N320 or Sport Pistol with 125 BlueBullets?

[newageroman]

So... my black Friday box of blue bullets should be delivered today. I'm coming from the Angus load 124 PD over N320. I REALLY wanted to just get more of them, but was a bit disappointed that they only offered an 8% discount for Black Friday vs the 15% of blue bullets. So on to another bullet, aint it fun!

I chose the 125 RN Blue Bullet so that it would be close to the 124PD bullet - I know the main difference here is going from Jacket to Coated. Researching this load led me to finding the thread on Sport Pistol -https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=89615.150 That powder looks cheap and good for the coated bullets.

I still have about 1.25# of 320 ready to go, but I may just stock that back for later in the year when/if I do get up on some more 124PD. Has anyone loaded these 125 RN blue bullets with either Sport Pistol or N320? I'm not looking for super powerful or accurate, just good enough for USPSA minor and plinking.

While on the subject of blue bullets, I've not used them before so I'm prepared for the smurf finger. I plan on sloshing them around in a towel before loading and then wearing gloves while loading. Any other tricks to minimize the smurf fingers?

And while on the subject of cleaning ammo, I've noticed that the residual lanolin on my loaded rounds seems to build up a bit and gunk up the gun some. It definitely helps when loading, but I am looking to add a final polishing step to minimize the gunk. I have wiped them off individually when plunk testing match rounds, but now I'm considering finding/building another tub to tumble them with walnut/cob media on the lyman wet tumbler base. Either some big round tub/container(had to be big enough to fit on the rollers), or making one out of PVC. I'm also considering making a third tub for SS media specifically (I usually just hot wash with no SS media right now).

Thoughts/questions/comments/discretions? please post. thx!
BTW still LOVE the D650!

[2morechains]

I?ve been shooting 125 gr Leatherhead bullets with N320 for many years as my USPSA match load. Leatherhead used the same hy-tech coating imported by Bayou Bullets.

4.1 gr N320 loaded to 1.125? was my load that made 130-132 PF depending on the pistol.

Now that Leatherhead has been merged with Gallant Bullets I may have to switch when I run out of my stash of LH?s. Too bad as LH was local to me.

[Wobbly]

For Alliant Sport Pistol testing, look at this thread starting on page 4....

https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=89615.0

As for exterior lube, you can tumble all your loaded ammo to remove the lube.

 

[Earl Keese]

I?ve been shooting 125 gr Leatherhead bullets with N320 for many years as my USPSA match load. Leatherhead used the same hy-tech coating imported by Bayou Bullets.

4.1 gr N320 loaded to 1.125? was my load that made 130-132 PF depending on the pistol.

Now that Leatherhead has been merged with Gallant Bullets I may have to switch when I run out of my stash of LH?s. Too bad as LH was local to me.

I was under the impression that Gallant moved their operation to the Leatherhead facility.

[Earl Keese]

I also read that Blues don't rub off on fingers anymore. I hope they're not still sized at .355.

[2morechains]

I?ve been shooting 125 gr Leatherhead bullets with N320 for many years as my USPSA match load. Leatherhead used the same hy-tech coating imported by Bayou Bullets.

4.1 gr N320 loaded to 1.125? was my load that made 130-132 PF depending on the pistol.

Now that Leatherhead has been merged with Gallant Bullets I may have to switch when I run out of my stash of LH?s. Too bad as LH was local to me.

I was under the impression that Gallant moved their operation to the Leatherhead facility.

Other way around.  When Gallant bought LH out they moved all the LH casters and equipment to their facility in SLC. 

[IDescribe]

...was a bit disappointed that they only offered an 8% discount for Black Friday vs the 15% of blue bullets.

Disappointed in a JHP of that quality at 8.2 cents per bullet, delivered to your front door? 

I am going to suggest to you that the one with the bigger markdown likely has a bigger markup the rest of the year.

PD loves you the whole year.

I chose the 125 RN Blue Bullet so that it would be close to the 124PD bullet - I know the main difference here is going from Jacket to Coated.

I suspect you're going to find very similar charge weights to your PD 124gr JHP.  I did.

Another difference, however, is that the PD is likely to be a better fit for your barrel.

Blue Bullets market their bullets as .355 -- same size as jacketed -- but barrels typically prefer their lead bullets .001-.002 larger than they prefer jacketed.  In truth, when I measured with a micrometer, Blues were closer to .3555 on average, but lead should be .356 -- .357 for most CZ barrels..

Sport Pistol -https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=89615.150 That powder looks cheap and good for the coated bullets.

I still have about 1.25# of 320 ready to go, but I may just stock that back for later in the year when/if I do get up on some more 124PD. Has anyone loaded these 125 RN blue bullets with either Sport Pistol or N320? I'm not looking for super powerful or accurate, just good enough for USPSA minor and plinking.

Sport Pistol is a new, clean burning powder from Alliant, developed with coated bullets in mind, intended for action pistol competitions.  It is precisely what you are looking for.

While on the subject of blue bullets, I've not used them before so I'm prepared for the smurf finger. I plan on sloshing them around in a towel before loading and then wearing gloves while loading. Any other tricks to minimize the smurf fingers?

Blue has made changes to their coating that at least reduces if not eliminates the smurf fingers.  I haven't bought any since this change was made, but that is the word on the street.

Also, if you get still get smurf fingers, here's a pro-tip: it washes off with soap and water. 

And while on the subject of cleaning ammo, I've noticed that the residual lanolin on my loaded rounds seems to build up a bit and gunk up the gun some. It definitely helps when loading, but I am looking to add a final polishing step to minimize the gunk.

I haven't gone the homemade lanolin caselube route for fear the smell would evoke bad memories of a veritable flock of ex-girlfriends, but if you are witnessing it build up on the gun while shooting, I suspect you are using too much lube.

[Wobbly]

I haven't gone the homemade lanolin caselube route for fear the smell would evoke bad memories of a veritable flock of ex-girlfriends, but if you are witnessing it build up on the gun while shooting, I suspect you are using too much lube.

I like to look at the other side. With lanolin case lube I'll never experience the red roughness, pain and anguish of wintertime "chapped chamber".

 

[Scarlett Pistol]

I haven't gone the homemade lanolin caselube route for fear the smell would evoke bad memories of a veritable flock of ex-girlfriends,

I only know lanolin from reloading... So... Did you have a flock of ex-girlfriends that reloaded with home made case lube?

[IDescribe]

I only know lanolin from reloading...

Lanolin comes from sheep.    I'll let people work out the rest of the joke math from there.

[newageroman]

Bullets came in Friday, haven't opened the box yet. As far as the discount on PD goes, My purchase of them earlier in the year was for 15% off, so I really don't feel bad about going a different route considering they only offered half that discount on the biggest shopping day of the year.

If the bullets suck, I'll just load them up for the Ruger PCC and try something else. I somehow doubt they will suck as bad as I do at limited - owning the newb here...

I think I remember someone saying something about hand cement mixer cylinders at lowes for tumbling. gonna look into that.

[daved20319]

So my question would be, why are you lubricating vs. using carbide dies?  And yes, even with carbide I use a little lube on about every tenth case, but it's nowhere near enough to cause any build-up, at least, not in one lifetime.  For rifles, I clean with walnut media, lube with Hornady Oneshot, resize, then a short clean in corn cob just to remove any residual lube, even though they say it isn't needed.  I load on a single stage press, no way am I going to spend the time and effort just to load dud rounds.  Later.

Dave

[cdhbrad]

I only know lanolin from reloading...

Lanolin comes from sheep.    I'll let people work out the rest of the joke math from there.

BBBBAAAAAHHHHHH,  BBBAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!

[IDescribe]

So my question would be, why are you lubricating vs. using carbide dies?  And yes, even with carbide I use a little lube on about every tenth case, but it's nowhere near enough to cause any build-up, at least, not in one lifetime.  For rifles, I clean with walnut media, lube with Hornady Oneshot, resize, then a short clean in corn cob just to remove any residual lube, even though they say it isn't needed.  I load on a single stage press, no way am I going to spend the time and effort just to load dud rounds.  Later.

Dave

^^^^ This. ^^^^

I use csrbide dies with Hornady oneshot, just a little, not enough to ever build up

[Colorado Shooter]

I use the homemade lanolin case lube on my pistol brass. I may be at a 12:1 ratio of lanolin to alcohol and it?s just a few, light sprays over a few hundred cases. I have noticed more consistent powder throws on my Dillon 550 stemming from the smoother action, and yes, I?m using carbide dies. Still haven?t found Sport Pistol powder locally to try instead of Tightgroup