New .40 Major Load

[spencerhut]

Working up a new load for my Tac Sport to give N320 a try. I also had some Ramshot Competition and since it was right next to N320 on the burn rate chart I'd tried it also. Both powders work very well and I am having a tough time deciding what I will use. They are really close, the Competition is a bit less expensive and it takes less to get up to a comfortable major power level. I may have to load a few hundred of each and try them both at a match. I was really surprised the Competition shot so well next to the N320 since everyone raves about N320.

CZ Tac Sport .40S&W, Wolf Primers, MGB 180g JHP, 1.130AOL

Ave Hi Low ES SD AD PF
954 965.2 936.2 29.0 10.1 8.3 171 4.7g N320
957 969.5 938.5 31.0 10.4 8.3 172 4.4g Competition

[SVRider]

Alliant lists a 180gr Gold Dot just north of 1,000fps, but it's a 7.2gr load of PowerPistol, so not quite as thrifty as these two....

[spencerhut]

My 180g Power Pistol loads for competition are 6.1g over the same 180g Montana Gold bullet at around 925FPS. They are what I was working on replacing with these loads. Power Pistol has a hell of a flash and it is a bit more harsh then the N320 or Competition loads I worked up today.

[DRAB_81]

I've been trying to decide whether to drop the cash on 4# of N320, or 8# of Titegroup since they are about the same price. Everything I read says that N320 is THE powder for 9mm minor & 40 major/minor, but I'm not sure it's worth paying twice as much for it. I have only reloaded 45, 10mm & 9x25 Dillon, so I have no experience with 40 yet. Ever used Titegroup with 180gr bullets?

[spencerhut]

I've been trying to decide whether to drop the cash on 4# of N320, or 8# of Titegroup since they are about the same price. Everything I read says that N320 is THE powder for 9mm minor & 40 major/minor, but I'm not sure it's worth paying twice as much for it. I have only reloaded 45, 10mm & 9x25 Dillon, so I have no experience with 40 yet. Ever used Titegroup with 180gr bullets?

I've got some Titegroup, but have not tried it for .40 Major. People use it, but I've seen a lot more positive responses on N320. I read Titegroup can be a bit touchy in .40 so I skipped it.

[DRAB_81]

Yeah, I have also read the stuff about it being reverse temp sensitive. However, the 180gr bullet over Titegroup seems to be by far the most used load for both IDPA & IPSC/USPSA. TG is also described as the poor man's N320. I'll probably end up buying 1# of each to try out.

[foxtrotuniformlima]

Have you shot them for group ? I tend to go for a load that is first accurate. I'm always amazed how 2 powders pushing the same projectile the same velocity will have different group sizes.

[spencerhut]

Have you shot them for group ? I tend to go for a load that is first accurate. I'm always amazed how 2 powders pushing the same projectile the same velocity will have different group sizes.

Not yet. I'm going to load ~100 or so of each and test accuracy. See if I can make a decision on which one feels better also. Man they are close, to me at least.

[mif_slim]

I use 185gr pushed by AA#2 getting 930fps just breaking major. Shoots great and recoil of 9mm.