School me, please on compressing N320 and other powders...

[mnshooter]

3.8 gr of N320 with a 135 gr Bayou at 1.1 is probably compressed. No issues although I load 3.6 for USPSA

[recoilguy]

I have been loading N320 for years although not exclusively. N320 is my favorite and my go to when I have it in the safe, or can get it from the store. I hear the cost is an issue for some folks but I don't mind the insignificant cost per round to have such a good powder in my bullets.

I use almost the exact same as 1SOW
I load 4.1g of N320 with
PD 124 JHP
at 1.095 OAL and
fed primers in
mixed brass

It is a great round for shooting and will make power factor USPSA in my gun.
I do not recommend this recipe to anyone else and am not nor have I ever been
a reloading expert or advice giver or authority. When rolling my own I load to this spec and
in my CZ SP-01, 75BD and my EAA Witness Match these rounds perform consistent
and accurately. I do use a different load for my 9mm 1911. That is what I enjoy the most
about having my own equipment and knowing what I like and what works best.
Carry on?

RCG
 

[1SOW]

recoilguy,  I load all the same head stamp brass each batch, only use Fed primers  and recycle about 5 different headstamps. 
This is a very well behaved load we're using.   I shot some this morning at the range. 

Disclaimer:  Mine don't blow up my pistols or hands. 

[Clint007]

Thanks for everyone's input. Testing in progress...  Vhit is I think about 75% MORE expensive than other powders so that hurts when you buy, but it's a small absolute difference per round, I think I calc'd it out to <1 cent increase per round.

And, now, you can save 2/10 of a cent per round at Powder Valley while their Vhit sale special lasts.   

Cheers

C

[Wobbly]

You can probably count all the powders that don't like to be compressed on one hand. Them that don't like it, REALLY don't like it. The others could care less. So we simply try to use "no compressed loads" as a general rule of thumb. But the whole N300 line from VihtaVuori doesn't seem to care a whole bunch.

If anything, the powder is so dense I'm wondering if it might not physically push the bullet back out of the case in extreme cases. On the other hand, it could probably be used to successfully fight "bullet set back".

 

[M1A4ME]

I saw a thread on another forum about a new .38 special hollow point load that Federal is selling.  The bullet is recessed so far in the case it looks like the old 147 grain hollow based wadcutters when we used to seat them backwards in the cases.

The OP was asking if it was a HBWC and someone else said that it was not.  It's a hollow point bullet seated very, very deep in the case to reduce air space which Federal has found to give them a smaller and more consistent velocity spread one cartridge to the next.  Smaller std. dev. in velocity is supposed to make for smaller groups/more accurate ammo.

The poster did not say if it was a compressed powder charge, or just moving the base of the bullet as close to the powder as possible.

The picture they posted looked very similar to the old HBWC upside down seating.  We did that, back in the early 80's.  Not the most accurate thing to shoot, but in the long run, if you shoot someone and the bullet hits them sideways it will still make a heck of a hole.  I'm sure these new Federal loads don't tumble.  I'm curious how they managed that.

[IDescribe]

How the powder sits in the case at the moment of ignition affects the burn.  The closer to compressed a charge is, the more consistent the powder column will be from one cartridge to the next.

[copemech]

How the powder sits in the case at the moment of ignition affects the burn.  The closer to compressed a charge is, the more consistent the powder column will be from one cartridge to the next.

I herd dat! The 38 spl plinker loads I did recently with a bit of 231 laying in the bottom of the case were NOT consistent at all.  I thought my PM was at fault, but when I checked the drops they were good to go.

[1SOW]

7625  doesn't seem to mind being pushed around either.

[M1A4ME]

The absolute most accurate loads I ever put through my M1A and 03A4 used a compressed charge of IMR4350 under a 180 grain Sierra match bullet.

Not good for the M1A's op rod, don't do it.  Super nice groups (my hand would cover 5 shots at 600 yds.) but broke the op rod twice before giving up on that powder.  Pre internet days, not good access to info that told me slow burning powders were "bad".

That experience (along with the Nosler reloading data) is what got me to try the Blue Dot in .40 S&W (first).

[hceuterpe]

I've been using n320 under 124 JHP. PDs and MGs for many years.  I load to 132 PF over a Pro Chrono for both these and use 4.1 GRS n320.  These are NOT compressed loads at 1.095"- 1.093"- .

I too have loaded quite a few PD 124 JHP rounds using N320, no issues during testing and they do not fill up the case enough to get worried about compressing the powder.

Bullet                                     Powder        Chrg          Vel              PF
Precision Delta   124 JHP         N320      3.9        1036.7       128.55
Precision Delta   124 JHP         N320      3.9        1009.9       125.23
Precision Delta   124 JHP         N320      3.9        1076.0       133.42
Precision Delta   124 JHP         N320      4        1040.6       129.03
Precision Delta   124 JHP         N320      4      1032.10       127.98
Precision Delta   124 JHP         N320      4      1038.73       128.80
Precision Delta   124 JHP         N320      4      1012.33       125.53

If you don't mind me asking, what CZ do you own, and your OAL?  I will be working up a load switching to N320 from HP-38 and use the EXACT same bullet.  I have been loading HP-38 4.3gr at 1.12" for a Glock 34 (though the OAL for all my other 9mm that aren't CZ) but I suspect it will be too long from what I've heard.  I'm getting a CZ TSO with a 9mm barrel conversion, and I'm interested in a Shadow 2, so I'd prefer to make one round that hits 130PF for each (or at least being able to adjust powder charge since it has just shy of .5" barrel difference).
I have a chrono so I'll be verifying my own loads.  Just looking for examples on where to start, or an idea of how different N320 will be from HP-38 plus the different OAL.

[IDescribe]

All the 9mm 75, SP-01, and Shadows are cut the same.   His OAL is 1.095-ish.  You'll still need to determine your own OAL in your pistol.  Depending on the sample, your max OAL may end up anywhere from 1.08 - 1.10.

[Wobbly]

7625  doesn't seem to mind being pushed around either.

You just HAD to bring up 7625 !!   

[1SOW]

If you don't mind me asking, what CZ do you own, and your OAL?

"MY" oal is  given in the paragraph you cited.  This shoots very well in my 75B,  75 Custom Shadow and my son's SPO1 Shadow .  My son blindly trusts me,  which I also don't recommend.

Your pistol could have a slightly different chamber size.  Be sure to read the stickies above for determining the "Maximum possible oal" for each pistol you shoot.  This is also discussed by ID in posts above. Wobbly's stickies and graphics make the process easy to understand.

[redbaron]

If it really concerns you, you might want to consider having your barrel throated. It'll allow you to load out to longer OAL and use a wide variety of bullets. I've recently started using a 155gr. cast bullet with 3.6 gr. N320 seated out to 1.14 OAL with my SP01 and it's soft shooting, accurate and I don't think the bullet is touching the powder at all