Shooters World Auto Pistol

[Toprudder]

AKA, Lovex D-036. Has anyone tried it?

I picked it up at a local gun show recently, just to try.

I'm a bit confused by the data I am finding for it, specifically for 45acp. On the front of the bottle, it lists 230gn Nosler FN (no COL listed) with a powder charge of 9.3gn and a velocity of 1004fps. (Again, no barrel length).

If I go to the Shooters World website, and download the SW load data, it does not show data at all for D036, but does have data for D032 ("Clean Pistol" powder) as well as a few other powders. If I dig a little deeper on their website, I find the Lovex reloading guide. I download that and I do find data for all the Lovex powders including D-036. The load data was collected with a 6" (150mm) barrel. The 230gn bullet listed is an S&B FMJ 230gn, seated to 32.35mm (right at the SAAMI max of 1.275) and the charge range is 6.0 - 7.3gn with a max velocity of 853fps. That is a max charge 2.0gn less than what is listed on the container. Also, 853fps from a 6" barrel leads me to believe that I should keep my max velocity under 800fps from my gun.

If that isn't conflicting data, I don't know what is. They claim D036 is close to AA#5, and if I compare data, I find the AA#5 max data to be roughly halfway between. ???

Anyway, I just did a ladder load with 6.0 - 7.3gn in 5 steps. I seated my bullets (Xtreme 230gn RN) at 1.245 which is what my gun likes to feed. I may start with the middle-of-the-range load first and work from there. If I find a charge that gives ~700-750fps and is accurate, I will be happy with it.

 

[16in50calNavalRifle]

Toprudder, thanks for starting this.

I managed to find enough powder that I'm not buying for the moment (even have my "strategic reserve" filled), but I was eyeing the Lovex powders, specifically 036, for a while. At the very least, I like the name of the Czech firm that makes it - "Explosia" (!).

So please report your findings as you work with D-036, for the good of the order.

I was very very happy with 5 lbs. of a powder made by the Spanish component/shotshell giant Maxam (marketed in North America under the label CSB-1). Loads like Universal. Easy to work with. Still have about a pound left. Use it for 9mm, 38, and 45ACP.

 

[Toprudder]

No problem. I got started reloading just before the "big scare" and powder became hard to find. I don't know why, I just started picking up a pound here and a pound there (at gun shows) as I found them, just to try out. I'm over 30 different pistol powder so far.

I will post the results. I should be able to make it to the range in the next few days.

 

[Toprudder]

Was able to slip out to the range this morning and try out my Lovex D-036 loads. I was pleasantly surprised.

First of all, due to the conflicting load data, I decided to be cautious and use the lower load range data from the Lovex reloading manual. I had a max velocity in mind of 800fps, due to the shorter barrel than was used to collect the Lovex data.

I was shooting from a bench rest, using a laser for aiming, from a distance of 10 yards. I have the laser aiming about 2" away from POI, so that I don't shoot my aimpoint away. (Learned that the hard way, LOL). Xtreme 230gn RN seated 1.245", Win LP primers. Shot from a Witness steel frame 45, 4.5" barrel.

After a few warmup shots, I jumped into the middle range charge first, 6.7gn. I shot a 0.95" 10 shot group, with an average velocity of 711fps, SD 8.5, spread of 24. I was very happy with that!! That was the lowest SD and spread of the 5 charges I had worked up.

The next lowest charge gave the smallest group, but just barely, at 0.80", 683fps, 12.6sd, 41 spread. The highest charge, 7.3gn, gave 776fps, SD 10.5, spread 30, and group size 1.1". I did not see the group size open up much from 6.7 - 7.3gn, nor did the standard deviation open up significantly.

The gun seemed relatively clean, some ash in the barrel, and some slight residue on my arms after the whole sequence was done (total 50 rounds). I suspect most of the residue may have been from the lower charges.

I would say that the load data from Lovex was spot on, taking into consideration my shorter barrel. I would also say DO NOT USE THE DATA ON THE LABEL. That data was a full 2 grains higher charge. Given the advertised burn rate (close to AA#5) that would be way too much powder, and 1000fps from a 230gn bullet is not realistic, IMHO.

I've sent an email to Shooters World. I will post any repsonse they have.

But, overall, I think this powder is a keeper. I will work up some loads in other calibers as I get a chance.

 

[Toprudder]

OK, I've exchanged a few emails with Ken at Shooters World, and must say he has been very helpful.

Here is the first reply I got from him:

Hi Bob,

Merry Christmas to you!

The .45 Auto SAAMI Barrel length is 5 inches, with a max pressure spec of 21,000 psi.

Given specifically the Nosler FMJ 230 grain projectile, we loaded it to 1.210 inches.

Please note that ANY XTP bullet is significantly harder than any other pistol bullet we've analyzed.

9.3 grains with the NOSLER FMJ/FP bullet yielded 21,000 psi, with a velocity of 1004 fps. It was stout, but it was consistent.

We make it a policy that if we encounter any significant inconsistency, we will not publish that "errant" load. Not so with this load; it was quite consistent.

Please bear in mind that this propellant is a HIGH density propellant for a pistol powder. Thus, you're able to actually fit 9.3 grains into the case, without compaction or compression.

Now, we have NOT shot the 230 XTP yet with this powder. However, we have shot the 200 XTP with this powder. We found our max charge with the 200 XTP to be 9.5 grains @ 1062 fps and 20,009 psi.

We'd be happy to evaluate the 230 XTP in the .45 Auto, and plan to do that next week.

So, if you're concerned about the 230 grain XTP with Auto Pistol, I absolutely agree with you: It should NOT be shot at the same charge weight as the Nosler FMJ.

Should you not hear back from me by the end of next week, please ping me in an email. I will provide you the load data for the 230 XTP and Auto Pistol

Best regards,

Ken Johnson
Managing Partner - Ballistics
Shooters World, LLC
Phone: 850-597-3547
[email protected]

And, he did get back to me right away with results using XTP bullets:

Hi Bob,

A quick note: we just finished testing the 230 XTP in the pressure barrel. Using D036-03, Auto Pistol.

Charge: 7.9 grains
Velocity: 878
Pressure: 21,016 psi.

Best regards,
Ken Johnson

7.9gn to me seems to be a more realistic number, based on my results, the Lovex load data, and also comparing it to AA#5. I think 7.9gn to 9.3gn is a BIG difference. If I had gone by the load data on the label, dropped it by 10% to start, I would have been overpressure with an XTP. I also think 7.9 might be a little high, as 21000psi is the SAAMI max, and published load data will usually stop a little short of max to leave a little headroom for various factors.

Based on his response, I believe they will soon update their own load data to include the Auto Pistol powder. It will be interesting to see if they include the Nosler bullet data.

 

[PCFlorida]

Interesting, thanks!

 

[Toprudder]

I finally got around to shooting my 357mag test loads using D036 powder. The charge range I used came from the Lovex load data, from 9.3 to 9.7gn, using 158gn FMJ.

I used RMR thick plated 158gn bullets. There is no cannelure, so I used a very light roll crimp and checked the rounds for bullet pull - No problem there, but I was using a heavy GP100, a lightweight gun might have different results.

At 9.3gn I saw 1121fps, at 9.7gn I saw 1137fps. I ran the powder-forward test with the 9.3gn charge and could tell no difference.

Accuracy seemed to be good considering it was one of those days that I was not shooting my best. I think I will work up some more loads and try going slightly lower in charge.

 

[Duvel]

I picked up a couple lbs, and have tried two loads in 10mm.

In the coming weeks I'll be shooting identical #5 / D036.03 ladders behind 155 XTPs.

 

[trentcwwilson]

The D032 max load IN THE PDF DOWNLOAD is hot for the lead round nose 158gr. I'd stick with what the manual says.