9mm Reloading...

[Rodentman]

I am puzzled by the following data:

Lyman Third Edition recipe...

115g JHP
Power Pistol start 5.9g
Power Pistol max 6.5g
CCI 500 SP
Federal Case

Sierra 5th Edition recipe...

115g JHP
Power Pistol start 5.1g
Power Pistol max 6.0g
WSP Primer
Starline Case

Speer 14 recipe...

115g TMJ
Power Pistol start 6.2g
Power Pistol max 6.7g
CCI 500 SP
Speer brass

I ASSUME, hopefully correctly, that SP primers are BASICALLY the same and brand is not a significant part of the equation. Same with 115g jacketed bullets. The brand shouldn't affect the load. Same with the brass. Especially since I tend to load toward the low end, not the high end.

I settled on 6.0g Power Pistol, but have yet to fire them. I have had good luck with 5.3g of PP with a 124g bullet.

Why is there such a difference in the powder charges? Am I missing something, and is 6.0g PP appropriate for a 115g jacketed bullet?

 

[rcmodel]

1. Different labs, using different test barrels, different pressure measuring methods, with different lots of powder, years apart, get different results.

2. The Speer TMJ is a plated bullet, and the other two are conventional jacketed bullets.

Is 6.0 appropriate?
Alliant, who makes the powder, shows the Speer 115 Gold-Dot, another plated bullet with 6.7 grains MAX in their 2009 manual.
Your 6.0 grains is a 10% reduction, or suggested starting load.

If it Feeds, Fires, and Functions Freely in your gun, it is appropriate.

rc

 

[Rodentman]

Thank you for your insight!

 

[The Bushmaster]

Lyman's 3 Edition? You are aware that Lyman is up to the 49th editions now. That one must go back a ways. Hang on to it...

 

[RidgwayCO]

I believe Rodentman may be referring to the Lyman 3rd Edition Pistol and Revolver Handbook...

 

[The Bushmaster]

Aah. Yes. I believe you might be right. Forgot...CRS you know...

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, my CRS was earlier. Glad to see we all suffer from it occasionally.

 

[rcmodel]

I almost made the same mistake.
I had already typed a paragraph about Lyman being up to #49 now, and #3 was way before Power Pistol was invented.

Then I miraculously somehow remembered the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook is in edition #3 before posting!

rc

 

[The Bushmaster]

Wow!!! I'm in a very good club...

 

[billybob44]

I got it BAD

I'm right there with you CRS guys. I have it SO bad that I forgot I was a member of THR for over 2 years, untill a couple months ago. That's why the low post count!!

 

[Rodentman]

Yeah, and I try to RELOAD with this condition....

 

[The Bushmaster]

That's why I keep my Lyman's 48th Edition on the bench at all times...

 

[Galil5.56]

The 6.7 grain PP max from Speer remains the same as when Alliant/Hercules was on their own using jacketed 115 grain bullets (FMJ listed). I use this 6.7 grain max load to good effect, w/o even a hint of excessive pressure. The more I use Power Pistol, the more I like it in several calibers.