Tested CMP short line load

Gentlemen,
I want to share this load with you I have been shooting all year for CMP matches. I did poorly due to a lack of practice, not due to the ammo. This is a very, very light load and recoils far less than ASYM, Atlanta Arms or Zero 185's. It makes them feel like hardball. I use it on a FLGR with a 10lb spring. To swap between long and shortline loads, I pull the slide back, pop in the little clip to my FLGR, pop out the slide stop, take slide off, pull rod assembly out rear, put in other rod assembly (already pinned and compressed), and reassemble. No mess, no fuss, no twisting the bushing, no springs flying. Takes 15 seconds tops.

If you don't like the idea of shooting reduced loads, that is your perogative. But you are throwing away points lost to recoil. I have shot a ton of hardball and it just hurts my wrist and shoulder. Your choice.

Here's the test target. This was shot with a marginally fit barrel (almost no upper lug contact) so I am confident the load is well capable of cleaning the short line at an EIC match with a proper BE gun.



20 shots, regular mag changes, Barrel with mixture of lead and jhp shot through it, no fancy stuff. At 25 yards, this load cleans the short line with ease.

Recipe:
Zero 185 JHP loaded to 1.210" to 1.220". You can play with OAL based on your throat. But its not critical at the short line. Bullet selection is. Cheaper 185's such as the precision delta and plated's had drastically poorer results, even at 25yds.

3.2 gr Vectan Ba10 powder. This powder is DIRT CHEAP and very clean. Cleaner than anything else at this low volume. Leaves a bit of fine soot. No big particles. Jerry Keefer recommended it years ago and I have been using ever since on short line.

Starline once fired brass, I size in a .45 colt die and crimp to .472" (straight wall). Looks identical to factory Zero, Asym, etc.
WLP primer.

Try it out, you will be pleasantly surprised!

P.S. - If anyone wants to test at 50yds, be my guest but I believe you will see a nice shotgun pattern at that range.

Hi Smokin,

Two quick questions;

Are you using Dawson Precision "no tool" FLGRs?

Where do you buy Vectan Ba10 powder?

I am familiar with the Dawson product but have never used one. I use EGW tungsten guide rods because I like a heavy gun.

I buy ba10 from my local reloading shop, he orders hazmat for me. But I believe he get it from Graf's. Midway USA carries it but for quite a bit more $$.

OK, thanks for the info.  I'll have to check with my LGS to see if they'll order it.  Seems like it should be similar to VV 310/320.

I have the Dawson Precision FLGRs installed in two of my pistols and I'm quite happy with them.  Don't know how much heavier the EGWs are, but it can't be very much.

PowderValley sells it too, it's listed under Nobel Sport.

Nobel Sport Vectan Ba10  Link to Vectan Ba10
- Dave

Vectan Ba10 is excellent stuff that we used to shoot in Germany back in the late 80s and early 90s when I lived there.  Very fast powder (like Bullseye) that meters through a powder measure well, with very low standard deviation in velocity.

I didn't realize it was commonly available over here now.

Nice shooting. that is what is most important here. 

just saying....

Thats a ransom target, should have made that clear. My hold is nothing near that level, or my quest for distinguished would be complete.

Curious what your 50 yard load and spring are that you change out.. My new setup seems to really like 4.4gr of BE under a 185 ZERO. not very hot with an 18.5lb spring.

Posting a Vectan load Manual PDF also has a burn rate chart .


https://www.grafs.com/uploads/technical-resource-pdf-file/20.pdf

Finished off the last of about 30 lbs of ba10 last night. 3.2 gr is a good load, but I felt it was dirtier than it should have been.going to run WST or Titegroup group for a few thousand rounds

10sandxs wrote:Finished off the last of about 30 lbs of ba10 last night. 3.2 gr is a good load, but I felt it was dirtier than it should have been.going to run WST or Titegroup group for a few thousand rounds

Please share your titegroup loads.  I have tons of this stuff!

I have used wst as low as 3.3gr (200lead and 185 jacketed) If i recall, but i got huge unburned particles flying all over the place, was a nuisance. Seems like WST is really clean down to about 3.8 then you get the particles.

I shoot 3.4 gr BE & WST all the time. The X’s make up for the unburned powder sprinkled all over my arm;)
I think I might have a can of Vectan.....I’ll have to see. 
Jon

With lead, I have been using 2.5gr Ba10 for the 180gr FB-SWC (identical to 200 profile with bevel cut off) and 2.7gr Ba10 for the 200gr SWC. They both showed 1.5", 20-shot groups in the ransom rest in the same gun (marginally fit barrel)  @ 25 yards. I have shot a ton of both loads from my springfield ball gun that Jon rebarrel and they are laser-accurate @ 25yards. I don't have a ransom but my guess would be under 1" out of that gun @ 25yds.

Recoil of these loads feels to me comparable to the S&W model 52 shooting the standard HBWC load. I quit messing with recipes last year and have settled on these loads (depending on what bullets I get a deal on them) and just shoot through thousands upon thousands of them without a worry.