Target 45 auto load with N310 Sierra 185 gr. JHP

In Italy I cannot find Nosler  185 gr. JHP..so I use Sierra, wich is the beast load with N310.  at 50 yards (50 meters for me)?

Hello ser2711,

The classic load would be 4.2 grains of N310.  It is very accurate, albeit, I have found that N310 is quite temperature sensitive.  You may need to go up to 4.4 grains (+-) certain times of the year.

Jim

I have settled on 4.3 grains of N310 (with very light taper crimp at ~0.470"). That seems to cycle my guns nicely and very closely matches factory ASYM Match 185JHP - my Labradar sees them both at ~740fps (the ASYM box states 775fps).

I agree with Jim that N310 can be temperature sensitive.

I FOUND 4.5 GR OF VV310 TO BE THE MOST ACCURATE WITH THE SIERRA BULLET. 1.2" OAL . JP

JIMPGOV wrote:I FOUND 4.5 GR OF VV310 TO BE THE MOST ACCURATE WITH THE SIERRA BULLET. 1.2" OAL . JP

Is everyone using COL of 1.200" with these bullets, the Sierra JHP?

I bought quite a bit of these too (still have thousands of Zero on backorder) but have been loading Hornady XTP instead just because the profile of the Sierra JHP looks like it would be hardest to feed. With the XTP I'm finding 1.235" to feed best in my GT45. Those are 1" with 4.35gn VV N310 @ 25 yards.

I was pleasantly surprised by the clean holes using the XTP over the Zero (Nosler clone) 185gr JHP on paper targets. Circle vs Tears. I imagine the Sierra is even better. I get concerned though that it might be mistaken for 35 caliber wadcutter holes.

SingleActionAndrew wrote:

JIMPGOV wrote:I FOUND 4.5 GR OF VV310 TO BE THE MOST ACCURATE WITH THE SIERRA BULLET. 1.2" OAL . JP

[snip]
I was pleasantly surprised by the clean holes using the XTP over the Zero (Nosler clone) 185gr JHP on paper targets. Circle vs Tears. I imagine the Sierra is even better. I get concerned though that it might be mistaken for 35 caliber wadcutter holes.

Aw, just roll the ogives on an old-fashioned stamp pad so the bullets leave a nice black ring like lead bullets often do.

And since you probably don't have a stamp pad, buy a new one and your choice of colors. Faux coated bullets, ya know.

I'm loading all 185gr JHPs (Zero, Nosler, Rem Golden Sabre) at 1.22" OAL.  Most accurate load for guns with Aimpoint 9000SC scopes tested at 50Y with RR for me was 4.48gr. of N310.  Zero's all held 10 ring in 20 rounds sample. 4.40 gr and 4.20 gr were excellent as well with one-two shots out of 10 ring.

For guns without the dot I use 3.80 gr of N310.  Zero's held 10 ring in 19 out of 20 with WLP and 18 out of 20 with CCI300 LP.

AP

PhotoEscape, what gun is that out of? Ive found 4.2 1.200-1.205 to be very accurate also out of an LB no scope.

Wlw145s wrote:PhotoEscape, what gun is that out of? Ive found 4.2 1.200-1.205 to be very accurate also out of an LB no scope.

Not sure I understand the question.  I can dig out information on particular guns I tested at that time.  However it might be irrelevant as I test and optimize loads for each particular gun.  I presume, most precision pistol shooters do the same.

I'll be happy to answer, just need clarification.

AP

4.4gr N310 works great for me.

I suppose that was pretty cryptic. Honestly, I don’t think it matters which guns you used. I guess I was trying to equate what OAL your using and which guns that is matched to. 

 I’m more curious about how you tweak the load for your pistol, though. Can you share what you will try changing to match to the pistol?

I’ve got one Baer that likes 1.200 and another one that likes 1.205 better. Are there other things to fine tune with besides OAL?

Honestly, I don’t believe an observable variation is obtainable with a .005 variation in only oal.

Most likely you are right. I’m testing at 25yds from rest. Probably more variation in my hold than the OAL.

Wlw145s wrote:I suppose that was pretty cryptic. Honestly, I don’t think it matters which guns you used. I guess I was trying to equate what OAL your using and which guns that is matched to. 

 I’m more curious about how you tweak the load for your pistol, though. Can you share what you will try changing to match to the pistol?

I’ve got one Baer that likes 1.200 and another one that likes 1.205 better. Are there other things to fine tune with besides OAL?

I guess this was the answer to my request for clarification. 

Everything I'm going to write below is IMHO.  I do not pretend to be an reloading oracle or anything close to that.  I just put down my thoughts and what worked for me.

So, similarly to rifle shooting when I work with particular pistol the first things I try to identify are the particulars of the barrel's chamber as it pertains to particular projectile that I plan on using.  Similarly to rifles, when there is no details from the smith, I take sized case, crimp it based on type of bullet I plan on using and stick it in the chamber and see how it fits.  I then re-size and expand case for the bullet I plan using, and stick it to the chamber again to see and take measurement.  Next step would be inserting bullet just enough so it doesn't fall out.  Insert that combo into chamber and start pushing it in until it reached to spot close to position of the crimped case (see above).  There might be a need to use a little bit of force by means of knocking on the case to push it forward, or more complicated methods can be uses, like pushing bullet in the chamber until it hits lands, taking measurements from the top of the hood to the bullets base and compiling it with measuring the same to the bottom of crimped case inserted in the first step.  One way or another that would allow for identifying base OAL of the round with particular bullet for the chamber of the pistol you want to load for.

Then experimentation begins.  OAL you determined above +/- 0.01 with same charge and each of the three OALs with 3-5 different charges (-0.4gr, -0.2gr, base, +0.2gr, +0.4gr - obviously not going over recommended powder charges for caliber!) would be starting point.  Testing at least 20 rounds samples with each parameter using device that allows for elimination of human factor and as many variables as possible (I personally use Ransom Rest, but also make sure that it is mounted on solid base and do all steps for each shot the same way every time).  

Once I figure out bases, I then start fine tuning load for distance (i.e. finding best load for long line, and finding sufficiently good load for short line that allows to use same sight alignment without needing to adjust it), and deal with other variables (i.e. different recoil springs).

I'm going to stop right here..... because most pistol shooters feel, and probably rightfully so, that loading ammo with +/- 0.02gr tolerance is overkill.  I'm not arguing with that.  I just do it....., not always though.

Controlling OAL to the 0.005" us difficult and unpractical.  I don't know what reloading equipment that can provide for such accuracy.  Foster Coax and Star probably will be closest, but still........  Above described testing will tell if you need to go better that +/-0.01".

Hope this answers your question.

AP

This is as extremely helpful. Exactly the help I was looking for. Thanks for your response.

And I wondered why it took me 21 years to go from 2600 to 2650 2660…

john bickar wrote:And I wondered why it took me 21 years to go from 2600 to 2650 2660…

I can think of some other reasons but I’ll be nice  
Jon

Jon Eulette wrote:

john bickar wrote:And I wondered why it took me 21 years to go from 2600 to 2650 2660…

I can think of some other reasons but I’ll be nice  
Jon

LOL why start now?

john bickar wrote:And I wondered why it took me 21 years to go from 2600 to 2650 2660…

Went soft from shooting truckloads of 22 shorts?

Or picked up some bad habits from those rifle shooters. Maybe some fleas as well.