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Thread: cast practice loads in S&W 9mm EZ

  1. #1
    Boolit Master
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    cast practice loads in S&W 9mm EZ

    Factory jacketed 124gr bullet ammo shoots to point of aim with the fixed sights, but all the practice 124gr cast bullet loads I've tried shoot very low. Bullseye loads are better than other powders. Anyone have a suggestion to raise the cast point of impact?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master
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    Have you tried a load with you cast that duplicates the velocity of the factory 124 grain loads ?

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
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    I have had good luck with 124 gr Lee powder coated over 4.4 - 4.5 gr of Unique.
    But my Browning HP with fixed sights shoots high with Jacketed bullets.
    So the cast is more on target with my pistol.
    With Jacketed Ammo , I aim at 6 o'clock on the target at 25 yards.
    With the cast Boolits , I aim at center of target at 25 yards and get almost the same impact on the target.
    But that is Me and My pistol.
    Your pistol may give different results.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Norske View Post
    Factory jacketed 124gr bullet ammo shoots to point of aim with the fixed sights, but all the practice 124gr cast bullet loads I've tried shoot very low. Bullseye loads are better than other powders. Anyone have a suggestion to raise the cast point of impact?
    What exact loads have you tried that are shooting low ?
    What cast boolits do you prefer / can you get .
    What powder do you prefer / can you get .

    Helps to know what doesn't work .
    I've been doing a lot of work with cast 124 gr. 9mm Luger loads lately... fixed sighted Walther P38 , came up with a load that shoots to the old pistols POA/POI and doesn't beat it up .
    Tried several powders .
    Gary
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  5. #5
    Boolit Master

    Kraschenbirn's Avatar
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    Powder-coated, the Lee 124 gr. TC over 5.8 gr. HS-6 shoots to the same POI as factory FMJ from my SIG 365XL.

    Bill
    "I'm not often right but I've never been wrong."

    Jimmy Buffett
    "Scarlet Begonias"

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    You need to try to match the recoil of the factory round or depending on how far off it is cover the target with the front sight.

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
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    I'm loading to max published data with multiple powders. As stated before, Bullseye gets closest to factory jacketed impacts. I'm crediting Bullseye with the quickest recoil. I've had the same problem with fixed sights before and a taller rear sight solved it. S&W recommends a replacement sight, but the contact people for that sight importer admit that half of their rear sights for the EZ are returned.
    I'm thinking I need to find a source of cast 130>135 gr bullets.

  8. #8
    Boolit Mold
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    Have you tried slowing down the velocity? That will give the bullet a little longer to leave the barrel, which will let the muzzle rise more before the bullet leaves the gun. A movement of just 1/100th of an inch will move the impact of the bullet approximately 1 inch on a target at 25 yards.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    That's my next experiment. I've loaded cast 124gr boollits with with charges of Bullseye 3.5>5 gr in 1/2 gr steps. I'll shoot them on or before next Monday. "Stand by for news."

  10. #10
    Boolit Bub
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    Norske, your latest results?

    Did you you try any different namebrands?
    If so, did one outperform the others? What were its characteristics: weight, velocity, etc.
    (I have the same gun.)

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    124 grain cast over either 5 gr Bullseye or Ramshot Zip were very close to 124gr factory jacketed ammo, and on top of each other. I shot 5 rounds of each test powder/powder charges of a half dozen powders and the ten holes from those two tests combined made a smaller group than any of the other 5-shot groups. The 5gr Bullseye recoil felt sharper than anything else. I'm glad I have almost 2# of Bullseye in inventory.

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