looking for 9mm data suggestions.....

[Rsadams]

I have been loading 9mm for a long time using Berry's 124gr RN bullets... I have recently came across some 124gr fmj Winchester and the load data is all over the place... Even the two Sierra manuals are pretty far apart...
I am using Winchester 231 powder and am going to do a work up from 4.2 to 4.5 across my crono... I do have other powders that would be far better I know but have plenty of 231 right now and things are hard to find again and I am trying not to waste anything at this moment like all of you...

These will be paper punchers only... I probably won't change my coal of 1.150 that's setup for the Berry's bullets... Once I find the correct charge I will be running them through my Dillon so I am not looking for a max charge...

Any of you guys or gals running win231 and a 124-125 gr fmj would you please leave me what charge you're running just so I can get an idea...


Just FYI I as stated above I do have a few pounds of unique , a pound of Tite group and a pound of power pistol , the power pistol I was saving for some Hornady 124gr SHTF bullets I have been saving... The unique I have no use for anymore since selling off my .45s so I could use it but I don't think it will meter on the Dillon...

As always, thank you in advance....
Shawn

 

[RegionRat]

My own opinion... is that the reason you see data is spread indicates that pistol bbls are spread.

Make your first tests based on the data you have and work up. Stop before you go all the way if you get any indications of being hot. It is that simple. Also, check your new bullet for OAL by using the bbl in a "plunk" test before you stamp out a bunch of rejects.

It takes a little experimentation to set up your progressive with one setting that can serve multiple pistols, but it isn't difficult. So to start with, make sure the first order of business is that the new bullet will drop into the pistol you plan to test with first, then check the others if you plan on using one load across the board. If you already know you have a picky pistol, start with that one.

231, TG, Power Pistol, will all do fine.

I run at 4.2 and my pistols are not picky. That load can feel hot in one, and mild in another, and also varies with the difference between available bullets. I wouldn't hesitate to start with it, then move it up or down a tick if I wanted to.

 

[Rsadams]

My own opinion... is that the reason you see data is spread indicates that pistol bbls are spread.

Make your first tests based on the data you have and work up. Stop before you go all the way if you get any indications of being hot. It is that simple. Also, check your new bullet for OAL by using the bbl in a "plunk" test before you stamp out a bunch of rejects.

It takes a little experimentation to set up your progressive with one setting that can serve multiple pistols, but it isn't difficult. So to start with, make sure the first order of business is that the new bullet will drop into the pistol you plan to test with first, then check the others if you plan on using one load across the board. If you already know you have a picky pistol, start with that one.

231, TG, Power Pistol, will all do fine.

I run at 4.2 and my pistols are not picky. That load can feel hot in one, and mild in another, and also varies with the difference between available bullets. I wouldn't hesitate to start with it, then move it up or down a tick if I wanted to.

I also run 4.2gr of win231 behind the 124gr Berry's bullets , it's what I have shot for the last 4 years at least.... The difference between the Sierra 5 and newer 6 manual is huge... With the 5 being more of what I was thinking but they are now listing 4.2 as a max charge in manual 6... The difference is the Berry's bullets I was loading as hodgens data for lead and now same 4 inch barrel etc it seems to be a lot less charge all of a sudden... Although I do understand the difference in COAL being shorter than what I load pressure wise... Things change every year, I was just stumped on the Sierra manuals it's alot of difference....

I am already setup on the Dillon at 4.2 and a coal of 1.150 for the Berry's bullets and might just load a few right there... I would think they would be pretty slow but it's alot safer I guess... From there I plan on going up 4.3-4.4 etc just to get an idea for the fmj bullets and that will of course be a good starting point.... I have alot of fmj put away but shoot the Berry's because of the price.... Of course now you can't get any Berry's because the world has gone crazy again.... I have a few thousand under my bench but thought it might be a good time to work up a load for the actual fmj bullets....

 

[RegionRat]

It sounds like you have this under control. As always, keep your focus when playing with weapons and reloading and you will be fine based on your comments.

Before the Sierra factory moved away, I used to visit them regularly. Great folks. They moved away long ago, and I am retired now so I have not kept touch. I won't speak for them, but everything you can imagine in terms of being conservative must apply to their liability/risk posture.

There are more models of 9mm being run these days than there were just a few years ago, so imagine all the variations compared to data from 30 years ago. They can't control the number of possible bbl variations their bullets encounter, even if you assume SAAMI specs.

Now I will add my guess, not theirs, that as they encounter bbl samples that run the boundaries of performance, their published data gets a new evaluation against their current risk standards. It may cause them to shift the safety margins. Again, I can't speak for them but this has always been the case.

I also really like it when the Berry's are more easily available and find them a great value. Stuff like their's helped me get back into more pistol shooting without the worry of volume. Before that, I limited myself to lower round counts in things like revolver silhouette to avoid the need to source volumes of bullets because Sierra moved away and Bower's Wholesale closed their doors here near Los Angeles. When I added lots more 9mm to the stable, I learned how wild those variations can be to load for... Somehow, you learn to manage with powders like 231, Unique, Tightgroup, etc, and keeping a close eye out for bbls when they are new to you. Always make it a point to thoroughly test any defensive bullets as a separate task. In my own experience, I have no problems debugging them, but I mention it to point out it isn't rare to encounter feeding differences with each bullet change.

Good Luck and have fun!

 

[Mikemci]

With 115 gr. Berry's, I use 4.2 gr. Tite Group. You can adjust that down for your 124 gr. bullets.
My Nosler reloading book says 3.3 gr. minimum 4.3 gr. maximum for 124 gr. copper jacket, it doesn't give a load for lead bullets. I like to load the plated bullets at the lead bullet specs.

Edit:
My Modern Reloading book gives a 125 gr. lead bullet load of Tight Group as 3.6 gr. minimum and 4.0 gr. maximum.
Hope this helps

 

[Shooter2112b]

Shawn,
Back in the pre-Obama days, when powders virtually disappeared, I developed a few different loads with the powders I had at that time. For 115-124gr. jacketed bullets, I used:
700-x - 4.1gr.
Bullseye - 4.2gr.
AA No.2 - 4.4gr (115)
Tite Group - 4.2gr.
WSF - 5.0gr (115)

Load data was taken from several books, incl. sierra, nosler, Lee

For my P228, AANo.2 was most accurate with the 115's, and Bullseye was the most accurate for the 124's.

Heck, I even tried Red Dot, which worked ok, but wasn't very accurate out of my P228.

S-

 

[RV-Customs]

I run 4.4gr of Win231 with the 124gr Berry's bullets. seated 1.135"OAL. Runs fine in all of my 9mms

 

[fkimble@charter.net]

He was wanting jacketed data back in 2020!

Frank