New Full sized DWX-OR. Shorter leade than my Shadow.

[Auslander]

Picked up my new DWX Full size today. Was hoping my existing load for my Shadow 1 would work. Didn’t plunk.

Going through Wobbly’s instructions, ended up having to seat this projectile .038” deeper in order to give a sufficient safety margin from jam depth.

Reduced charges and ran some test loads. Mouse fart target loads. Have to wait to test.

FYI, not that many would run this ammo in this weapon, but Federal HST 147, 124 and Federal AE9FP (147) would not plunk. I don’t keep any other factory loads in the house.

[M1A4ME]

In the past it seems like every now and then someone would buy a new CZ and end up having to have the throat opened up/lengthened just a bit to allow more margin.  Or allow them to use certain ammo that worked well in their other handguns.

I ran into the opposite one time.  I was developing some new loads and pulled my P01 out of the holster, field stripped it and used it to set the overall length.  Got to the range and the ammo wouldn't chamber in my M&P 2.0 5" pistol (with an Apex Tactical barrel installed).  Just "assumed" the CZ would be tighter than even the Apex Tactical barrel based on how well the P01 shot (usual/expected CZ performance) vs. the M&P even with the better Apex Tactical barrel.

I guess it's a choice of 1.  altering all your pistols to match enough there are no chamber length issues, 2.  altering all your ammo enough to work in even th shortest chambered pistol, 3. having multiple loads and keeping them identified and separate so the wrong ammo doesn't get loaded in the wrong pistols.

By the way, never had issues with the CZ .40 S&W pistols.  I've got a P09 .40, two P07 .40, CZ75B .40, and a Tactical Sport .40.  Zero issues with any loads working different in different pistols.  At least for the ones I have there's been no issues.

[Togmaster]

Yes the DWX chamber is tight. I'm currently working on loads that work with both the DWX and P10 F.  On a side note I picked up a second P10 F a few months ago and found that the chamber was tighter than my first purchased about 2-1/2 years ago.

[Auslander]

Just a bit of follow-up. Zeroing in on a load that I can use with the 5k or so 124 grain projectiles I have on hand (Followed Wobbly’s advice regarding the antimony issue. Bought what I could and still afford the pistol). Have to load them a bit shorter than I like but I’m aiming for 130 PF for USPSA so I’m close to the minimum charge for the powder, even with the reduced volume.

I did find some Blaser brass 115 grain factory loads that are running around 1.15” in the bottom of my storage area. They plunked fine. Good to know there is a cheap factory load that works. Of course they are about 8 years old so I can’t say for certain if newer stuff is running the same or similar projectiles. I’ll have to carry the barrel to the store.

In reference to my other weapons, I’m pretty well used to having to load for individual pistols and PCC. I have a couple different 9mm die sets and powder measures set up for my 550. My PCR probably the 3rd shortest after this and my Shadow. I have to plunk test all of my carry rounds before loading in my magazines. I’ve found some HST’s that won’t fit. I’ve yet to find a round that won’t fit in my P10’s.

For the record, the DWX is a laser, but I’m going to have to get used to the trigger. I see people on this forum discussing lightening the trigger. I’m considering trying to make mine heavier. It will pick up a 3lb NRA-style weight but will not pick up 3-1/4 lbs. Don’t think I would care for it if it were much lighter. I don’t go lighter than 4.5 on my precision rifles.

[Wobbly]

Several thoughts....

* The inability to "plunk" is as much the shape of the bullet's ogive as it is the over all cartridge length (OAL). So those 2 physical features work together.

* Lots of the newer pistols are seizing upon the idea of the shortened freebore, but "Lord only knows" which ammo they designed their freebore around ! Even the venerable FMJ Ball bullet has several shapes depending upon maker. Berry Mfg makes the slimmest I've seen, while RMR makes one of the "stubbiest" (or most blunt) ogives. So just because you see the title FMJ, that does not define a specific shape.

* I have a pal that shoots with me. He shoots some type of P10-sized clone, which may be a SCCY. Anyway when I load for him we found that Precision Delta 124gr HP won't feed well in his gun, so we have been using the blunt nose RMR 124gr HP. Having that short, stubby ogive means I have to load those at 1.065". These shoot good in both his gun and my P10c.

* Remember also that when the OAL is shortened, that less powder is needed to produce the same bullet velocities. Also, this "safe powder load" is a sliding "window" or load range. So while the published load may say something like 5.0 to 3.9gr for a cartridge loaded to 1.140", this range may be reduced to 4.5 to 3.4gr. for a shorter cartridge.

I call this a load range because you'll notice that the difference between Max and Min is 1.1gr. So the 1.1gr is a "sliding window" which can move higher and lower based on the physical position of the bullet in the cartridge case (aka "the OAL").

When you shorten your OAL to work in a short freebore barrel, the only way to determine how much the safe "window" has moved is to own a chronograph, because the one constant is the bullet velocity, which is directly linked to chamber pressure. And chamber pressure is at the heart of all our concerns when we load our own ammo.

Hope this helps.

[Auslander]

Thanks Wobbly. Any insight helps. Not to blow smoke, but the tutorials on here are much more informative than any other manual I’ve read.

For reference purposes I’m using BE86 powder and PDelta 124gr V2 projectiles. My normal load was 5gr of BE86 @ 1.125” OAL. This load averaged 1080fps.

Ended having to seat projectiles to 1.085”. Remeasured on a fouled barrel. Dropped down to 4.5 grains to account for reduced volume and ran ladders. Ended up at 4.8gr. 10-shot string averaged 1070 fps. Good side effect is it seems to burn a little cleaner at 1.085” than 1.125”. BE86 excels at higher velocities. Does not like to run slow. I’m guessing that the reduced volume is increasing the pressure enough to get a good burn. Ran 50 for testing tomorrow.

[Wobbly]

Ended up at 4.8gr. 10-shot string averaged 1070 fps. Good side effect is it seems to burn a little cleaner at 1.085” than 1.125”. BE86 excels at higher velocities. Does not like to run slow. I’m guessing that the reduced volume is increasing the pressure enough to get a good burn.

It is suspected by a lot of "gray heads" that the deeper seating holds the bullet in place a millisecond longer, allowing the chamber pressure to build to a more substantial level before release. (Sort of like NASA holding a rocket on the launch pad after rocket ignition, and then blowing the explosive hold-down bolts.) But who knows !

When I first got into this game I loaded out to 1.150" as often as possible. These days I never load anything longer than 1.100" if I can possibly help it.

You're on the right track. Proceed.