9mm Gold Dot and VCrown loads with CFE-P, VV3N37, and VV3N38

[Joe Texas]

Chronographed some 9mm loads today. Results are below.
CFE-Pistol loads were older and shot for point of reference. VV loads were new to me and my main focus. You can see that the VV loads lack velocity at the charge weight/COL tested. I’ll work up slowly from there with 3N37 and 3N38. No pressure signs at all.

115 grain Gold Dot
5.7 grains CFE-P
Winchester Brass
CCI 500 primer
1.125 COL
P320 3.9” 1170 fps SD 12
P365 3” 1074 fps SD 15

115 grain Gold Dot
6.6 grains 3N37
Rem brass/CCI 500
COL 1.125
P365 - 1118 SD 4

124 grain Gold Dot
5.3 CFE-P
Win brass/CCI 500
COL 1.125
P320 - 1077 SD 6
P365 - 1021 SD13

124 grain V-Crown
5.5 CFE Pistol
Win brass/CCI 500
COL 1.065
P320 - 1136 SD 7
P365 - 1108 SD 10

124 V-Crown
6.4 3N37
Sig brass/CCI 500
COL 1.125
P320 - 1102 SD 10
P365 - 1061 SD 9

124 V-Crown
6.6 3N38
Sig Brass/CCI 500
COL 1.125
P320 - 1042 SD 14
P365 - 994 SD 19

 

[Walkalong]

The V-Crown bullets shoot really well.

90 Gr V-Crown + 3N37 + 9MM = Much Joy.

 

[milsurpguy]

Yeah that is the exact load I want to try. 124gr good dot over 3n37, max normal load to major for my sten gun and standard load to +p for m9.
The 124gr sig v crown 9mm major load is having jacket separation and fragmentation out of the sten gun. Figured the gold dot might do better.

 

[Joe Texas]

Loaded tonight for further testing:
124 grain V-Crown
3N37
Sig brass

6.5 grains COL 1.12
6.5 grains 1.10
6.5/1.08

6.6 grains 1.12, 1.10, 1.08

124 V-Crown
3N38
Blazer brass

6.8 grains 1.12, 1.10, 1.08
7.0 grains 1.12, 1.10, 1.08
7.2 grains 1.12, 1.10, 1.08
7.4 grains 1.12, 1.10, 1.08

I’ll learn what effect each increase in powder charge and seating depth has. I’m kinda intrigued.

 

[milsurpguy]

What's the accuracy like?

 

[Joe Texas]

What's the accuracy like?

Not sure. I shot ‘em all over the chronograph at 7 yards. I ended up with a baseball sized hole. The CFE Pistol loads were developed a few years ago and are more accurate than I am. They’ll stay inside a 2” circle offhand at 10 yards. Good ‘nuff for anything I’d use ‘em for.

 

[Joe Texas]

Further test results:

124 grain V-Crown
3N37
Sig Brass
CCI 500

6.5 3N37
1.12 OAL - 1135 fps SD 11
1.10 - 1143 fps SD19
1.08 - 1150 fps SD 23

6.6 3N37
1.12 - 1149 fps SD 13
1.10 - 1155 fps SD 7
1.08 - 1170 fps SD 4

124 grain V-crown
3N38
Blazer Brass
CCI 500

6.8 3N38
1.12 - 1018 fps SD 18
1.10 - 1045 fps SD 9
1.08 - 1101 fps SD 12


7.0 3N38
1.12 - 1064 fps SD 4
1.10 - 1091 fps SD 12
1.08 - 1125 fps SD 8

7.2 3N38
1.12 - 1094 fps SD 4
1.10 - 1112 fps SD 10
1.08 - 1157 fps SD 13

7.4 3N38
1.12 - 1114 fps SD 9
1.10 - 1159 fps SD 14
1.08 - 1184 fps SD 9

No pressure signs.

 

[milsurpguy]

Hey any unburnt powder with the 3n38?

 

[lordpaxman]

I’ll learn what effect each increase in powder charge and seating depth has.

My experience has been the same as yours. My V has always been less than published, and changing COL (within reason) has resulted in a linear change in V. The VV pistol powders I’ve tried have all been well behaved. 3N37 has been the slowest but I’ve been tempted to put some N350 on the next order. Good luck.

 

[Joe Texas]

Hey any unburnt powder with the 3n38?

Nope. All gone.

 

[Joe Texas]

My experience has been the same as yours. My V has always been less than published, and changing COL (within reason) has resulted in a linear change in V. The VV pistol powders I’ve tried have all been well behaved. 3N37 has been the slowest but I’ve been tempted to put some N350 on the next order. Good luck.

I was looking for 1200 as a stopping point. I ended up loading 50 124 grain Gold Dots over 7.5 3N38 @ 1.09. That should just about do it.

The cool thing was that the VV loads “felt” less snappy than the CFE-P loads I shot as a control group.

I’m thinking that 350 would probably do almost anything 3N37 would be asked to do. I’m also thinking that 320 would be an ideal fast powder to replace TG/Bullseye. I want to try N105 in straight-walled revolver cartridges too. So many powders, so little time.

 

[Dudedog]

I’m also thinking that 320 would be an ideal fast powder to replace TG/Bullseye

I haven't used a lot of it but N320 is good stuff, I would chose it over Titegroup/Bullseye. Titegroup/Bullseye might give a little more vel, but if you want more vel
a slower powder is a better answer.

 

[lordpaxman]

I’m also thinking that 320 would be an ideal fast powder to replace TG/Bullseye.

N320 is a bit slower than TG/Bullseye. My replacement for those is IMR Target, and it’s pretty useful across a number of calibers. Sport Pistol is more in line with N320 at least in my testing and load development. There are lots of great powders to choose from.