Loading Question for the Brain Trust

First topic message reminder :

My goal is to load the absolute softest possible, reasonably accurate ammunition possible.  I bruise like a banana and cut like tissue paper, so I prioritize soft ammo. 

I have reliability issues with the below setup and load.  

SARO
RRA heavy combo rib
Sig Romeo 5
19# MS, 10# RS

Zero 185gr LSWC
3.8gr Clays
WLP
0.922” to shoulder, 0.466-67” crimp

I had a near 50% ejection failure rate with a 12# recoil spring.  10# RS brought the failure rate down significantly, but I am still having some issues with
- empty cases returning to the chamber (slide not cycling completely)
- weak ejection issues like stovepipes
- failure to lock back on some of my mags

The extractor is in good shape and properly tensioned, and the gun with 12# RS was 100% reliable with a jacketed 185/4.2gr Clays load. Unfortunately, the jacketed loads bruised my hand over the course of a long day.   

I can add more powder or I can go to a swaged 200 LSWC.  I don’t want to go any lighter on the RS or MS.  For those of you that have developed powderpuff short line loads—what’s been your better compromise for reduced recoil?  Lighter bullet moving slightly faster, or a heavier and longer bullet over the same light powder load?

Edit to add: I am interested in sticking with Clays because of how well it meters for me and how clean it burns.  Interested in what the strategic consensus on reliable low-recoil loading is—light lead bullet with a more powder, or heavier lead bullet (with less case capacity) over less powder?

Is Clays temperature sensitive? Are you shooting in a cold environment?

BE Mike wrote:Is Clays temperature sensitive? Are you shooting in a cold environment?

Not too cold here. The extreme in-season temp range for NC outdoors matches (March to October) is 45-to-95.  Most match days will be in the 65-85 degree range.  

I haven’t noticed Clays feeling soft in the cold or harsher in the summer.  Seems pretty stable.  W231 is a bit more finicky with temps.  But, I’m glad I relented and tested the W231.  The 185s shoot much better with that powder.

Mike,
I'm working on the same as you, as I have more Clay's and 231 than anything else.

This morning I tried 4.8-4.9 231 with a 200 LSWC for a short line load. Same feel as 3.6 Clay's but printed like 3.8 Clay's.

You might give that a try and see what you think.

4.2-231-200swc is a nice short line load; a one holer.

231 is gritty though

bruce martindale wrote:4.2-231-200swc is a nice short line load; a one holer.

231 is gritty though

I didn’t get full ignition with 231 under the 185s until I hit 5.2 grains.  5.0 and 5.1 peppered me (and the gun) with unburnt powder granules.  

5.1 ran just fine and shot a tiny bit tighter, but it wasn’t worth the occasional flashbang of grit to the face. 5.2 burns clean, clean brass, no pepper. 

Does the 4.2/200 load spray unburnt powder, or is it just leave a dirtier chamber than other options?

JRV, I suspect the case of matters here. I had used a Hornady 454 Casul sizer to minimize sizing

I've found the same as JRV with light loads using 321/HP38. 4.9 was tolerable though with a 200.

The same with N310 with lighter loads. I'm using 3.8-3.9 with a 200.

Update with a data point: position sensitivity.

5.2/185 LSWC gave decent performance and reliability from one of my irons 1911s yesterday (mostly 10s, all on call, only three 8s on the short line the whole day with that gun)), but there is a massive caveat. FPS was about 795, with some hot and cold loads every once in a while (loaded all new brass with the same primers, OAL, and crimp—just seems to be an issue with the Dillon PM’s consistency).

Except off the lift. If I forgot to “roll” the pistol in my hand with the muzzle up, the powder would apparently clump near the bullet and not settle back in the case. Velocities in the mid-500s with some failures to eject. Jiggling and rolling the pistol on the lift solved the problem, but seemed silly, easy to forget, and possibly a safety issue depending on the range.

I’ll be sticking with 200s and Clays if it means better consistency, no jiggling required.

JRV wrote:Update with a data point: position sensitivity.

5.2/185 LSWC gave decent performance and reliability from one of my irons 1911s yesterday (mostly 10s, all on call, only three 8s on the short line the whole day with that gun)), but there is a massive caveat.  FPS was about 795, with some hot and cold loads every once in a while (loaded all new brass with the same primers, OAL, and crimp—just seems to be an issue with the Dillon PM’s consistency).

Except off the lift.  If I forgot to “roll” the pistol in my hand with the muzzle up, the powder would apparently clump near the bullet and not settle back in the case.  Velocities in the mid-500s with some failures to eject.  Jiggling and rolling the pistol on the lift solved the problem, but seemed silly, easy to forget, and possibly a safety issue depending on the range.

I’ll be sticking with 200s and Clays if it means better consistency, no jiggling required.

I hope that you are well stocked up on Clays. It is unobtainable around here.

I have roughly six pounds of Clays.