The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post

Intel6 · March 19, 2001, 03:50 PM

Pampers said:

"I know that loading up to "Major" can be done"

"Major" and "Monior" are power ratings that are used by USPSA/IPSC to ensure competetors are shooting ammo of like power. Loading to major not only can be done but must be done by competetors who want their scores to be scored properly. Loading to major is done all the time and has been since the 80's.

"Since USPSC no longer allows .38 Super, or any other sub .40 Caliber round, to be loaded up to "Major," there's no reason to build hand granades."

That is an incorrect statement. The rules for "limited" category guns is that to be scored as "Major" they have to be .40 cal and above and they still have to be loaded to Major power levels.

I can't link this info so I will cut and paste it here. It is an excerpt from the USPSA page by Vernon Walls that talks about this very subject and explains it in further detail. For more info go to http://www.USPSA.org and look around.

USPSA uses what is called a "power factor" (PF) to classify ammo. Your ammo's PF is calculated by
multiplying the weight of your bullet (not the entire round) times the velocity of the bullet, and then dividing
the result by 1000. The minimum power factor allowed is 125 PF. A standard 9mm factory round, as well
as almost all full power .38 Special factory ammo, will make this minimum PF. Any ammunition that meets
this minimum PF level and is 9mm caliber or larger will be legal to use in any USPSA competition (either
the "Limited" or the unlimited "Open" gun divisions).

USPSA categorizes ammo into one of two power levels, either "Major" or"Minor". (Rule 7.24) For ammo
to be considered "Major" it must achieve at least a 165 PF [this document has been updated from the
original 175pf, since the rules were changed to 165pf on May 10, 2000] and be a minimum diameter of .40
caliber for "Limited" competition (9mm or larger for "Open"). The one exception to this minimum caiber for
"Major" is the .357 magnum revolver, which is scored as "Major" if it reaches the 165 PF. Anything that
exceeds the minimum 125 PF and falls short of the 165 PF (or is less than .40 caliber in "Limited") is called
"Minor".

The reason for the two power factors has to do with the scoring of your hits on the targets. Since "Major"
power loads are usually heavier recoiling loads and are hence usually considered to be more difficult to
handle, they get scored higher on the outer scoring areas than do "Minor" PF loads. The IPSC equivalent of
a "bullseye" (which is called the "A" zone in IPSC) gets scored the same for both PF levels. The only time
your ammo's PF makes a difference is on the non-A zone area hits (the "B", "C", and "D" zones). As long
as you shoot all "A" zones (bullseyes), it won't matter which power factor you use. However, it can be
quite frustrating to see other shooters get one point more for each of their "B", "C", and "D" zone hits than
you get for yours just because you are shooting "Minor".

Still, there are some advantages for a new shooter who reloads, starts out with "Minor" loads, and works
their way up gradually. Some shooters use "Minor" loads because they feel they can shoot quicker and
more accurately with the lower recoiling loads. If you don't reload, you really don't have a choice - you'll
have to shoot factory ammo. However, the rules for "Limited" automatically result in 38 Super and 9mm
being classified as "Minor" regardless of their power factor (because of the minimum caliber), while 40
S&ampW can be either (depending on the bullet weight and loading, "Major" usually requires 180-200 gr.
bullets), and the 45 ACP will almost always be "Major".

March 19, 2001, 03:50 PM	#6
Intel6 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2000 Posts: 425	Pampers said: "I know that loading up to "Major" can be done" "Major" and "Monior" are power ratings that are used by USPSA/IPSC to ensure competetors are shooting ammo of like power. Loading to major not only can be done but must be done by competetors who want their scores to be scored properly. Loading to major is done all the time and has been since the 80's. "Since USPSC no longer allows .38 Super, or any other sub .40 Caliber round, to be loaded up to "Major," there's no reason to build hand granades." That is an incorrect statement. The rules for "limited" category guns is that to be scored as "Major" they have to be .40 cal and above and they still have to be loaded to Major power levels. I can't link this info so I will cut and paste it here. It is an excerpt from the USPSA page by Vernon Walls that talks about this very subject and explains it in further detail. For more info go to http://www.USPSA.org and look around. USPSA uses what is called a "power factor" (PF) to classify ammo. Your ammo's PF is calculated by multiplying the weight of your bullet (not the entire round) times the velocity of the bullet, and then dividing the result by 1000. The minimum power factor allowed is 125 PF. A standard 9mm factory round, as well as almost all full power .38 Special factory ammo, will make this minimum PF. Any ammunition that meets this minimum PF level and is 9mm caliber or larger will be legal to use in any USPSA competition (either the "Limited" or the unlimited "Open" gun divisions). USPSA categorizes ammo into one of two power levels, either "Major" or"Minor". (Rule 7.24) For ammo to be considered "Major" it must achieve at least a 165 PF [this document has been updated from the original 175pf, since the rules were changed to 165pf on May 10, 2000] and be a minimum diameter of .40 caliber for "Limited" competition (9mm or larger for "Open"). The one exception to this minimum caiber for "Major" is the .357 magnum revolver, which is scored as "Major" if it reaches the 165 PF. Anything that exceeds the minimum 125 PF and falls short of the 165 PF (or is less than .40 caliber in "Limited") is called "Minor". The reason for the two power factors has to do with the scoring of your hits on the targets. Since "Major" power loads are usually heavier recoiling loads and are hence usually considered to be more difficult to handle, they get scored higher on the outer scoring areas than do "Minor" PF loads. The IPSC equivalent of a "bullseye" (which is called the "A" zone in IPSC) gets scored the same for both PF levels. The only time your ammo's PF makes a difference is on the non-A zone area hits (the "B", "C", and "D" zones). As long as you shoot all "A" zones (bullseyes), it won't matter which power factor you use. However, it can be quite frustrating to see other shooters get one point more for each of their "B", "C", and "D" zone hits than you get for yours just because you are shooting "Minor". Still, there are some advantages for a new shooter who reloads, starts out with "Minor" loads, and works their way up gradually. Some shooters use "Minor" loads because they feel they can shoot quicker and more accurately with the lower recoiling loads. If you don't reload, you really don't have a choice - you'll have to shoot factory ammo. However, the rules for "Limited" automatically result in 38 Super and 9mm being classified as "Minor" regardless of their power factor (because of the minimum caliber), while 40 S&ampW can be either (depending on the bullet weight and loading, "Major" usually requires 180-200 gr. bullets), and the 45 ACP will almost always be "Major".