Pistol Reloading

[Terry]

What are you doing to increase pistol accuracy when reloading? Are minor changes in powder loads as useful as they are in rifles?
Do different bullets have a great effect on accuracy?

I shoot .380, 9mm, 357 Mag, and 45ACP. Most are shot at less that 25 yards.

Thanks!

Terry

 

[2506]

Yes is your answer to both your questions. The quality and size of a cast bullet has lots to do with accuracy and different make and weight jacketed bullets also effect accuracy. In pistol loads you are using very fast burning powders and 1 tenth of a grain can make a great difference in pressure and velocity and accuracy. Different make primers also make a difference. Seating depth also makes a difference in accuracy and the amount of crimp pressure will also effect accuracy. The thing that I see people do all the time that is a deterrent to accuracy is mix brands of cases. Cases are different so keep the same brands together. I would suggest getting a Lee Factory Crimp Die for the semi-auto ammo. It makes them run better and I think aids with accuracy. The best way I have found to get an accurate load is to look in the Sierra loading manuals and use their suggested accuracy loads for each bullet weight for Jacketed Bullets. They do not list for Cast Bullets.

 

[bheadboy]

Terry,

you must not make one mistake, auto pistol ammo shouldnot be crimped in the normal sense of the word. you should use a taper crimp to allow the bullet to be held tight on recoil and at the same time keep the mouth of the case square because that is the basis for head space, the case mouth !!

roll crimp is ok on revolver and to some extent based on the heaviness of the load can be modest or hard.

powder loads are more critical and so ball powder is prefered as it meters better, oal can cause a major pressure variation as the case is so small, the deeper you seat the higher pressure.

bob

 

[K22]

My comments pertain to reloading for revolver cartridges:

1. Crimping can have a large effect on accuracy. It has to be uniform, firm but not to the point where it buckles the case. I like to use a roll crimp on magnum / service loads and a taper crimp on target loads.

2. Bullet selection is not only important for terminal performance but also accuracy. I've found the following bullets to be supremely accurate:

Jacketed: Hornady XTP's

Lead: Oregon Trail Laser Cast

Target Competition: The hollow base swaged wadcutter (Speer / Hornady / Remington) is the most accurate bullet for target shooting in the 38 special / 357 magnum class cartridges. It requires light charges of fast burning powders such as 231 or Bullseye.

3. Powder selection should be easy - for the 357 Magnum - 2400 for magnum loads with jacket bullets, for lead bullets - 231.

4. Primers - I not seen a great deal of difference except do not use magnum primers unless specifically called for - i.e. large volume of very slow powder such as H110 or 296.

One important point about reloading pistol cartridges - you have to make sure that you do not double charge a case since a double of charge of some powders such as 231 will easy fit into the case producing a very dangerous situation.

Reloading for pistol, in my opinion, is infinitely easier than rifle perhaps because the accuracy expectation are so radically different.