Armory Sponsor
Posted: 2/15/2011 12:33:53 PM EDT
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What a nice day it was here in Northern Kentucky. It was in the upper 40's, no wind...and I could see the grass!!!! No snow anywhere and a day off from work. I was shooting some IDPA style drills on steel targets at 7, 10, 15, and 20 yards. Steel targets are 6x6 inch and on ground level as knock downs with some 8x8 hanging steel at 20 yards at about waist level. I was running quickly thru some drills with my S&W M&P 40 and 45 and I'd cuss myself if I missed one under 15 yards. I reload everything I shoot but I had some factory ammo left over from a tactical pistol course I shot a few weeks ago. I started to notice that my .45 shooting my reloads were much better at 20 yards than the WWB that I bought for the course. Next, I look out to the 100 yard mark and there is a hanging steel plate that is 24x36 inch and tried for fun. Took me three shots to dial it in with the factory loads but I couldn't put a string of two hits together to save my life. However, when I put in my hand loads with some Hornady XTP's, the .45 was banging steel one after another. I tested the same thing with the .40 and walked away happy for two reasons. 1. I was banging steel with a pistol at 100 yards. 2. My handloads were much more accurate for me and my pistols than store bought factory ammo. 3. I was banging steel at 100 yards. As your skill goes from 'can't hit the side of the barn' to 'shooting small groups at 10 yards'....it's amazing what little things can make you happy when you do well. I walked down range and picked up my lead below the steel...and at 100 yards...the XTP's had great expansion.
I hope we see many more sunny and much warmer days in the weeks and months to come...may all your range sessions for load development make you as happy as I am. |
Armory Sponsor