[Classic_jon]

I have a Springfield XD service (4") and am currently using the 155gr MG JHP's with 5.0 gr of N320 and was thinking about buying some of the 200gr ones in my next order to play with and see if I could come up with a good load for them to shoot IDPA and some Steel.

I thought I would ask the Oracle of knowledge here first to save myself some $$ and time if it would not work well in a stock pistol.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated!

[scribble]

In your XD I think I would stay away from that heavy of a bullet due to them being loaded short. I would go to 175 or 180 max.

[Kulas]

I have tried this same head also, but only once. I think it was way too much to handle. But I was not the one reloading it. Can it be toned down a bit and still pass chrono? 'Coz if it can I can ask the reloader to tone it down a bit. I don't know anything about reloading. Maybe a stupid question, please be gentle.

[scribble]

In a 1911/2011 pistol were it can be loaded long it is very doable even up to 220gr bullets. With the short loads in an xd it is just not something recommended.

[Aircooled6racer]

Hello: Try some 185 Precision moly bullets. They should work great in your XD. Load to 1.140 OAL and 3.0 grains of Tite Group. This will be a soft load(minor) and will smoke a little. Thanks, Eric

[Classic_jon]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Looks like I may be sticking with the 155's or some 180's from what has been said so far.
I left this out in the original post: I am loading the 155gr MG JHP's at 1.130 OAL and they feed flawlessly.

Kulas,
From the other responses I think the 200gr is possible in some other .40 frames/guns but not recommended in the XD platform because of how long it would be. If you have a .40 that will handle the longer OAL that seems to be the recommendation with the 200gr bullets than I would say have your friend experiment with it a bit and see

[Dan Burwell]

I shot a boat load of 200gr heads out of my M&Ps. I was using AA no5 without any pressure problems at all. I know 320 is a faster powder so it may not play well with the 200 loaded short, but I know if you are willing to try a little slower powder you can make some soft minor loads.

I think that is what some people may be hanging up on.. you are going for a minor load for IDPA and steel not a USPSA major load which would be a risky proposition in a normal length 40 with a 200 gr head.

[Classic_jon]

Dan Burwell, on Oct 6 2009, 12:17 PM, said:

I shot a boat load of 200gr heads out of my M&Ps. I was using AA no5 without any pressure problems at all. I know 320 is a faster powder so it may not play well with the 200 loaded short, but I know if you are willing to try a little slower powder you can make some soft minor loads.

I think that is what some people may be hanging up on.. you are going for a minor load for IDPA and steel not a USPSA major load which would be a risky proposition in a normal length 40 with a 200 gr head.

Ahh, I see what you are saying and that puts some of the other responses in a different light.

Sorry, I should have said that I have other powders I can use for it and not necessarily the N320. I only listed that as a ref point to what I was currently using and it just confused matters....
I only need to make about a 130k power factor to be IDPA legal in the ESP class. According to my math that means that if I shot a 200gr bullet it would need to make ~650fps minimum for it to make power factor.

I have some HP38/W231, and access to several other powders as well. The N320 for the 200gr .40 bullet is NOT a "must use", I can use whatever powder will work best!

[Harmon]

ive shot a butt-load of 200s loaded 1.135 with Universal clays and even bullseye in my glock 22.


i never had any problems whatsoever.

Harmon

[SkyScrapin]

Harmon, on Oct 29 2009, 10:09 AM, said:

ive shot a butt-load of 200s loaded 1.135 with Universal clays and even bullseye in my glock 22.


i never had any problems whatsoever.

Harmon

How many grains of powder where you shooting? What PF?

Preston

[scheirere]

I've also shot a lot of 200 gr. .40s loaded standard length. 200gr. Precision bullets (polymer coated lead) @ 1.125" OAL, in front of 3.9 grs. of Univ. Clays. Ran about a 170 pf from my Glock 35. Another load I've used extensively was: Precision Delta 200 gr. FMJ at 1.125", ahead of 5.0 gr. of IMR 4756. Right around a 170 PF. I recently ran 200gr. Montana Gold Bullet (CMJ) at 1.125" OAL, in front of 4.9 gr. of Solo 1000. Ran about 172 pf from my Glock 24 and about a 168pf from the Glock 35. Just a note on the Solo 1000 load; this is an old batch of powder that doesn't seem as potent as more recent stuff. So start a bit lower (-10%) than what I listed an work up.

[richbug]

scheirere, on Oct 29 2009, 04:28 PM, said:

I recently ran 200gr. Montana Gold Bullet (CMJ) at 1.125" OAL, in front of 4.9 gr. of Solo 1000. Ran about 172 pf from my Glock 24 and about a 168pf from the Glock 35. Just a note on the Solo 1000 load; this is an old batch of powder that doesn't seem as potent as more recent stuff. So start a bit lower (-10%) than what I listed an work up.

I'd be very very cautious of that load.

I ran Berry's 200's at 1.185" with 4.0 to 4.1 grains of Solo 1000, this made 175PF+ a bit in my Para. My primers usually showed a tiny bit of pressure.

[Classic_jon]

UPDATE:

I bought a sample pack of the 200gr BBI bullets. I got 136 of them in my "100 bullet pack" thanks BBI! After some testing I have settled on 3.0gr of N320 and a 1.135 OAL on them. I only need to make the 125 Power for ESP in IDPA and this load is making 150 in 45 degree weather so it should still make 125 easy in warm weather.

The gun functions smoothly and the round kind of thumps out instead of the short recoil that my standard load does. I seem to be able to reacquire sight picture faster and more easily.

I am going to shoot this load in our local club match and do some testing at 25 yards to see how much it drops but other than that I am pretty happy with the load. I tried 3.8gr and a few others but 3.0 seems to be the sweet spot for this bullet weight and powder combo.



In this testing I also confirmed that N320 is definitely reverse temp sensitive. I fired my standard 155gr 5.0gr of N320 over the chrony and it gained a little over 50fps in 45 degree weather as opposed to 80 degree weather. I had one of the ones I fired actually gain 76fps!

This post has been edited by Classic_jon: 07 January 2010 - 10:26 AM

[Classic_jon]

Tested the rounds at 25 yards and had only a minimal drop of about an inch. Out of 17 rounds 14 were in the -0 one in the -1 and 2 in the -3 area. I shot the first 5 trying to make sure I was on paper and the rest were fired at my normal speed in competition at that range.

My order for 2k of the BBI 200gr will be going in today Hopefully I will be able to get them in and shoot them for a while before the Louisiana State IDPA match!

[NoSteel]

PM sent.

[Classic_jon]

NoSteel, on 26 January 2010 - 01:22 PM, said:

PM sent.

NoSteel, since Brain Enos posted about the PM's going funky, I responded to your PM earlier. If you did not get the PM let me know.

This post has been edited by Classic_jon: 26 January 2010 - 02:41 PM

[NoSteel]

Reply Sent.

[austex]

If you plan to shoot steel, you should probably consider getting at least 750fps so the bullets disintegrate better. In fact, Steel Challenge rules require that speed.

Classic_jon, on 06 October 2009 - 11:55 AM, said:

I only need to make about a 130k power factor to be IDPA legal in the ESP class. According to my math that means that if I shot a 200gr bullet it would need to make ~650fps minimum for it to make power factor.