BB in Texas
Member
- Joined
- Oct 26, 2020
- Messages
- 33
I am fairly new to the word of reloading, but have read and studied a ton and still feel like a total dummy. Gaining the knowledge needed is a daunting task and I am again seeking advice and input from you who are more experienced. This forum is absolutely awesome!
I've been loading 9mm using 115 gr Montana Gold FMJ bullets and 115 gr Midway Bi-Metal CB bullets. I had refined my loads to OAL of 1.130 - 1.135 and using 4.5 - 4.7 gr of W231 produced the best overall results in my Springfield Arms and Beretta pistols (3.3 - 4.8 in barrels). Using WIN cases and CCI 500 primers. (I have safely fired loads of 4.8 gr but overall prefer the performance at 4.7gr.)
All the pistols passed the plunk test with both the bullets listed above.
Having exhausted my supply of those bullets I loaded some 115 gr X-treme bullets to the same 1.135 OALand 4.7 gr W231, and fired a a few rounds in each Springfield Arms pistol. (Hellcat, XDM Compact, XDM OSP) I was very happy with the performance in each as cycling and extraction were excellent, recoil slightly lower than even some lighter loads, and I did not observe evidence any high pressure signs on inspection of the cases. Now I hate to admit this, but I DID NOT perform the plunk test after loading the X-treme bullet. (But have since learned that it's necessary for each different bullet due to differences in the ogive.)
Preparing to load more X-treme bullets, I prepared some dummy rounds and performed the plunk test, finding that all three of the Springfields FAILED the plunk test (although I could barely see with the naked eye that they were too high in the barrel). So I proceeded to determine the maximum and ideal OAL for the pistols for the X-treme bullets. Using the marker test I determined the bullets were contacting the rifling at the 1.135 OAL. Clearly, the ogive is very different from the other bullets I was using. Gradually reducing the OAL I settled on 1.125 that plunked properly and would reliably cycle through all pistols using the dummy rounds.
I still have some of the rounds loaded with 4.7 gr W231 at 1.135 OAL and am now wondering if seating them the additional .010 deeper will create a dangerous additional pressure or if I should pull the bullets and re-work the load. (And if re-working, how much to decrease the charge.)
It's frustrating that I can't find a published load for a comparable bullet and powder! Thanks in advance.
I've been loading 9mm using 115 gr Montana Gold FMJ bullets and 115 gr Midway Bi-Metal CB bullets. I had refined my loads to OAL of 1.130 - 1.135 and using 4.5 - 4.7 gr of W231 produced the best overall results in my Springfield Arms and Beretta pistols (3.3 - 4.8 in barrels). Using WIN cases and CCI 500 primers. (I have safely fired loads of 4.8 gr but overall prefer the performance at 4.7gr.)
All the pistols passed the plunk test with both the bullets listed above.
Having exhausted my supply of those bullets I loaded some 115 gr X-treme bullets to the same 1.135 OALand 4.7 gr W231, and fired a a few rounds in each Springfield Arms pistol. (Hellcat, XDM Compact, XDM OSP) I was very happy with the performance in each as cycling and extraction were excellent, recoil slightly lower than even some lighter loads, and I did not observe evidence any high pressure signs on inspection of the cases. Now I hate to admit this, but I DID NOT perform the plunk test after loading the X-treme bullet. (But have since learned that it's necessary for each different bullet due to differences in the ogive.)
Preparing to load more X-treme bullets, I prepared some dummy rounds and performed the plunk test, finding that all three of the Springfields FAILED the plunk test (although I could barely see with the naked eye that they were too high in the barrel). So I proceeded to determine the maximum and ideal OAL for the pistols for the X-treme bullets. Using the marker test I determined the bullets were contacting the rifling at the 1.135 OAL. Clearly, the ogive is very different from the other bullets I was using. Gradually reducing the OAL I settled on 1.125 that plunked properly and would reliably cycle through all pistols using the dummy rounds.
I still have some of the rounds loaded with 4.7 gr W231 at 1.135 OAL and am now wondering if seating them the additional .010 deeper will create a dangerous additional pressure or if I should pull the bullets and re-work the load. (And if re-working, how much to decrease the charge.)
It's frustrating that I can't find a published load for a comparable bullet and powder! Thanks in advance.