Reload is not shooting straight. Ideas?

[Buddhabelly]

I loaded a batch of 9mm for 2 of my top 9mm pistols. Took great care to ensure precision and consistency in my loading. 124gr Montana Gold TMJ, 4.35Gr of W231, 1.136 OAL. CCI500 primers.

Shooting from a Sig X-5 and S&W 952-2. Can't get any better than these 2 guns.

With my load:
The X-5 shot dead on to POA.
952-2 shot 3 to 4 inches left of aim.

I tried a box of factory ammo for reference. RWS 124gr FMJ:

X-5 shot dead on to POA
952-2 shot dead on to POA.

So somehow the 952-2 shot my load 3 to 4" left, it's not the sight is off.

2 other established shooters at the club tried with same results.


X-5 952-2
Factory On On
Reload On 3-4" left.

Ideas

[gau17]

Have you tried different powder charge? Maybe use different powder.

[Munk]

you may sometimes need to tailor the load to the firearm it's being used for. Rifling style, rate of twist, barrel length can all affect how your load will perform. A friend of mine found that with a G20 using an extended aftermarket barrel, he needed to kick things up a notch to get the most accurate loads. These were borderline dangerous in their charge levels (though we've done some research since and found out it wasn't as worrisome as we feared).

I do find it odd that it's only going to the left. The power level issue usually means that the diameter of bullet spread opens and closes as you approach sweet spots. Do you have any crown or chamber damage that you may have overlooked?

[Buddhabelly]

you may sometimes need to tailor the load to the firearm it's being used for. Rifling style, rate of twist, barrel length can all affect how your load will perform. A friend of mine found that with a G20 using an extended aftermarket barrel, he needed to kick things up a notch to get the most accurate loads. These were borderline dangerous in their charge levels (though we've done some research since and found out it wasn't as worrisome as we feared).

I do find it odd that it's only going to the left. The power level issue usually means that the diameter of bullet spread opens and closes as you approach sweet spots. Do you have any crown or chamber damage that you may have overlooked?

I don't think it's any damage to the gun, or for that matter, anything wrong with the gun because it shoots fine with the factory load.

[Buddhabelly]

Have you tried different powder charge? Maybe use different powder.

Yes, I tried 4.15gr pf W231 and it shot left also. It's also a little light because some rounds did not eject properly and the last round did not lock back the slide.

I am not ready to go beyond 4.35gr because I think 4.5 is recommended max.

[sequoia_nomad]

Sounds pretty light to me, I find 9mm like to be pushed a little for best function and accuracy. According to the Hodgdon/Winchester website, the minimum load is 4.4, and the max is 4.8 So I'd say don't be afraid to inch it up a little, you should be good to go.

This is a very useful website, be sure and check it out: http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

[Fjold]

Different loads shoot to different points.

[Linkpimp]

IMO, which is worth nothing.. Your shooting to light of load.. I would simply load up 5-10 rounds with 4.6, then 5-10 rounds of 4.7 and hit the range.. I've discovered that I always get better accuracy when I'm loading just under max and no I still don't get any signs of pressure..

Just keep a sharp eye out for any signs of pressure (it will show on the primer first) and you'll be fine..

[em9sredbeam]

I had that problem using alliant blue dot, from light to pretty hot loads and was shooting very low, ( no i was not flinching and dropping the gun as I squeezed the trigger) I changed to hogdon titegroup and it was perfect.

[Dark Mod]

I had similar problems with some .357 loads i was using. I changed the powder from Hercules to W231 and the projectiles from lead to plated and it worked out great.

[Whiterabbit]

Different loads shoot to different points.

This is my experience as well.

I thought this thread was gonna be about loads not GROUPING, not a shifted POI.

If they group, you are good to go. I wish all my rifle loads shot at the same point of aim at 100 yards.

[GeoffLinder]

Different loads shoot to different points.

+2 to this. It is naive to believe all ammo be expected to shoot to point of aim in any specific gun let alone 2 different ones.

Pistol ammo is usually not that far off gun to gun and brand to brand of ammo but by not too far off I am talking an expected variance of an inch or two on average and as much as 4-5 inches on occasion and not to be considered abnormal.

I received my brand new SIG P-226 with a test target that had a 1" group centered 2" left and 3 inch below the aim mark on the test target. It shot to POA with some ammo, slightly left with other ammo and so on. Same for every pistol and rifle out there IME.

You need to find ammo that shoots where the sights are and stick to it or change the sights to fit the ammo. Even fixed sights can be drifted and nudged if you know what you are doing.

Reloads even when loaded to same velocity with same bullet type as factory ammo, may or may not shoot to same point of impact. If your reloads group as tightly (no matter where they actually impact) as factory ammo then there is nothing wrong with your reloads

Regards,

[Buddhabelly]

My reloads have been grouping quite a bit better than factory ammo.

The groups are fine. There's nothing wrong with the guns or my shooting or even the loads. It's just peculiar that the X-5 will chew anything and spit them out at the same spot. The 952-2 is more finicky. My other 9's, which are not as dead-on target pistols as these 2, such as a tuned CZ75 SP01, tuned BHP. 1911 9 are not as dead-on as these 2, but they are more generally closer POA and POI than the 952-2.

I've just recently tried shooting 4 different factory ammos through the Smith. Fed 115, RWS 124, Fed HST 147 are way off. S&B 115 are very close POA to
POI. Once again, the X-5 spits out everything same spot. Other 9's are closer. Just the 952 is really finicky.

Just an example. I shoot the X-5 with my 124 MG with 4.15 Gr of W231. I get 1 group of 97-3X at 25 yards. 2 weeks later I bumped the load up to 4.35Gr and it shot 98-6X. The 952 is just about as tight, but 3 to 4" off to the left. The other 9's shot more like a 2.5 -3" group on center.

[choprzrul]

IMO, which is worth nothing.. Your shooting to light of load.. I would simply load up 5-10 rounds with 4.6, then 5-10 rounds of 4.7 and hit the range.. I've discovered that I always get better accuracy when I'm loading just under max and no I still don't get any signs of pressure..

Just keep a sharp eye out for any signs of pressure (it will show on the primer first) and you'll be fine..

I went through extensive testing over a 6 month period to chase down fps variance in my 30-30 loads. Ended up with the solution being to fill the case nearly to max. I have it all very well documented Here if you want to read through the process that lead to a solution.

.

[sammy]

Reloading and testing many different combinations i have never seen the POI change more than 1" or so at 15 yards. It is even more strange that it shoots left rather than higher or lower.

That said I have tested MANY different bullet/powder combinations and have found HS-6 and Power Pistol are my favorite powders for the 9mm cartridge. Power Pistol tends to meter better and gets more consistent groups over the HS-6. I see you are in the Bay Area. I am in Concord and can give you a pound of Power Pistol to try if you like. Wonderful powder.