What are some 45 "Hardball" Loads?

by Tim:H11 Sun 04 Sep 2016, 18:16

I'm gonna shoot my first hardball (service pistol? EIC?) match later this month. Currently my plans are to shoot factory Ammo but I'd like to eventually come up with a lighter recoiling jacketed load that's accurate enough for this game. I don't want to fall into having to buy multiple powders though and what I have and use regularly is Bullseye powder.

So the questions:

What are some good jacketed loads using Bullseye powder?

What is a good bullet weight? What is a popular design or type of bullet to use?

I've never loaded jacked pistol Ammo before. Only lead. Crimp needs to be addressed too.

Thanks.

by james r chapman Sun 04 Sep 2016, 18:26

Look in the ammunition section at the top for "sticky's"

https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t1209-pet-loads-of-top-shooters-loads-from-the-past

by Chris Miceli Sun 04 Sep 2016, 18:41

I run n310 4.2 w/ 185 jhp for 50 yard and 3.6 n310 w/ 185 jhp this is for my ball gun. Slide mount scope mount won't run the light 25 yard load for me.

For factory stuff zero sells 185jhp, same with Atlanta arms and asym. Could also run the federal match 185 jswc.

For the price of the ammo you could buy 1lb of n310

1.21 oal
.470 crimp

by cdrt Sun 04 Sep 2016, 19:03

I've been using 4.5 grains of Bullseye with either Zero or Hornady 185 JHP bullets, since they changed the rules. I shot a 271-5x with that load at the OKC Games in the team match.

by weber1b Sun 04 Sep 2016, 22:08

185 JHP, 4.5 grains of N310 works for me. I use this for ball and for the long line in my wad gun.

by SSgtG Sun 04 Sep 2016, 23:17

Since I'm confused by the "hardball" in the header and the request for lighter recoiling loads so I'm just going to jump in. I got my distinguished badge shooting full power 230gr. loads and still think that's the way it should be. It may be vain but I'll always consider those ones who earned it that way true service pistol distinguished and the others, well, not so much. Anyway, my go to load actually uses new or once fired Winchester cases, a Sierra 230 gr. matchking, Winchester primer and a 5.2 gr dose of Titegroup. Yes, that is hot. Max load in the Lyman and Hornady manual, over in some others. Thing is, it shoots. Groups very nicely at 50. I've shot a 96 slow with it.

by **Wobbley** Sun 04 Sep 2016, 23:20

SSgtG, how do you feel about those who legged out using the M9?

by kjanracing Sun 04 Sep 2016, 23:29

I thought the EIC matches specified 230 gr "factory" rounds.

by Tim:H11 Sun 04 Sep 2016, 23:33

kjanracing wrote:I thought the EIC matches specified 230 gr "factory" rounds.

Not any more

by SmokinNJokin Sun 04 Sep 2016, 23:38

With the 185jhp, 4.5-4.8wst on the long line and 4.0 wst short line will treat you well. 12lb spring should cycle both with ease.

by Chris Miceli Sun 04 Sep 2016, 23:47

kjanracing wrote:I thought the EIC matches specified 230 gr "factory" rounds.

Any safe jacked

by dronning Sun 04 Sep 2016, 23:52

Christopher Miceli wrote:
kjanracing wrote:I thought the EIC matches specified 230 gr "factory" rounds.
Any safe jacked

It was changed last year as per C. M. 185gr JHP seems to get the best results, nice to shoot too.

- Dave

by Jack H Sun 04 Sep 2016, 23:54

I am not quite sure about JSWC.

by Chris Miceli Sun 04 Sep 2016, 23:58

Jack H wrote:I am not quite sure about JSWC.

6.5.2 Pistol Ammunition

Service Pistol. Service Pistol competitors may use any safe ammunition that is loaded with metal-jacketed bullets. Non-jacketed, wad-cutter or lead bullets may not be used.

by JayhawkNavy02 Mon 05 Sep 2016, 00:56

Tim:H11 wrote:I'm gonna shoot my first hardball (service pistol? EIC?) match later this month. Currently my plans are to shoot factory Ammo but I'd like to eventually come up with a lighter recoiling jacketed load that's accurate enough for this game. I don't want to fall into having to buy multiple powders though and what I have and use regularly is Bullseye powder.

So the questions:

What are some good jacketed loads using Bullseye powder?

What is a good bullet weight? What is a popular design or type of bullet to use?

I've never loaded jacked pistol Ammo before. Only lead. Crimp needs to be addressed too.

Thanks.

https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t1209-pet-loads-of-top-shooters-loads-from-the-past

Zero 185gr JHP 45 ACP (long line)

Powder: 4.5 - 4.6 gr Bullseye
OAL: 1.200 - 1.220
Crimp: .469 - .470
Brass: Starline

Zero 185gr JHP 45 ACP (short line)

Powder: 4.0 gr Bullseye
OAL: 1.200 - 1.220
Crimp: .469 - .470
Brass: Starline

by Jack H Mon 05 Sep 2016, 02:22

Christopher Miceli wrote:
Jack H wrote:I am not quite sure about JSWC.
6.5.2 Pistol Ammunition

Service Pistol. Service Pistol competitors may use any safe ammunition that is loaded with metal-jacketed bullets. Non-jacketed, wad-cutter or lead bullets may not be used.

I wonder why they threw in "wad-cutter" in the second sentence. Non-jacketed or lead would have been sufficient. And more clear.

by dronning Mon 05 Sep 2016, 06:05

I saw several service members shooting the 185gr Federal Gold Medal Match FMJSWC at Canton and Perry.

- Dave

What are some 45 "Hardball" Loads? Fedepicgm45b

What are some 45 "Hardball" Loads? Fedepicgm45b

by Axehandle Mon 05 Sep 2016, 07:57

Wobbley wrote:SSgtG, how do you feel about those who legged out using the M9?

The question makes me smile. When the 9mm was allowed I remember old heads saying the Distinguished badge won with the 9mm should be smaller than the ones won with the 45.. lol!

Not a rifle shooter but I'd bet the old high power shooters said the same thing about the change to the 556/223.

by SSgtG Mon 05 Sep 2016, 08:25

In the effort of complete disclosure, my first 8 points were with the M9. Couldn't be helped, as a Marine had to complete with what they gave me. After the division match we always used 1911s. When I wanted to pursue distinguished i bought a 1911. Yes, is harder. I have 16 rifle points too, 8 with the AR and 8 with the M14. The M14 is more difficult to shoot as well. The difficult is what makes it valuable, at least to me. But time moves on, things change. It's so a reasonably free country, you get to choose what you want to shoot with. How do I feel about the M9 distinguished shooters? No doubt they are great shooters, you still have to beat 90% of the others to leg. But it is easier to shoot the M9. Their choice. I chose the 1911 because of how I wanted to feel about me. It should make no difference to anyone else how I feel about them.

by **Wobbley** Mon 05 Sep 2016, 09:10

I went out for rifle in 1986. I did it with a 14. My first leg was at Perry in 1984; 10 points and I was above the ten point cut. At most of the regionals I attended only 2 and sometimes 3 legs were given and they issued "Special Ball" on the line. So I know difficult.

All that said, I was advocating to all that the 5.56 AR platform was the way to go as far back as 1996. Sure it's easier to shoot partly because it's more accurate. A properly prepared AR will outshoot a properly prepared M14, every time.

by Chris Miceli Mon 05 Sep 2016, 09:18

It doesn't matter what pistol you or ammo... You still have to be in the top 10% of the pact, meet the minimum required score to earn a leg ,and get a hard leg.

by james r chapman Mon 05 Sep 2016, 10:23

Better to ask "Was the competition better back in the day"

by Chris Miceli Mon 05 Sep 2016, 10:34

james r chapman wrote:Better to ask "Was the competition better back in the day"

I think it's better now with the 250 min for leg points. Before you could get points with a 210 and I've seen scores where someone did. Granted they probably won't get the hard leg required

by **Wobbley** Mon 05 Sep 2016, 10:46

james r chapman wrote:Better to ask "Was the competition better back in the day"

The high individual in the Rifle National Trophy Team match was just broken. The new record is 500-15X set by Sgt. Antonio DiConza. This beat the record set by SSG Don Manning of 499-28X set in 1986. So the competition is as good now as it was then.

by james r chapman Mon 05 Sep 2016, 11:11

I suspect rifle is a bit more of an equipment race compared to Springfield's and M1A1's.

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