Quote from: crockett on September 12 2025 07:39:42 PM MDT

Quote from: sqlbullet on September 12 2025 07:33:41 PM MDTA fast 9?  38 super, 9x23 or a 9x25.  Ammo can be a challenge but those are all smoking hot, have great barrier penetration in heavier bullets, shoot flat and have excellent capacity. 

A 9x25 converted G40 with 2000+ FPS loads? hmmm...

A 9X25 Barrel in the G40 is the easy button, and the Underwood 90 grain solids probably will be closer to 2100 fps from the extra barrel length of the G40.

I keep resisting the urge to pick up a RIA double stack 9mm and ream it to 9X23. It would trail just behind the 9X25 in velocity, may 100-150 fps with that 90 grain bullet.  But it would hold 18+1 and jump up to 23-24 in an extended base plate mag.

A fast 9?  38 super, 9x23 or a 9x25.  Ammo can be a challenge but those are all smoking hot, have great barrier penetration in heavier bullets, shoot flat and have excellent capacity. 

I hate to break this to you....I am pretty left.  But very 2A at the same time.  Keep in mind "left" doesn't always mean "democrat".

And in the state I live, a democrat here is about the same as just right of center Republican in other places.

And, you are not right.  The "edges" of both parties are so radical I don't know how to deal.

AP news is reporting the rifle recovered had a spent cartridge in the chamber and three more cartridges in the magazine.  Suggest to me a bolt action rifle.  I have seen rhetoric that the cartridge was 30-06 Springfield.

The latest this morning is a suspect is in custody.

I am personally not a huge fan of open carry as a tactic.  I understand the arguments for the practice, and among them I agree that helping to normalize the presence of an armed citizen is a good thing.

But I am absolutely opposed to any laws that would restrict my ability to choose to open carry.  My home state is above average, but has some strange stipulations about long guns having to be in a scabbard rather than just slung. I would like to see those go.

Quote from: John A. on September 06 2025 05:52:57 PM MDTBut it's terrible that we kicked their tail and made our country say say shall not be infringed, yet, we're infringed every time we turn around.

Most recent infringement discussions from our current, supposedly pro-2A admin:

https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-ban-trans-gun-owners-trump-e05b489ad64b80af31e376d6d3ef7dfd

It's not that there is nothing to be critical of in the current administration. But for some reason we gun owners seem to have lost the ability to be critical of anyone that says they are pro-2A.

Trump is no gun owners friend. Remember the bump stock and that now they are discussing an administrative change to the definitions of mentally defective so as to include those that have opinions or lifestyles contrary to their agenda.

I have re-started working on 9X25 Dillon. I had last week off and worked with the cartridge during that time. Couple things I have learned and a couple others I have tested:

Brass process:

I selected fifty 10mm cases from my fired case pool. Ran them through my Dillon 9X25 sizing die with a bit of Imperial wax. Select your brass carefully if you are using fired brass. Any defect on the case mouth can result in a split case mouth during neck expansion/flare. I flared with a Lee universal flare tool.

Not sure why, but creating 9X25 brass makes the neck inside diameter excessively small. Doesn't happen when resizing fired 9X25 brass, but you will definitely need to run something like a Lyman M-Die or NOE neck die through brass after the initial creation of a 9X25 case from 10mm. I skipped this for the first 10 or so cases and, as the loading report and shooting results will show, there were problems.

Load Data

The only published load data I could find was from Lyman and did not include load data for many of the powders I had on hand to test. I turned to GRT and spent a fair bit of time there. I created a cartridge and chamber profile for 9X25 and created entries for my NOE cast bullets. Then I ran simulations for Power Pistol, Blue Dot, H110 and about a dozen other powder that I didn't end up creating test loads for. I will not be sharing my charge weights here. GRT simulations are not load data, and I am off book and potentially stupid here. If you want to join me in the stupid race, you can work up your own simulations.

Finally, Some Ammo!

I intended to load up NOE 360-128 SWC with Power Pistol and AA#7, 124 Grain HST pulls with the same powder, different load data, and NOE 360-150's with Power Pistol. In addition I had three each old test loads from some time back: Blue Dot with the NOE 150 grain and H110 with the HST's.

The first five NOE 360-128's loaded up without much fuss, but seating was more force than expected. At this point I had not (re?) learned that an M-die was needed. These loads were a disaster though I didn't know it yet - but they were not unsafe.

The powder charge for the Power Pistol HST's was just 0.3 grains higher so I charged those. First round seated fine. Second round split a neck. Third round crushed a neck, fourth round hooked the neck and crushed one side., fifth round seated. It was at this point I discovered the case had been sized very small so loading was suspended until I could locate my 35 caliber M die. During the neck crushing fiasco I also found that the HST's aren't suitable for 9X25 - Ogive is too long and you can't get a crimp that will prevent set-back. The H110 test loads work as it is a 100% case fill charge, but with Power Pistol they just slide right back into the case. I adjusted my COAL to 1.275" with the plan so single load just to get a data point for those two rounds.

And then it was time to leave with my grand total of 13 loaded rounds of ammo.

Shooting Results:

Shooting was with a Glock 20 using a 6" ported Lone Wolf barrel.

I fired the 150 grain Blue Dot loads first. GRT predicted these to be 1164 fps at my test load charge weight. Actual velocity for three shots averaged 1227.

Next up were the 124 grain HST's loaded with H110 predicted to be 1142, actual 1059.

The Power Pistol 124 grain HST's were expected to deliver 1353 (adjusted COAL included) and delivered 1344 fps - two whole shots tested.

Finally the Power Pistol 360-128 SWC cast bullets. I had high hopes for these since the HST's had performed so well. Simulation predicted 1356 fps, actual....726 with a 395 fps extreme spread. See? Disaster.

All the brass and primers look fine. No signs I was anywhere near serius pressure. Ejection ranged from anemic to tolerable, but nothing flung to orbit like 10mm brass is. Firearm function was 100%, even with those super weak loads.

Analysis:

During the short walk from my test range back to the cabin I stewed a fair bit on the 128 grain cast bullet loads. Those rounds only had 0.3 grains lesss powder than the HST loads, and had the bullet seated a fair bit deeper. Pressure, and therefor velocity, should have been very nearly the same. But the velocities I was seeing suggested 15-18K psi, not the 31K PSI the simulation predicted.

And then I remembered the tight necks. When I got home Sunday afternoon I grabbed an un-primed case and measured the neck ID - 0.344". I seated a 128 grain bullet, crimped it and then pulled it. Sure enough, that tight next was sizing my cast bullets down to 0.352". I hypothesize that such undersized bullets had no chance of actually sealing the bore and therefore didn't correctly build pressure, resulting in low and erratic velocity.

All my brass has now been through the M-die. I will be loading up a full cadre of 128 grain and 150 grain cast bullets with Power Pistol, AA#7 and 3N37 for my next outing.

I have never used the Ram Prime, but have recommended it quite often as one of the cheapest priming options.  Good to hear you like it and that my recommendations are for something other than price.

When I just have a small group to prime I use my Lee Breechlock Challenger press with it's built in primer set up.  It primes on the up-stroke and doesn't offer the same seating depth control the Ram Prime does, but for just a few cases it is faster than setting up other options.  I used it yesterday as I had about a dozen cases to prime.

Quote from: RedTeam98 on August 25 2025 10:20:54 PM MDT220gr Berry Thick Plated FN and 8.6 of Longshot for Alaska Trail Load

It should be noted that this load is over max for Hodgdon data.  They list 8.2 grains as max with a 200 grain load.

Not criticizing the load, just saying to anyone not experienced in reloading, use care and work up slowly.

Going forward small rifle is the only small primer I will buy.  They seem pretty much equivalent to small pistol in pressure/performance, and even my Fusion with a light mainspring sets them off without issue.  I don't see a reason to stock both.

I have plenty of large pistol at the moment.  But if large rifle seat without a wobble I would not hesitate to use them.

Quote from: The_Shadow on August 21 2025 07:48:55 AM MDTThe diet & no sugar drinks give me almost instant headaches.

I don't get headaches when I drink them, but I sure do when I stop if I am drinking more than 20 oz in a day.  I used to think it was the caffeine, but I don't have the issue if I skip the coffee for a few days. I think it must be the artificial sweeteners.

I have two Sigs, a 226 and a 229, both of which have 40 barrels and 357 Sig barrels.  I have never shot the 357 Sig barrels since I didn't have any brass.  Last weekend I got 500 + once fired mixed headstamp brass for 7¢ each. So, time to test some 357 Sig.

I am working up slow testing mostly cast bullets.  The very short nose of the 357 Sig means not any 0.355" bullet will work. In fact my large stock of 124 grain tmj and 124 grain HST pulls both have too long a nose/ogive to crimp correctly in the case at a length that will fit the magazine.

I have about 1K 90 grain Gold Dots on hand - I also use these for giggles in 9X25 Dillon.  I had maybe three dozen 125 grain gold dots that came with a stash I bought out.  To my surprise the nose on my two SWC cast bullets will fit, but they seat deep in the case, especially the 152 grain.

The test loads are:

Powder______	Charge__	Bullet________	Weight__	COAL___	Exp Velocity	Exp Energy
Win 572	7.0	Lead SWC	130	1.130	1250	451
Win 572	7.5	Lead SWC	130	1.130	1350	526
Win 572	8.0	Lead SWC	130	1.130	1450	607
Longshot	6.5	Lead SWC	152	1.135	1150	446
Longshot	7.0	Lead SWC	152	1.135	1200	486
Longshot	7.5	Lead SWC	152	1.135	1250	527
N350	7.2	Speer HP	125	1.140	1300	469
N350	8.4	Speer HP	125	1.140	1450	583
AA7	11.9	Speer HP	90	1.135	1550	480
AA7	12.9	Speer HP	90	1.135	1700	577

Looking in this first stage to push to around 600 lb-ft loads. And to validate the cast bullets.  I doubt the 152 grain is gonna do great.  They are traditional lube and the lube groove is completely below the shoulder. I was wishing I had some powder coated of that bullet, but all the ones I had cast were already lube.  I will PC some next time I cast.  I may later try to push to 650-700 lb-ft.

Handloader #357 has an article by Patrick Meitin on the 38 Super Auto +P and includes some pretty spicy loads.  The spiciest was a 124 grain loaded with 11.5 grains of Major Pistol (Lovex D037-1) that is listed at 1667 fps from a 5" 1911.  That is a 765 lb-ft load.  Makes me wish I had some Major Pistol around to play with.  His load data also favored AA#7 and Silhouette, which I do have on hand.

I have been a fan of the 38 Super and have two guns with that chamber - A Fusion Gold 1911 and a Tanfoglio Stock III. I had been doing some of my own work-ups.  Brass is Starline 38 Super Comp and primers are S&B small rifle.

Results of my last test:

_Powder_________	Charge	Bullet________	COAL____	Notes	Velocity
AA7	10	124 JHP	1.290		1388
AA7	10.5	124 JHP	1.275		1454
AA7	10	130 SWC	1.245		1514
AA7	10.5	130 SWC	1.245	Primers wiped, max load	1541
Power PIstol	7.3	124 JHP	1.275		1335
Power PIstol	7.7	124 JHP	1.275		1372
Power PIstol	7.3	130 SWC	1.245		1395
Power PIstol	7.7	130 SWC	1.245		1424
BE-86	6.8	130 SWC	1.245		1368
BE-86	7.2	130 SWC	1.245		1396

I didn't include energy here, but that fourth load of AA7 with a 130 grain SWC was a 685 lb ft load and it was very clearly over max.

Based on these results, the Handloader article and some added load references I will be testing the following loads, hopefully this weekend.

Powder______	Charge__	Bullet________	Weight__	COAL___	Exp Velocity	Exp Energy
AA7	10.5	Speer HP	90	1.175	1440	414
AA7	11.5	Speer HP	90	1.175	1717	589
Silhouette	6.5	Federal HST	124	1.175	1408	546
Silhouette	7.5	Federal HST	124	1.175	1529	644
AA7	8.0	NOE 360-152	152	1.145	1251	528
Silhouette	6.5	NOE 360-128	130	1.145	1400	566
Silhouette	7.0	NOE 360-128	130	1.145	1475	628
AA7	10.5	Federal HST	124	1.275	1450	579
AA7	10.5	Federal HST	124	1.275	1450	579
AA7	10.8	Federal HST	124	1.275	1500	619

I had planned a second AA7 load with the 152 grain SWC, but the 8.0 grain load was compressed.  No way I was gonna get any added powder in there with that COAL.  And due to the SWC design it has to be seated to that depth to fit the throat on my barrels.  I have a 158 grain RFN mold around somewhere and will have to find it and cast some of those which I could load quite a bit longer - 1.275 probably.  That should allow me to get another 1.5 grains in the case.  Or I may stick with The 152 SWC bullet and switch to Silouette or Longshot.

I am targeting 600-650 lb ft in my max loads. In this test I will be testing velocity as well as accuracy of a 5 shot group at 25 yards.  Hoping to settle on a load for each bullet. and then stack them deep.

I have switched to a dark/french roast at the request of my two son's.  The I plastic welded the coffee maker back together.  It has been doing fine.

We are a coke house historically. Lately though Dr. Pepper has been gaining traction.  I have always like Dr. Pepper, but not the diet so when I cut sugars the Dr. Pepper went.  But the new Dr.Pepper Zero has some excellent flavors like blackberry and cherry that I really like and that have swayed my wife into a Dr. Pepper drinker.  Those are a special treat for me.  After my morning cup of Joe I am a water guy.

I have prime, mostly for the access to NCIS reruns and the new Star Trek.  And momentum as I have had it for years.  I don't disagree that it has become a parasite and not a service provider unless you are very judicious about what you buy.

But buying from Home Depot or Walmart is no better even though it is local. I try to frequent actual locally owned stores.  Ace Hardware is usually independently owned and I have a couple near me.  I look for IGA in small towns, or a complete independent if I can find one.

Here is a funny thing I have noticed.  Frequently, maybe even usually, if I look at the paid shipping options on Amazon, they are cheaper than Prime, even with the shipping costs.  But I won't get it tomorrow (or maybe even later today).

And that is the best use case for me for Amazon.  Something I can't get locally that I need quickly.