loading for my first night match - 231 or titegroup?

[steves86ta]

Going to load up 9mm for my first night match this weekend. I have 231 and titegroup. Which in your experience is 'less' smokier? Trying to not completely eff my followup shots.

My usual recipes are
9mm blue bullet 124gn RN
4.1gn of Win 231 @ 1.060

9mm blue bullet 124gn RN
3.9gn of Titegroup @ 1.060

Ive only loaded titegroup once in this - i dont remember much of the performance.

 

[ikeo1]

I've used titegroup pretty much the same recipe. It's dirty af. My understanding is Win 231 is similar. If you want clean, gotta go for N320. Otherwise, load up the titegroup, solid recipe. 1.060 is really short, must be a CZ.

 

[steves86ta]

I've used titegroup pretty much the same recipe. It's dirty af. My understanding is Win 231 is similar. If you want clean, gotta go for N320. Otherwise, load up the titegroup, solid recipe. 1.060 is really short, must be a CZ.

Its a Glock clone (dagger). One of my barrels was on the tight side and would hang up sometimes with stuff longer. I've since replaced that barrel and it's no longer an issue, however ive just stuck with what ive been loading as it has worked lol

 

[G421W]

Going to load up 9mm for my first night match this weekend. I have 231 and titegroup. Which in your experience is 'less' smokier? Trying to not completely eff my followup shots.

My usual recipes are
9mm blue bullet 124gn RN
4.1gn of Win 231 @ 1.060

9mm blue bullet 124gn RN
3.9gn of Titegroup @ 1.060

Ive only loaded titegroup once in this - i dont remember much of the performance.

Low muzzle flash from N320 or Sport Pistol. With any powder a copper coated or jacketed bullet will smoke less than coated lead in my experience. Best all around for night shoots is N320 pushing a copper coated or fully jacketed bullet.

 

[Malibu]

Being that you are likely loading that up now, or already started, 231 with good primers will work just fine. The difference you would notice between the two in no/low light shooting is negligible, provided we are comparing two loads in the same barrel. The smoke is not an issue as much as is the proper identification of your target and getting your sighting system where it needs to be.
As a side note, IME powders that produce lots of flash only become an issue sometimes when shooting from the position of retention, in pistols that have ported barrels.

 

[steves86ta]

Being that you are likely loading that up now, or already started, 231 with good primers will work just fine. The difference you would notice between the two in no/low light shooting is negligible, provided we are comparing two loads in the same barrel. The smoke is not an issue as much as is the proper identification of your target and getting your sighting system where it needs to be.
As a side note, IME powders that produce lots of flash only become an issue sometimes when shooting from the position of retention, in pistols that have ported barrels.

Thank you. And thank you everyone else for the advise

I ended up loading up the tire group

I was looking through my cabinet and I had a tub of the 'streak' bullets left in 124-125gn

I had a bunch of the 124 blue bullets loaded with 231.

I'll take both and see what happens I guess

Thank you all

 

[G421W]

Thank you. And thank you everyone else for the advise

I ended up loading up the tire group

I was looking through my cabinet and I had a tub of the 'streak' bullets left in 124-125gn

I had a bunch of the 124 blue bullets loaded with 231.

I'll take both and see what happens I guess

Thank you all

Let us know how it goes. Always good to get more info.

 

[Malibu]

^^^^As long as they go “bang” with sufficient velocity to avoid squibs, they will work just fine.

As a side note for night shooting, reflective tape or paint on the floor plate of the magazine (or on the knob of a speed loader for us revolver shooters) makes finding those in the dark a lot easier when it comes time to pick them up in the dirt. Have fun, night shooting is a critical skill to work on.

 

[steves86ta]

That's a great idea. I'll have to see if I have any more reflective trailer tape around here

 

[Malibu]

How did your event go?….
I’ve been loading up some .44 Magnum loads with steep charges of WW296 for use in a 3” S&W for a bit of low-light fun, so we will see how this one runs.

 

[bruce381]

unless you shoot cast do not worry about it I shoot cast they smoke jacketed not so much in comparison, yes night shoots

 

[sirgrumps]

I have been uing 231 for over 30 years.
It's temp statble, reliable, and avaliable everywhere.
It also loads almost every caliber, except magnums.

 

[sugarfoot57]

Same here for the same amount of time. It meters well and is a good all around powder for moderate loads. As mentioned above, 4.1- 4.2 grains under a plated 124 grain RN 9mm. Use to do steel challenge (SSA) at Raaughes in the early 2000's with my late friend using my G19 and PCC with this load and it always tipped the plates over reliably.

 

[Malibu]

Here’s a .357 Magnum load, 158 JSP with Herco.

 

[hambam105]

Reloaders concerned with low light shooting should be aware of this.

Some particular lots of W231, not all W231, are sometimes manufactured with anti-flash properties. Unusually these cartridges with this treated powder are slated for military and LE cartridges. Does this treated powder make it to the civilian reloading products? From my experience I can say with a great deal of confidence? Sometimes.

As for all other powders I do not know.

Since 1984, I've intentionally assembled pistol cartridges for low light shooting purposes. So pay attention to the lot number(s) of powders that you use if low light shooting interests you as well. And remember, there are other major factors for assembling such reloads that can be discussed later without thread jacking.

I've been hearing good low light characteristics using N320. But I currently have no experience with it, yet. Stay tuned.

 

[AR15barrels]

I believe most of the smoke is from the bases of raw cast bullets.
I have shot plated bullets and naked cast bullets with the same powder loads and there is a lot more smoke from the bare lead bullets.
I now only use plated or jacketed bullets in night matches.

Obviously the smoke kills your vision when you illuminate it with a light, but the non-obvious thing about a little bit of smoke is that a little smoke turns your laser into a light-sabre that lets you see where you are pointing without needing a clear view of the target as long as you know where it is.
If it's not so dark that you absolutely must have your light on, try shooting with just the laser and no light.
A little moonlight is enough to find the targets IF you don't have too much smoke OR your light illuminating the smoke.
You can see through non-illuminated smoke much easier then illuminated smoke.