.125" it was gonna be (or very very close to) a compressed load... so I dialed back to 5.2Gr and as it happens 5.0Gr will do the trick... so please be careful, and as always with this stuff...
YMMV...!!!
