125gr Thundercast loads

[jaowens76]

Just ordered 1k thundercast TC projos from RMR for 9. Does anyone have a good recipe for loading these using HS6? and does the truncated cone shape affect necessary COL. I have a few loads available for lead rounds just making sure shape does not affect the major parameters. (I am still a NEWB)

 

[Dudedog]

I haven't used the RMR 9mm cone cast bullets with HS6, but from my experience with MBC cast cones (lead lubed and coated) the Hodgdon data is pretty close using these powders
4756, 7625, Autocomp, CFE-P, HP38, Universal.
I was seating mine a hair shorter 1.10-1.11
(RMR might or might not be using the same mold, they appear to be about the same profile)

Don't forget the 5% discount Jake offers THR members when ordering from RMR. Great people to deal with.

Hodgdon data
125 GR. LCN Hodgdon HS-6 .356" 1.125" 5.9 1023 24,400 CUP 6.6 1124 30,700 CUP

LCN= Lead conical
Start 5.9 MAX 6.6

Remember start at the start charge and work up, maybe 5.9, 6.1, 6.3, 6.5.
For me accuracy is more important than MAX vel.
You will probably find your pistol prefers one of those 4 charges more than the others.
(I would take that one and then go up and down .1 to see if it made any difference)
Speed of sound is around 1060fps and you may get better accuracy with subsonic loads-guessing supersonic is around 6.2gr.
For practice loads if your not after close to MAX vels a slightly faster powder might work better for you. (of course it might not, there is an adventure in every bottle.... of powder that is )

 

[jaowens76]

Thanks dudedog, right now HS 6 is all I have, so it is what I will be using.
I will have to tweak my powder measure just a hair, I am currently throwing 5.2 grains for a 110 grain load.

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[jaowens76]

ok so I started with 5.5 gn of HS6 @ 1.125 then went as far as 1.14 COL. They shoot great, feed and function fine but are rather smoky. Do I need to go closer to the max load (6.3 iirc at work so don't have my Lyman chart handy). Or is this just lube burnoff therefore par for the course with lead? My Lyman load sheet lists loads from 5.4-6.3ish and Hodgdon starts at 5.9 for LCN loads and goes to 6.6gn

For reference these are the bullets https://rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets-for-reloading/bullets-for-reloading-9mm-355-12/9mm-125-gr-rmt-thundercast-truncated-cone-bullets-new/

 

[Dudedog]

You will have some smoke with lubed lead bullets. (sorry it to so long to get back to you here)

 

[Dudedog]

You will have some smoke with lubed lead bullets. (sorry it to so long to get back to you here)
All the cast lubed lead bullets I have shot had some smoke, they tend to have more as velocity goes up, sometimes not enough to even notice though.

Since I am the only one that responded (surprised) I would be tempted to try a new thread with a heading of something like
HS6 and cast bullets in 9mm
9mm 125gr cast bullets and HS6
etc
Hopefully you will get some more answers/opinions.

Chrono #s would help here to see what kind of vels you are getting but if you don't own a chrono that's out.

I would be tempted to bump up the charge to 5.7 and try some there, maybe some at 5.9 as well. I don't know if HS6 is smokey at on the low end or not.
(maybe more than 5.9 by Hodgdons data, I don't know but most HS6 users say it is happier at the high side of the charge range)
They may or may not shoot better, they may or may not have less smoke.
(not helping a lot here am I )

For your current 5.5 load
Is the load safe? You should be fine at 5.5gr I would think
Does it function in your firearm? You said no issues there.
Does it shoot well? You said it did.

Sounds like you are good other than some smoke.

If you want to eliminate smoke you can go with plated bullets and that will help a lot.
Slightly more $ but don't forget the RMR 5% discount.
I have had excellent results with plated bullets from RMR.
(nothing wrong with cast I shot 1000 and 1000s of them)

 

[jaowens76]

My BIL and I went halves on a 1k box, finances were tighter than we would like but are turning around. I enjoy working on loads so will keep experimenting on different bullets. I eventually want to start casting my own, and just buying XTP's for carry. That being said I plan on picking up some plated just for the experience. So far every day at the bench has taught me something, and coming on here and asking questions has greatly helped further that education.

After this pound of powder I will either move to BE-86, titegroup, or W231. Heck since things are looking up I might buy a pound of each just to keep on hand and work up different loads.

 

[Dudedog]

Some people like Titegroup, I don't care for it a lot. Small charges, dense charges don't take up a lot of space in the case, burns hot,not a good choice for lead bullets IMO.
I like HP38/W231 (same powder two names)
Some people have had great results with BE86 for me it worked ok but not great.
Two other powders that work really well for me in 9mm are Universal and WSF.
My go to load in 9mm is a RMR 124 plated with 4.4 of WSF. Right around 1030-1040fps, makes 125 PF if it matters, shoots softer than factory and very accurate. 4gr of Universal worked well for me also.
Both meter well thru a measure both are less dense than HS6 so they take up more space in the case than the same size charge of HS6.

If you decide to try something else any of these 3 would be a good bet, BE86 might be as well, lots of people like it.

jaowens76
if it is legal for you to receive bullets in the mail (sounds like it but I need to ask) PM me your address and I will be happy to send you a sample of some plated bullets to try. PIF - (free)