I was working up some loads for my Glock G20 and started at 9.0 grains of Longshot, Federal 150 match primers, with Hornady 180gr HAPs. I didn't go all the way down to the minimum by Hodgdon of 8.5 grains, but well below the 9.5 max. I only found one case out of the 5 I fired at the indoor range. COL was 1.26. I am thinking that I need to go down to 8.6 and 8.8 grains as a test. I'll be using a chronograph this weekend to see speed and spread...
(http://www.chriswall.net/photos/Hornady_180_HAP_9.0_Longshot_1.jpg)
(http://www.chriswall.net/photos/Hornady_180_HAP_9.0_Longshot_2.jpg)
Reading primers is an unreliable methld of detecting pressures. They usually tell more about headspace. That being said, I don't detect anything on the photo that gives me cause for alarm. How does the case look? Any bulges or smiles?
Looks good to me, around the base it is .4290" and neck is .4220" (with inexpensive HomeDepot digital calipers). Slight belly - shot out of stock Glock barrel, no more than any off the shelf ammo. I was just worried about the primers flattening a little, I didn't notice that with several rounds of Hornady Critical Defense factory ammo - but I have read that the Federal primers are much softer than others.
My recovered cases from my glock measure .432 pretty consistently at the widest part of the case, non-smile. I would say a .429" is good.
Quote from: sqlbullet on March 25 2015 01:25:03 PM MDT
My recovered cases from my glock measure .432 pretty consistently at the widest part of the case, non-smile. I would say a .429" is good.
I would agree with this, mine too are usu at .432 with mid to warm loads, even belly bulge around case... nothing die can't fix.
In my experiences with Glock factory barrels the case can expand to 0.4340" and still not smile, any loads giving expansion over this figure, the smile seems to start.
I have seen the 9.6 grain LS loadings with 180's and 9.4 grain LS with 200's work from my factory barrels using the Wolff non captive 22 lb in the G-20 and the Wolff 21 lb non captive in the dual RSA of the G-29.
Great info, I have seen Shadow's and others numbers for LS in the 9.2 - 9.4 range on the forum several times in my research (why I started at 9.0 and it was the middle number according to Hodgdon). I was just a little worried on the slight flattening of the primers... I am going to try and workup some BE-86 loads before the weekend and test both the Longshot and BE-86 over the chronograph this weekend. thanks all for helping the newbie out!
Just watch the heavy bullets as the pressure can spike up because that seat deeply and have higher frictional surfaces!