9mm plinking ammo

[mgmorden]

I've shot lots of both. I tend to prefer 124grn these days. 115grn seems to impact a little too low, and loaded to equal power factors the recoil on the 124grn is a little softer. In most of my guns 124grn bullets just seem to group a little better too.

I'm not staunch on it though. If I found a particularly good deal on 115grn bullets I'd buy and shoot them, but for only $4/1000 in savings I'll opt for the 124's.

As to Titegroup with plated bullets - I shot through 1000 Rainier 115grn plated 9mm, 500 of their 124grn 9mm, and 500 125grn .38 Special all loaded with Titegroup - never had any issues. I'd find something slower burning for pure lead, but for plated TG works just fine.

Also have cooked up loads with Bullseye and Unique that worked well too. Those three and AA #9 (which I don't use for 9mm - it's my 7.62x25 powder) are the only pistol powders on my bench.

 

[dnmccoy]

quick update, I ordered the 124gr and got them in this morning. Does anyone have any pet loads for 231 or should I look around for another powder. I cant find alot of published load data for 231 and plated bullets so any advice will help

 

[LiveLife]

Great!

For plated bullets sized same as jacketed (.355"), I tend to use jacketed load data for accuracy and for larger sized plated bullets (.3555"-.356"), I tend to use lead load data or start-to-mid range jacketed load data.

Typically for W231/HP-38 and 124/125 gr RN plated bullets, I would start with 4.0 gr at 1.125"-1.135" and work up towards 4.4, gr (but depending on the nose profile, use the barrel drop test to determine Max OAL and function check with manual feed/chamber from the magazine to determine Ideal OAL).

 

[jeepmor]

If you carry that same gun, match the weight to your CCW round. If not, whatever you like. I've had great experience with Xtreme bullets, no complaints.

 

[GLOOB]

I've somehow got stuck on 124 gr bullets, cause I read somewhere that Glock 9mm's were designed specifically to shoot 124 gr NATO ammo. But I wish I never read that. I'm pretty sure if I started out with 115 gr bullets I would never have had any complaints. And I'd have saved more than a few bucks by now.

My pet load for HP38 is 4.8 gr behind a 124 gr Berry's out of a G19. Actually, anything over 4.4 worked pretty good, IIRC. Any less and cycling became iffy.

I wouldn't get too hung up on finding max OAL for a Glock 9mm (unless you want to go off the charts in search of maximum velocity). Glock 9mm's have a bottomless pit of a leade. If you seat to max OAL, your loads will be monstrously long, incompatible with almost all other guns, and you'll use more powder than needed for your plinking loads. You might also eventually run into a failure to feed due to sticking in the mag, if you push it. If it's in a book, add 10 thou to the min OAL to cover variation in your seating depth, and it'll still fit in a Glock.

I used to make 2 kinds of 9mm. One for Glocks, and one for my other two 9mm handguns. But eventually made 'em all "normal" OAL. Still do, even though I sold all my other 9's.

 

[dnmccoy]

Arnt they purty?! Im pretty impressed with the looks ox the xtreme, and out of the 50 or so I weighed, all were within +/- .3 grain

 

[Fishslayer]

MMMMMMMMMMMM..... Boolit pr0n!

 

[Deavis]

115s, use the savings to buy more bullets.

 

[Strykervet]

I use 5.8gr. 3N37 under a 124gr. Rainier RN. My 17L shoots ragged holes with it at close range.

 

[dnmccoy]

I have seen alot of different loading data but nothing for the 231. Im not opposed to using a different powder, just looking for reliable load data

 

[razorback2003]

I use Unique powder with cast 125 grain bullets I bought at Sportsman's Warehouse. I got my load data out of a Lyman handgun cartridge book. I don't know how close to cast or jacketed you would have to measure your powder for plated bullets.

 

[1SOW]

Look at posts 2, 3, 6, 18 and two more.
Berry's (.356"plated bullets) recommends to start at the low-to-mid range of published load data for FMJ bullets of the same type and weight.

Using lead published data can get you there as mentioned above. Start lower-midrange and work up.

Most any plated .355/.356 bullet would be safe to load at the low end of 231/HP38 load data for FMJ of the same weight and type.

There is A LOT of Win 231/HP38 data in the load manuals for 124gr jacketed bullets. Some have plated loads, so compare the loads to get an idea how plated compares to FMJ loads of the same type and weight bullet..

 

[dickttx]

I ordered 1K of 115gn and 1K of 124gn jacketed from Precision Delta a couple of weeks ago. I loaded 15 of the 124gn with 4.5gn HP38 and tried them last Thursday. Liked the results. They pretty well centered on a 3" target with a 6 O'clock hold. The 115gn Rainier plated I had been using required a 12 O'clock hold to shoot at that POI.
I loaded the other 85 in the box and will try them today. Used a 1.14 OAL but loaded 10 with a 1.09 OAL to test today.

 

[dickttx]

Tried the 124gn PD's at 1.09 OAL this morning. Didn't group near as well as the 1.14 OAL. Looks like I will use 4.5gn HP38 at 1.14. Really nice load. My shooting was at 8 yds.

 

[dnmccoy]

A final update for now.

I made up 4 different test loads using AA#2 and WIN231 to test at the range


And decided on the following after making ragged holes:

4.2gr W231 with mixed hs and CCI primers at 1.15

Heres the first batch of 500!

 

[rfwobbly]

I have some Berry's 124 grain HP's that won't feed in my Hi-Power, and about 2 or 3 ounces of TG powders.

It's the larger flatted point not being able to ride up the feed ramp. I have the same issue with these bullets in my Kimber 1911. That, and side-by-side target tests with the rest of Berry's 124gr range prove to me that this is Berry's worst performing 124gr.

Older design guns like the HiPower and 1911 are going to prefer a RN. Try the Berry 124gr RN Hollow Base which has the extended bearing surface and the RN.

 

[Walkalong]

I have some Berry's 124 grain HP's that won't feed in my Hi-Power

They can be finicky in some guns. I too have had great success with the new 124 Gr HBRN Berrys offering.

 

[littlebob3]

9mm Luger

115 gr lead bullet
Bullseye start 4 grs max 4.5 grs
Unique start 4.5 max 5 grs
Power Pistol start 5 grs max 5.5 grs

115 gr jacketed bullet
Bullseye start 4 grs max 4.5 grs
Unique start 4.5 grs max 5.5 grs
Power Pistol start 5.9 grs max 6.3 grs

124/125 gr lead
Bullseye start 3.8 grs max 4.3 grs
Unique start 4 grs max 4.5 grs
Power Pistol start 4.8 grs max 5.3 grs

124/125 gr jacketed
Bullseye start 3.9 grs max 4.3 grs
Unique start 4.5 grs max 5 grs
Power Pistol start 5 grs max 5.5 grs

147 gr lead
Bullseye start 2.8 grs max 3.3 grs
Unique start 3.2 grs max 3.6 grs
Power Pistol start 4 grs max 4.5 grs

147 gr jacketed
Unique start 4 grs max 4.5 grs
Power Pistol start 4.5 grs max 5 grs

Note: Start with the minimum charge wt. Reload just a few and be sure they will properly cycle the action of your pistol before reloading a quantity.