Pistol loading with APS350

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Pistol loading with APS350

Post by Sarge » 24 Feb 2021, 11:52 am

Has anyone done any handgun loading with APS350?
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by Macross » 09 Mar 2021, 9:09 am

Yes, i just did a batch of test 9mm on the weekend. 3.0gr and 3.2gr of APS350 behind 124gr flat point Frontier projectiles. Perfectly fine results and to be honest, i didnt notice a great deal of difference from my 3.8gr of APS450 loads.

I dont think the 3.0gr would make power factor for IPSC, but 3.2gr certainly would be close if not just in. Didnt chrono anything yet.
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by Bugman » 09 Mar 2021, 10:53 am

Never used it...yet. I have just used the last of my AP70N so I shall experiment with APS350 after some research.
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by rc42 » 09 Mar 2021, 11:12 pm

I've loaded 3.0gr of APS350 with a 158gr Hawksbury River LRN in a target 38 Special load.
It's a soft shooting load but very consistent grouping through a 6" barrel S&W 686 out at 100m for metallic silhouette.

I've also made by first batch of 9mm loads this week using a 115gr Berry's copper clad projectile and again 3.0gr of APS350, the dispenser disc was still set from the 38 Special loads and seemed like a good starting point from the ADI load data. Looking forward to testing them for steel challenge so no power factor needed.
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by BigB1 » 10 Mar 2021, 12:46 pm

Reloading 9mm with 124gn round nose frontier projectiles. 3.2gn of APS350 gave 899fps which wont make minimum power factor if you're into IPSC. 3.3gn felt snappier but the chrono gave up the ghost. I have now loaded 5 each of 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6gn of APS350. Hopefully chrono it tonight. I need 1050fps to make PF with a little margin.
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by Macross » 10 Mar 2021, 6:53 pm

Very interested to see those results BigB1.... 3.3 is the top end of the ADI load data so would be interesting to see if you start seeing over pressure signs or not going to 3.5\3.6
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by BigB1 » 10 Mar 2021, 8:09 pm

Macross wrote:Very interested to see those results BigB1.... 3.3 is the top end of the ADI load data so would be interesting to see if you start seeing over pressure signs or not going to 3.5\3.6


Pissing down with rain tonight so didnt get the chrono out - will update once its done. Should be fine to those loads but time will tell
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by rc42 » 10 Mar 2021, 9:42 pm

APS350 is about the fastest burning ADI powder so isn't a great choice for making power factor, the powder burn is over so fast that a 125gn projectile leaving at 900fps will already be around the peak chamber pressure so adding more powder isn't a safe option.

A slower burning powder like the new APS950 would be a better choice as there is less initial chamber pressure but that pressure holds as the projectile accelerates down the barrel to create a greater muzzle velocity.

Unfortunately, APS950 and all other ADI powders no longer seem to be available in Australia, except for a small amount of old stock in some stores.
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by FNQ » 10 Mar 2021, 10:48 pm

Just got myself some APS350 and hbrc 124gr
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by rc42 » 11 Mar 2021, 10:45 pm

Had a range day today and ran some of my 9mm reloads through a borrowed STI race gun with a heavy recoil spring and a Glock 34.
The rounds wouldn't even cycle the STI, failure to eject on every one, the Glock worked OK but the rounds were notably weaker than a box of factory Armscor 9mm 124gr copper clad.

Next test will be 3.2 to 3.4gr of APS350 with the 115 round nose Berry's copper clad projectiles and the same with some 124gr hard cast lead projectiles that I have.
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by Sarge » 12 Mar 2021, 10:05 am

Hey guys, getting some really good feedback here, thank you very much. I have managed to source a couple of kilos of APS450, but need other options when that is gone. Whatever I run, it will need to run an STI, and make factor, I suspect that the pressure spike might be a bit too high to get it to run loads for PF. Need to look closely at the slower burning powders.
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by Jackboot_Johnny » 27 Mar 2021, 11:38 am

Did anyone end up testing with the APS350 to see if they made power factor or not?
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by Macross » 30 Mar 2021, 10:31 am

Jackboot_Johnny wrote:Did anyone end up testing with the APS350 to see if they made power factor or not?


I dont think you will with 350. Trying to push the upper limits to reach power factor is a bit sketchy for me. 3.3gr of 350 is right up there at 34000 PSI and it looks like its only getting around the low 900fps. Might be a bit faster out of a 120mm barrel, but cant imagine its enough to reach PF.

Its actually great for practice or target loads. Im going to use it for that and keep my stash of 450 for IPSC comps.
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by Macross » 08 Apr 2021, 10:32 am

Had a chance to put some APS350 rounds over a chrono last night. I was getting mid to high 900fps using 3.3gr of APS350 with a 124gr projectile out of my CZ Shadow 2. Averaged power factor of 122.3 which is just shy of where you want to be. Creeping up a bit higher past the published loads is probably going to be fine to try and find 15 or 20 more fps. Not something i would do at a match. Much rather get well into PF than be biting my fingernails.
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Re: Pistol loading with APS350

Post by rc42 » 08 Apr 2021, 3:49 pm

I had a chance to try more 9mm reloads in a Beretta 92FS last week, my 3.0gr APS350 with 115gr Berry's CPRN were still on the weak side, they cycled OK if my wrists were properly locked but any limpness caused a failure to eject.
I also tried 3.4gr APS350 with a HRBC hard cast lead conical 124gr and they worked really well, still a fraction softer than factory rounds but no cycling issues.
Next was 3.8gr APS350 with the original 115gr Berry's CPRN, also no cycling issues and hard to tell apart from the factory rounds.
Finally, I tried a HRBC 148gr SP Black Hawke with 2.4gr APS350, it also worked fine and the recoil from slower heavier projectiles is slightly different from lighter faster ones but I'll need more testing to know which I prefer and why, I suspect they wouldn't be good for longer distance shooting but are fine closer in.

No chrono available so the cycling and 'feel' of the recoil were all I had to judge from, no signs of over pressure on the used cases and primers though.
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