9mm question....

[Rsadams]

I have been loading 124gr berry bullets at 1.150 using 4.2-4.3gr of win231 for the past ten years with no problem....

During this crunch I was forced to buy a box of a thousand 115gr Berry's bullets and I need to get some practice in before I pack up my reloading room for a move... I thought well I will burn up those 115gr instead of breaking into my stash of 124gr bullets...

I know win231 and Berry's are a common load for alot of people.... I am using data from hodgens and they recommend 4.3 - 4.8 gr of win231 at 1.100.... I normally load the 124gr at 1.150 should I go down to the 1.100 in your opinions and also if your using this combination would you tell me how much powder your using.... This is what I was thinking to start off and will be ran across a lab radar to be checked.....

4.6gr of win231 at a coal of 1.120 , the 1.120 gives me some room in case of a problem.... Or maybe I should just go with the 1.100 what do you think..???

 

[Longtrain]

I bought some 115’s and a variety of lipstick bullets, I contacted the manufacturer and they gave me the seating depth for their bullets. I have a chamber checker that has proven useful in gauging seating depth too.

 

[Rsadams]

I am not so much worried about the bullets not chambering since I normally load a lot longer COAL... I know the reason they want a little longer coal is because Berry's are basically lead bullets and the extra length helps with the pressure spike and that's what I was saying setting the coal to 1.200 instead of 1.100 which was what hodgens has for a 115gr LRN bullet... Better safe than sorry but sometimes it isn't needed and will hurt the fps....

 

[JT27]

I have no experience with 231, but I have loaded more than my fair share of 9mm. My COAL is 1.100 from 115g-147g with a variety of plated, FMJ, and coated bullets. Never loaded any lead, but I are use the data for lead for my coated bullets. I load a little bit lighter, just enough to make minor power factor. Unless you’re up near max with your load, I wouldn’t worry about .100.

 

[RegionRat]

There is some forgiveness in that 231 length data, but they cannot predict every barrel length and chamber being used by loaders.

Berry's plated are not the same as lead, but they are closer to lead than they are to full jacketed.

If you are being picky, you know you will have to do a complete load workup of the charges and seating depths.

If you just want a functional, safe load, you will be fine with the middle of those charges and lengths, just don't expect it to be exactly 1200 fps, but it will be close in a full size rig.

 

[Rsadams]

There is some forgiveness in that 231 length data, but they cannot predict every barrel length and chamber being used by loaders.

Berry's plated are not the same as lead, but they are closer to lead than they are to full jacketed.

If you are being picky, you know you will have to do a complete load workup of the charges and seating depths.

If you just want a functional, safe load, you will be fine with the middle of those charges and lengths, just don't expect it to be exactly 1200 fps, but it will be close in a full size rig.

I never try to get a bunch of fps with win231 I normally push the 124gr Berry's around 1000fps just to punch holes in paper at 15-25 yards... Amazingly even at 50 yards there's no hold over... Since these are lighter I was going to try to get 1100fps out of a Glock 19.... Lead data is 4.3-4.8 for win 231 so I thought I would crank a couple of 4.6gr of win231 across my lab radar and see what's happening.... Just looked and Berry's bullets has a COAL of 1.130 for the 115gr... I was trying to get in the middle so I think I will try 4.6 at 1.120.... I will do a complete workup just for safety and data... Because of the cost and availability of component I just didn't want to have to start really low and work up and waste a bunch of primers etc....

 

[358WCF]

I've been using the copper coated 115 Berry's for a few years with 4.3 to 4.5 gr of W231 seated to 1.080" in range pickup brass in a S&W 469. The daughter's Ruger & Taurus both like the load too.

Probably not bullseye accurate, but there are enough "chings" on swinging chunks of steel from 15 to 50 yds to not change anything.

 

[Rsadams]

I've been using the copper coated 115 Berry's for a few years with 4.3 to 4.5 gr of W231 seated to 1.080" in range pickup brass in a S&W 469. The daughter's Ruger & Taurus both like the load too.

Probably not bullseye accurate, but there are enough "chings" on swinging chunks of steel from 15 to 50 yds to not change anything.

Thanks for the info...

 

[RegionRat]

I never try to get a bunch of fps with win231 I normally push the 124gr Berry's around 1000fps just to punch holes in paper at 15-25 yards... Amazingly even at 50 yards there's no hold over... Since these are lighter I was going to try to get 1100fps out of a Glock 19.... Lead data is 4.3-4.8 for win 231 so I thought I would crank a couple of 4.6gr of win231 across my lab radar and see what's happening.... Just looked and Berry's bullets has a COAL of 1.130 for the 115gr... I was trying to get in the middle so I think I will try 4.6 at 1.120.... I will do a complete workup just for safety and data... Because of the cost and availability of component I just didn't want to have to start really low and work up and waste a bunch of primers etc....

Somewhere near 4.4 to 4.6 would be my guess too.

I run the Berry's Hollow Base Thick Plate version at 1.130" and it flows through Glocks, CZ, Sig, Springfield, etc. with no issues.

Just FYI. When you consider the production division minor PF level for a competition with 9mm is 125PF, and that means a 115 grain doing a minimum of 1087 fps, and factory Fed American Eagle 115gr runs 1200 fps in a G34, it gives a perspective for what "standard" ammo is for a 9mm 115 gr load. Anywhere in that neighborhood should run a production pistol with good reliability.

 

[D-4297]

Though I don't use the Win 231 , I do load a lot of Berry's 115 THP and 124 THP using Red Dot . The load is 4.5gr and the seating is 1.120 , or 1.125 depending on my mood that day . Both have worked very good . Even at fifty yards .

 

[JB10]

I load berrys 115 with w231 and 4.8gr. I do not know my coal, that data is at home. I have loaded that same same charge with xtream 115gr bullets also and was just fine.

 

[Rsadams]

Thanks everyone that gives me some starting points I'll load up some and test them out....