How much PF to knock down steel?

[greatgoogamooga]

Last time I shot IPDA with my revolver, I got nailed because I brought some min. power factor loads (just over 125) and they had all steel targets (it was raining, they didn't want the paper to melt). Took 3+ shots to knock down some of the 2' tall poppers.

In .38 or .357 what should I load? Will 158gr bullets at 850 fps do the job? More? Less? I know that I need to hit the target high, but I'm competing against guys shooting .45 revolvers here. They can hit the target anywhere.

Goog

 

[HSMITH]

If the hits you had were in the large center round the club you shot at needs to calibrate their poppers, or your ammo was under 125 in your gun.

Did the 9mm guys have problems? If so, it is a calibration issue. If the 9mm guys weren't having problems your ammo was under 125 out of the gun you were shooting.

 

[scotty]

HSMITH is correct. Steel poppers should be calibrated to fall when hit in the center round portion with 125 PF loads. Either your ammo was under 125 from your gun or it was a calibration issue.

A 158gr bullet at 850fps is 134 PF which should be plenty enough to do the job. Steel won't fall as quickly as with a major load, but it should indeed fall.

 

[greatgoogamooga]

The 9mm guys were hosing also. Looks like the poppers were out of whack. At least in thier case they had large cap mags.

Goog

 

[richardschennberg]

Steel is supposed to fall with a 125 PF hit in the scoring zone, unless hard set because of equipment issues or wind. If hard set, steel should be repainted between shooters and every hit counts.
Richard
Schennberg.com

 

[Aneat]

Why not load up a batch of some heavy hitting loads for the stages that have steel in them. You should be able to load up some 180gr or even 200gr loads that will have a lot more authority on the steel. Even at the same PF the heavier bullet will do better. I shoot 180gr loads at around 135 to 140 pf in my 40s&w. Very mild recoil and steel is no problem.

Adam

 

[HSMITH]

Adam, timing the gun at full speed is very difficult if the recoil isn't consistent. It probably won't affect most D and C shooters but as you get better it is a factor when the gun isn't doing what you expect it to do when you expect it to do it.

Switching to ALL heavier loads and learnign the timing of that load would be a better course of action than just loading them for certain stages.

That said, the original post appears to have been shooting 38 specials, and pushing 38 much past 125PF presents challenges too.

Minor 40 like you are shooting is ULTRA soft, and from what I see you are dead on that steel falls easily.

 

[greatgoogamooga]

also, this ain't sporting clays. Whatever rounds I start with, I have to finish with. IDPA is supposed to simulate defensive situations where you shoot what you have. "hmmm..that bad guy looks a little stronger than the rest, I'd better load a hollowpoint for him."

Goog

 

[Aneat]

Well here are several recipes for 200gr lead in 38 special at ~ 725fps to 800fps. Im sure you could even back those down some to get a 140pf load that is very pleasent to shoot and still have plenty of authority on steel.

http://recipes.alliantpowder.com/rg...38&cartridgedescr=Special&bulletdescr=200 LRN



Adam

 

[Reed1911]

Beat me to it!

We loaded up a bunch of .38 Special with 200g FN for a customer just for shooting steel. The recoil is very low, and not at all what you would expect.