ACME bullet 115gr LRN coated 9mm question

[CMV]

I just got a bunch of these and will be trying them out soon.



Have about big handful of Montana Gold FMJ left from a 6k case. Have also used probably 2500 or so Berry's & Extreme plated 115 gr. I load the plated same as the FMJ. My range load for 9mm is:
4.8gr Win 231
CCI #500
Mixed brass
1.122 OAL

This has worked very well for me, working fine in about a dozen different 9mms I own, and accuracy as expected with bulk FMJ in everything.

So, since out of the 2 bullets I normally use and am shooting a lot more lately, figured I try the ACME coated to save a few bucks.

But I'm not sure where to start or stop with it. Is the ~1100ish fps is too fast for a HITEK coated vs a FMJ or plated? I figured I'd start with Lyman manual since it has more cast data than my other references, but the profiles there are gas checks and nothing like this ACME one with a pretty typical RN 9mm profile. Hodgdon LRN data is max load for my standard 9mm recipe listed above. And the Lyman cast max load is below the Hodgdon starting load....

Since the only other cast bullets I use are MBC coated for subsonic loads 147gr 9mm & 245gr 300BLK, I have never tried to push a coated cast bullet fast & don't know what is reasonable with these.

Would it be bad to try to work them up to my standard 9mm load or is that too much for a coated cast bullet?

 

[k4swb]

1100fps should be doable with the ACME bullets. I think they are rated for at least 1200fps.
I've been shooting a lot of ACME bullets in 9mm and .45ACP but I haven't pushed the 9s that far.
I usually prefer slower velocities for plinking.

I've tried a few other Hi-Tek coated bullets and I can tell you that in my experience, the ACMEs are coated thicker than any of the others I've tried. I have AR500 steel gongs I usually setup at 50'-75' and when I'm done there are bunches of little round spheres with hardly any paint crackage. (is that even a word?)

 

[CMV]

That's primarily what I'm shooting too. AR500 silhouettes & gongs. But typically @ 10 yds for pistols. They any better/worse for splatter @ 7-10 yds? I get a small amount with FMJ or plated, but it's tiny pieces with about the velocity of an underhand toss. I didn't consider the coating maybe holding them together better and changing spatter behavior.

My 9mm range from tiny like a SIg 938 or Ruger LC9s up to Beretta CX4 carbine. Most fall in between there as full size or compact pistols, but many different ones. So that's why even my plinking/general range use ammo gets loaded close to typical factory - I want it to work in everything.

 

[kmw1954]

Can always back off .3gr or so and start to work back up.

 

[tcoz]

Whenever I read posts like these I always go back and compare the prices of coated cast bullets vs FMJ and the coated bullets are always more expensive. I pay $77.90 shipped for 1000 9mm 124gr FMJ from RMR (includes 5% THR discount). Is there some advantage that I’m not aware of shooting coated cast over FMJ?

 

[CMV]

$60 / 1k delivered is what these were. yeah, $15-$20 more and could just stay with something I had used previously. I go thru a 30cal of 9mm every 2-3 months so every little bit helps. The whole point of reloading for me is to shoot more for the same amount of money so always looking for anything to get cost per round lower if I can

For speed drills and such on steel, I really just need a projectile. Don’t much care about the construction as long as it works.

 

[camsdaddy]

I've shot a lot of their 124's over 4.0 of titegroup. I don't have any idea how fast they are but they shoot well

 

[k4swb]

That's primarily what I'm shooting too. AR500 silhouettes & gongs. But typically @ 10 yds for pistols. They any better/worse for splatter @ 7-10 yds? I get a small amount with FMJ or plated, but it's tiny pieces with about the velocity of an underhand toss. I didn't consider the coating maybe holding them together better and changing spatter behavior.

My 9mm range from tiny like a SIg 938 or Ruger LC9s up to Beretta CX4 carbine. Most fall in between there as full size or compact pistols, but many different ones. So that's why even my plinking/general range use ammo gets loaded close to typical factory - I want it to work in everything.

I've never noticed any splatter or any of the coating or bullet back toward the shooting line. Just little flat red coated blobs right under or almost right under the gongs.

Never tried them at 10yrds but I wouldn't be scared to try.
Mostly my normal setup.
Wife had just shot the left upright.

 

[CMV]

How do you like those straps vs chains? I have one set, everything else on chains. I like them much better so far, but they haven't been shot up all that much so wonder how long they will last. THey sure seem to settle the targets down a lot faster which is nice.

 

[Texas10mm]

I'm pushing Hi-Tek bullets at 1400+ from my .357, .357, and .44. I know guys who are pushing Hi-Tek coated rifle bullets up to 2500 fps.

That change in profile means you're going to have to load that bullet a bit deeper, I'd cut back your charge a bit too.

 

[CMV]

Why would I seat it deeper? Not arguing, just trying to learn. Bullet is 15 thou shorter than the FMJ. This is both loaded to 1.120 OAL. It doesn't look like it needs seated deeper to me? It does give .015" more distance inside the case from base of bullet with the red one.

Will reduce charge & work up of course. Am hoping to land on the same 4.8gr just for simplicity, but if that's too much, it's too much.

 

[Kaldor]

I'm pushing the Acme 115s to 1250 from my pistol and 1450 from my AR9. No issues with leading. Shoot nice and straight too.

 

[k4swb]

How do you like those straps vs chains? I have one set, everything else on chains. I like them much better so far, but they haven't been shot up all that much so wonder how long they will last. THey sure seem to settle the targets down a lot faster which is nice.

Straps work quite well. I had never shot them but a friend of mine was a little wild one day and shot a couple. Had to look really close to see and looked to not have harmed them at all. I expect that if he'd have hit one of the chains, it wouldn't have gone as well.

You are correct. Targets calm down quicker on the straps.

 

[Texas10mm]

Why would I seat it deeper? Not arguing, just trying to learn. Bullet is 15 thou shorter than the FMJ. This is both loaded to 1.120 OAL. It doesn't look like it needs seated deeper to me? It does give .015" more distance inside the case from base of bullet with the red one.

Will reduce charge & work up of course. Am hoping to land on the same 4.8gr just for simplicity, but if that's too much, it's too much.

View attachment 820999

If you have a short or no throat barrel different bullet profiles need different seating depths. Since the new bullets are wider in the nose you might have to seat them shorter. Do they plunk and spin?

 

[BC17A]

Why would I seat it deeper? Not arguing, just trying to learn. Bullet is 15 thou shorter than the FMJ. This is both loaded to 1.120 OAL. It doesn't look like it needs seated deeper to me? It does give .015" more distance inside the case from base of bullet with the red one.

Will reduce charge & work up of course. Am hoping to land on the same 4.8gr just for simplicity, but if that's too much, it's too much.

I just checked my notes, and my most accurate 9mm load is 4.8gn of HP38(W231) slinging a Bayou 115gn coated RN. The Bayou 115 looks to have the same profile as the new bullet from your original post. Oh, and the COAL is 1.125" which works well in all my pistols.

 

[rskent]

I just picked up a few of these. I’m thinking of trying them out with CFE pistol. Any CFE pistol fans?

 

[Tcruse]

I just picked up a few of these. I’m thinking of trying them out with CFE pistol. Any CFE pistol fans?

I have been having good luck with 124g Acme at about 4.8 CFE Pistol or 4.4g HP38/W321

 

[BC17A]

I just picked up a few of these. I’m thinking of trying them out with CFE pistol. Any CFE pistol fans?

I recently tried CFE-P with the 115gn coated RN and found they are more accurate at low powder charges. 5 grains of CFE-P was making 1032fps average from a 3.1" barrel and were the most accurate. From a 4-1/2" barrel they were averaging 1140fps. These shot so nice, you could shoot all day with a small snappy pistol and never get tired. Next time out, I'm going to test them in a 1911 and see how well they do.

 

[rfwobbly]

I would like to "like" the 124gr ACME RN but they are only available in 0.356" diameter. With a lot of 9mm barrels being made to 0.3555" that shouldn't be enough to seal the bullet. I know people say they have no issues, but with a flat base that can't obdurate, these bullets are running on the razor edge.

I'm going to stay with MBC where I can order by size.... and not have to deal with that non-resealable wooden box.

 

[jameskelliott]

Acme bullets in 115 and 147 gr 9mm are all I shoot lately.
I have had very good results with them.
Their customer service is great too.
J Keith

 

[kidneyboy]

I'm pushing Hi-Tek bullets at 1400+ from my .357, .357, and .44. I know guys who are pushing Hi-Tek coated rifle bullets up to 2500 fps.

That change in profile means you're going to have to load that bullet a bit deeper, I'd cut back your charge a bit too.

The original profile needed to be seated in the 1.06 range to run in my G19. The new profile can be loaded at 1.120 in the same barrel. I've loaded thousands of both of these.