Prior to the Area One match in Bend Oregon I expressed some concerns about making Major Power Factor. It turns out I did just fine:
I saw the chrono team weigh the bullet before getting any velocity measurements, 180.2 grains, and knew I was going to be okay. My sample of 20 had a minimum of 178.3, a maximum of 180.7 and a mean of 179.2. I was concerned they might pull a 177 or something. Then, if the velocity was really low for some reason I could be pushing the threshold and perhaps break into Minor Power Factor (< 165). But the velocities were good. Had they pulled a 177 grain bullet and measured the same velocities the power factor would have still been 170.6 and comfortably in Major.
The odds were low of getting a low velocity since my measurements indicated a mean velocity of 978.4 with a standard deviation of 10.6. But still, you never know how the tolerances might stack up against you on any given day. As it is I suspect the chronograph they used would not agree with my chronograph, which is another variable that is difficult to plan for.
I thought Major was 175.
And even that always struck me as unrealistically low, if we assume the rules exist so as to reward the competitor with the .45 or .357 for handicapping himself with the higher recoil firearm and give the competitor who carries a 27 ounce LW Commander with fullpower hardball ammo on the street a reason not to bring in the wadcutter gun with the mousefart ammo. .45 ACP hits 195-200 without even requiring +P ammo, as does fullpower .357 Mag.
And let’s not even get into my opinions about .38 Super “Major” and “9mm Major” loads that run at higher than factory proof pressures “because the pressure makes the comp work better.”
It was 175. I don’t remember when it changed but Major has been 165 for many years now.
I don’t try to rationalize or justify the rules. I just try to follow them.