Need some advice

J

JTReloader

Inactive
I'm trying to work up a load for my Glock 22. For those of you that don't know much about glocks, it's a full size 40 S&W. I have 165 and 180 grain plated RNFP bullets from Xtreme. Currently I'm trying to work up a load with the 165's. I'm not very accurate yet at shooting this gun, hence a reason for getting into reloading so I could make cheaper camo and thus shoot more. I'm using Hodgdon's data and made up ten rounds of each load.
OAL-1.25"
4.5 gr Titegroup
4.6 gr Titegroup
4.7 gr Titegroup
4.8 gr Titegroup

I wasn't too happy with any of the groupings. I was shooting from a bench at 17 yards. My issue is if I set the target up too close to shoot more accurately I won't get the best data. Too far and it will get worse. I don't gave the money for a Ramsey rest so what would you recommend? Does anyone else have a load using 165 gr Xtreme RNFP bullets and Titegroup? I know not to take any loads off the internet that are not published by someone like hodgdon. However, if it's within the specs and I have tested up to it, I might play with it for awhile. My thoughts are, if factory ammo works well in most guns, should a load that works well in one gun do somewhat decent in another?
 
You shooting off a solid rest? That's really more important than the distance. A sand bag will do.
And pick a bullet weight. Don't try to work up 2 at the same time.
"...a load that works well in one gun do somewhat decent in another?..." That'd be a very decided maybe, but not likely. I wouldn't worry about the size of the groups. Consistency is more important. So is reliability.
Your pistol just may not like Tite-group either.
 
Shoot from CLOSER distances. If you can't group tightly at closer distances, the learning curve will be longer to achieve the accuracy you expect. Handguns are much more difficult to shoot really accurately, due to the shorter sighting plane. Grip, sight picture, breathing, trigger control, stance and follow thru all have a bearing on good results. A good solid platform is desirable, -- try shooting hand held off of a sturdy bench.
Many years ago, more than I care to remember, when I was learning to shoot handguns as a new permitee in New Yorkistan, -- my targets looked like shotgun patterns. These were from S&W Model 66 revolvers. Seeking instruction from my brother-in-law, an Army Ranger of 17 years & a small arms instructor, -- he told me to start shooting from 7 FEET, -- and increase the distance a few feet when I could hold a really tight group. The feedback from shooting close groups helps to promote good technique and gun handling. Within a couple of weeks, usig these two revolvers, 4" & 6" Model 66's, as mentioned, I was able to get my groups down to one raggedy hole, shooting hand held from a bench at 50'. My targets no longer looked like shotgun patterns. This advise can be particularly helpful to those new to handguns. Hope this helps you to get all those shots into the X-ring.
 
I'm shooting from a bench off a sandbag. I'm only working up 165 gr right now. Maybe my pistol doesn't like Titegroup but I have a point of it to use up so I need to find something that works. A guy teaching me uses stick glocks, same bullets, same powder. He was who recommended them to me. He uses 155 gr where I like heavier bullets so he doesn't really have a load for me. He has one load that works in all his 40s&w. He was one of the 30 people to shoot a perfect 500 in 2016 in a sanctioned match. He's truly a tack driver. On top of that, I shoot PMC bronze 180 factory loads that group awesome from my gun, and from tons of other guns. So what I'm getting at is if a load works well in one pistol I'm sure it'll get me on the right track of nothing else for mine.
Also, consistency is grouping is it not? I can put all my factory loads off the same rest into a 2.5 inch group to the left. I have trigger control to work on. But I can send those down range consistently. My reloads I worked up we're all in the same area, left of the bullseye. However they were not grouped well. Using a normal priece of primer paper it covered the left side. Some less than others but none as tight as my factory loads.
 
Are you using mixed headstamp brass or all of one type?

How much crimp do you have on the bullets? Too much will ruin groups with plated bullets.

What is C.O.A.L.? Have you tried variations in it yet?
 
I am going to assum that you are capable of shooting a 2.5" group or better at the rang you are shooting - mainly because you do that with factory ammo.
I use TiteGroup in my 9mm and 45 Colt. The accuracy in my 9mm, with 115 and 124 grain bullets, is very good at about an average of twenty shots in a bit more than 1" at 25 yards. In the 45 Colt with 200 grain bullets it is horrible with average groups over 6 inches at 25 yards. The larger case demands a slower burning powder. I have much better groups with HS6 with close to maximum loads. My point is that when working with different size cases you may have to adapt the powder to match.

There is one more issue that I would like to mention and that is consistent grip. When shooting handguns a consistent grip is an absolute necessity. Even a very slight change, higher or lower, squeezing the grip with the trigger, or different amounts of pressure on the rest will throw a bullets point of impact a very long way. I see this all the time when shooting falling plates. A shooter will be relaxed as he fires his first shot and they will hit the first plate dead center. The second shot goes a bit lower because he is compensating for recoil and trying to hurry, and the third shot will go very low because he is gripping the gun tighter under the pressure of the clock and the next three shots are low misses. The same thing can happen with a target. The more shots you fire the more tension is built to get it right and you are likely to add that tension to your grip. Practice dry firing with a solid grip, a small point of aim, and concentrate on the basics. Breathe, target acquisition, breathe, trigger control, follow through and breathe. It might help to fir one round per magazine, put the gun down breathe, relax, pick the gun up and fire the next shot. You want to train your muscles to automatically grip the gun and do the basics to fire each round.
Start with a target at 10 feet. When all the rounds go through one hole then move the target back 3 feet. Repeat as necessary. At these very short ranges differences in the ammo will affect the group size less than your shooting. Practice dry firing your guns twice the number of live rounds fired as often as possible. Dry fire two rounds between each live round at the range. After the hammer falls when dry firing your sights should still be on target. Practice til you can.
Once you have your variability under control you can work up a load that your gun likes and you can shoot.
 
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