GECO Pistol Ammunition for the European Practical Pistol Championship

GECO 9mm Ammunition

GECO 9mm Ammunition

Starting with the 9mm calibre I tested the round loaded with a 124 grain FMJ bullet. I checked the accuracy and velocity with a CZ75 SP01 and a Sphinx Production 3000. I also checked the velocity and functional reliability through a Glock 17 and Grand Power X-Calibur. These four 9mm pistols are commonly encountered at Level III, IV and V IPSC events. I measured the velocity with a CED M2 chronograph and the accuracy of the ammunition was tested by using a Ransom Rest.

 
                                            Accuracy testing was conducted with the aid of a Ransom Rest.
                                           Here the Sphinx 3000 Production is secured to the Ransom Rest.

With the CZ 75 SP01 and Sphinx Production 3000 in the Ransom Rest the 9mm 124 grain FMJ load was able to produce a five shot group of 2.17 inch / 55.2mm and 1.69 inch / 43mm respectively in size. The average velocity in the CZ75 SP01 was 1074 feet per second ( fps ) and the average velocity in the Sphinx Production 3000 was 1102 fps.

A lot of competitors on the practical pistol competition circuit load 9mm ammunition, with what ever bullet weight, to a power factor ( PF ) of around 135. This ensures that the pistol will function properly and have enough energy to knock down steel targets. If you have a power factor that significantly exceeds 135 then the recoil of the pistol will start to become harder to control.

 

                                                   Ransom Resting the CZ 75 SP01 with the Geco 124 grain FMJ
                                                                    produced a group of 55.2 mm in size.

Primer ignition and functional reliability was 100 % with the GECO 9mm load in the four pistols used. Examining the indentation on each primer I could see that they were all well struck. All four pistols were fitted with the original factory parts, with some minor detailing and smoothing of parts to improve the feel of the trigger. Remember that in Production Division IPSC rules limit the amount of changes that can be carried out and that all internal parts must be from the pistols original manufacturer.

The following results were obtained with the GECO 9mm ammunition in the four pistols used in the test.
 

 


                     The GECO 124 grain FMJ ammunition functioned with complete reliability when tested in a
                        Sphinx Production 3000, Grand Power X-Calibur, Glock 17 and CZ75 SP01 9mm pistols.

Another 9mm load that GECO produce is the 9 x 21mm round. Some countries, such as Italy, forbid the ownership of 9 x 19mm ammunition. Geco have also provided a 9 x 21mm round loaded with a 124 grain FMJ bullet to cater for competitors from these countries that compete in Production Division.

GECO .38 Super Ammunition

GECO .38 Super Ammunition

The Geco .38 Super loaded to major power factor uses a 124 grain FMJ bullet loaded to an overall length of 32.20 mm. The .38 Super load was tested in a SV Infinity pistol and made a PF of 162.7. Using the Ransom Rest, with the target set at 25 metres, this SV Infinity grouped five rounds into a 2.07 inch / 52.5 mm cluster. This .38 Super load was also chronographed in a STI Grandmaster, which had a PF of 165.4. Again primer ignition and functional reliability was 100 % in the two pistols used. The pistols used had tuned triggers and the primers were all well struck.

 

                                            In the Ransom Rest the GECO .38 Super major power factor ammunition
                                                   shot in the SV Infinity produced a 52.5 mm group at 25 metres.

GECO .40 S&W Ammunition

GECO .40 S&W Ammunition

For Standard Division GECO also produce a .40 S&W 180 grain FMJ load. At 25 metres in a STI Executive it gave a five shot group out of the Ransom Rest of 1.83 inch / 46.4 mm. The velocity was 974 fps and a PF of 175.3. This load was also tested for functional reliability in .40 calibre SVI and CZ Tactical Sport pistols.

Primer ignition and functional reliability was 100 % with the three .40 calibre pistols used. I examined the primer indentions from the three 40 calibre pistols used and the primers were all well struck.

The .40 calibre round has an overall length of 28.54 mm. Although it functioned with 100% reliability in all three pistols, those who compete in IPSC events load their .40 ammunition to a longer overall length. This length is usually between 29.50 and 31mm to ensure functional reliability. GECO cannot bring out a .40 calibre round loaded to a length greater than factory specification due to C.I.P. regulations.

If you are going to compete in Standard Division and use the GECO .40 calibre 180 grain FMJ ammunition at the European Championship, then load a 180 grain FMJ bullet to an overall length of 28.54 mm at a PF greater that 170 and then check the reliability in your pistol.

 

 

                                             Out of the Ransom Rest the Geco .40 S&W ammunition produced
                                                        a group of 46.4 mm. The power factor was 175.3.

GECO .45 ACP Ammunition

GECO .45 ACP Ammunition

Revolver shooters will need .45 ACP calibre ammunition at the European Championship. Primer sensitivity will be a major concern for the S&W 625 wheel gunners. Also this will be the first European Championship at which Classic Division will compete. This division stipulates the use of a M1911 pistol, so the need for and use of .45 ACP ammunition in practical pistol competition will increase.

I have also completed a series of accuracy and velocity tests on the GECO .45 ACP 230 grain FMJ ammunition. Using a STI Sentry pistol and a Smith and Wesson 625 revolver, both in .45 ACP calibre, I measured the accuracy and velocity of the GECO 230 grain full metal jacket loads with a Ransom Rest and a CED M2 chronograph.

 

                                          The S&W 625 revolver sees widespread use in Revolver Division.
                                        Primer ignition is a big issue for the revolver shooters and I found
                                            the ignition of GECO 230 FMJ ammunition to be totally reliable.

The STI Sentry pistol and Smith and Wesson 625 revolver were in turn secured in the Ransom Rest and the CED Millennium M2 Chronograph was positioned in front of the Ransom Rest. The target was set at a distance of 25 metres and the following results were recorded. The bullet weight is in grains and the velocity in feet per second is an average of five shots for the pistol and six shots for the revolver. The GECO .45 ACP 230 grain FMJ ammunition has an overall length of 1.251 inches ( 31.78 mm ).

 

                                             The GECO .45 ACP ammunition produced a 2.44 inch / 62 mm group
                                                                 in the STI Sentry pistol, with a PF of 178.9.
                          The painted grips on the STI Sentry are produced by www.extremeshooters.com

 

                                             The GECO .45 ACP ammunition produced a 48 mm group in the
                                              Smith and Wesson 625 revolver, with a power factor of 176.7.

You can see from the results that when the GECO ammunition was tested that it produced a 2.44 inch / 62 mm group in the STI Sentry pistol and a 1.889 inch / 48 mm group in the Smith and Wesson 625 revolver. Also the power factor in both handguns was above the 170 minimum required to score major. As mentioned before in a practical pistol competition were match ammunition is supplied by the organisers, it is deemed to make major or minor irrespective of the power factor that is recorded with the chronograph. So if you are going to use this GECO ammunition at any graded practical pistol event where it is the designated match ammunition, you will not have to worry about the power factor.

For those in Revolver Division primer sensitivity will be a major concern for the S&W 625 wheel gunners. Also with Classic Division, which mandates the use of a single stack M1911 pistol, functional reliability of the ammunition will be a major concern. From the testing that I carried out primer ignition and functional reliability was 100% in both the .45 ACP calibre STI Sentry pistol and Smith and Wesson 625 revolver used.

The primers from the cases fired through both .45 ACP calibre handguns were all well struck. The STI sentry has had no modifications performed on it. The action of the S&W 625 revolver has been polished and the hammer spring fitted to this revolver is the original S&W factory spring.

 


                                      The firing pin strike on each primer was positive and ignition was 100%
                                             with all the calibres tested. The cases shown were fired in the
                                                         SV Infinity .38 Super calibre Open Division Pistol.

You will have noted that some of the ammunition was close the major power factor of 160 for Open Division and 170 for Standard Division. In an IPSC match were the ammunition is supplied by the organisers, it is deemed to make the required power factor irrespective of the power factor that is recorded with the chronograph. So if you are going to use the GECO designated match ammunition at the 2013 European Championship you will not have to worry about the power factor. The primer ignition and functional reliability will be of more importance to you. From the testing that I carried out primer ignition and functional reliability was 100% in all the calibres tested.

GECO Pistol Ammunition

GECO Pistol Ammunition

GECO have made this ammunition widely available. This will be of benefit to those who fly to competitions and need to purchase additional ammunition. It will also be useful to people who live in countries were you are not permitted to reload ammunition; especially to have a factory loaded .38 Super round that will make major power factor.

The following table gives dimensional information on the GECO ammunition tested. The bullet weight is in grains and the overall length; an average of 10 rounds measured, is in millimetres.

 

If you intend to use the GECO designated match ammunition at the IPSC 2013 European Championship, the information in this article will also enable you to reproduce these factory loads with your own reloaded ammunition. This will enable you to check for functional reliability, accuracy and point of impact in your own pistol. To see the calibres of ammunition that GECO will provide for the European Championship keep a check on the competition web site

www.ipscmatches.org/EHC2013

As part of RUAG Ammotec Group GECO’s function is to produces hunting and target shooting ammunition. GECO presented this new assortment of pistol ammunition designed for use in competitive shooting events at IWA 2011 and these loads will be available world wide.

Ammunition designed for use in practical pistol competition is a small niche market in the overall commercial ammunition production that is manufactured by this company, so thank you to GECO for their efforts on our behalf. This range of ammunition that is suited for competitive pistol competition shooting will also be useful to people who live in countries were you are not permitted to reload ammunition.

 

                   GECO .38 Super ammunition loaded to IPSC Major Power Factor will appeal to those who fly
                             to competitions and purchase additional ammunition and also those who live
                                            in countries were reloading ammunition is not permitted.

The maximum weight of ammunition that you are permitted to carry by airlines is 5 kilograms. This is a major problem when you are organising a Level IV or V IPSC competition. The ammunition requirement for the big Level III matches around Europe also easily exceeds this 5 Kg weight limit. This has given the organisers of these events a big headache to ensure that competitors have enough ammunition to complete all the stages. The solution to be used at the IPSC 2013 European Championship is to have GECO supply the designated match ammunition for competitors to use.

GECO Reloading Components

GECO Reloading Components

As well as producing a range for factory ammunition GECO also produce a comprehensive range of reloading components that enable you to reload all of the current common handgun calibres. I used GECO bullets and cartridge cases to produce a range of data to enable reloaders to reproduce the performance of GECO factory ammunition. The following data was produced for 9mm and .40 S&W calibres. I used reloading powders from Alliant and Hodgdon that are in common use by reloaders. I also used Federal small pistol primers, as this is a popular brand of primer used by competitive pistol shooters. In 9mm calibre the over all length ( OAL ) used was the same as that of the GECO factory ammunition. In .40 S&W calibre the OAL was set at 29.50 mm, as this OAL is in common use by those who reload this calibre.



                                        When using Hodgdon Universal powder the GECO 124 grain FMJ bullet
                                                     produced a 57 mm sized group with a PF of 130.

9mm Reloads with GECO 124 Grain FMJ Bullet
Powder Make	Charge Weight ( Grains )	Average Velocity ( fps )	Power Factor
Alliant Bullseye	4.2	1073	133
Alliant Power Pistol	5.2	1041	129
Hodgdon Tite Group	4.0	1080	134
Hodgdon Universal	4.0	1051	130

 

 
                                               When using Hodgdon Tite Group powder the GECO 180 grain FMJ
                                                      bullet produced a 41.5 mm sized group with a PF of 175.

.40 S&W Reloads with GECO 180 Grain FMJ Bullet
Powder Make	Charge Weight ( Grains )	Average Velocity ( fps )	Power Factor
Alliant Bullseye	5.2	978	176
Alliant Power Pistol	6.3	984	177
Hodgdon Tite Group	5.0	974	175
Hodgdon Universal	5.4	981	176

 

 

            GECO also produced a range of reloading components that will enable you to reproduce the accuracy of             GECO factory ammunition with your own reloaded ammunition using GECO bullets and cartridge cases.

For Further Information

www.geco-ammunition.com

GECO Ammunition and Reloading Components in the UK

www.ruag.co.uk

Tel: 01579 362319

Ransom Rest

www.ransomrest.com

www.brownells.com

Ransom Rest products can be obtained in Europe from

www.ballisticservice24.eu

CED Chronographs America and Asia

www.CEDhk.com

CED Chronographs Europe and Africa

www.doublealpha.biz