Bullet Order Decision

[1John1:9]

Trying to decide which bullet to order. Of the following 124/125 grain coated lead bullets, which would you prefer with n320 powder. My purpose is to make 3500 rounds for practice / IDPA, with a Power Factor of 125 to 130 (velocity 1010 to 1050). I will most likely be using between 3.5 and 3.8 grains of n320.

I will be loading them for a CZ 75, P-01.

My OAL will be 1.100 to 1.120, depending on the bullet I get. Feeding will not be a problem with either bullet. I've already tried 4 of the 5 bullets in sample packs, but have not used them in high enough numbers to feel comfortable making a larger order yet.

Bayou Bullets



Black Bullets International


Missouri Bullets



All 5 bullets are coated with HI-TEK Lube coating. I'm assuming all 3 companies use the same coating, but there may be differences.

My question relates to the bullet shape as well as "groove" versus "no groove".

Feel free to share your favorite powder with coated lead bullets as well.

 

[Schwing]

My question relates to the bullet shape as well as "groove" versus "no groove".

Even more important to me would be bullet diameter. If you have not slugged your barrel, you will want to. Then, the bullets need to be at least .001 larger than the barrel.

As far as shape is concerned, you will get a different answer from everyone. For me, I lean towards the 124g TC bullets. They just seem to be slightly more accurate out of my gun. For powder, I love Unique and Bullseye.

 

[blarby]

If you don't have a legitimate reason for doing so, why would you give up the functionality of a RN design ?

5 bullets is not a really good "feed test" run, IMHO. "shouldn't" and "won't" will separate from each other quite nicely over the space of a few thousand rounds.

If its just for plinking, but could be used for IDPA, I would want RN designs over any other. Function counts, and clearing a misfed FN bullet would be the last thing I'd want to do in a match.

The groove in the bullet makes no difference. Just tells you wether they bought new moulds for doing PC bullets, or are simply using standard lube groove moulds.

 

[Otto]

Feeding will not be a problem with either bullet. I've already tried 4 of the 5 bullets in sample packs...

That's a good idea, especially with CZ's that often have short throats.
N320 is a good choice as well. Personally, I'd go with a non-groove bullet but I'd limit my initial purchase until I saw how it prints on paper.
BBI is popular with action shooters.

 

[GJSchulze]

A round nose does not make a clean hole with a grease ring. If you're shooting any kind of competition you want an obvious round hole so that if it touches the line on a target it can be clearly seen so you get the higher score.

The ones you show that are truncated cones will give you a nice hole. You also don't want to be right on the edge of the 125 power factor in case you ever go to a match where they chrono your rounds. 130 PF is good.

 

[Goju]

Another option is the coated bullets from SNS Casting. I have had excellent results with the coated 125gr RNs, and they have 125 RN, 135 RN, and 147 FP bullets that do not have the lube groove. Service from SNS has been great as well.

 

[hAkron]

I've always had feeding issues with my CZ's using any sort of cone shaped projectiles. I've had to seat Berry's THP bullets very deep to get them to feed reliably. As others have suggested, CZ's have a short throat. Round nose is going to be best for feeding.

 

[ljnowell]

If it were me I would order them from Missouri Bullet, as that's where I always order mine from.

 

[1John1:9]

A round nose does not make a clean hole with a grease ring. If you're shooting any kind of competition you want an obvious round hole so that if it touches the line on a target it can be clearly seen so you get the higher score.

The ones you show that are truncated cones will give you a nice hole. You also don't want to be right on the edge of the 125 power factor in case you ever go to a match where they chrono your rounds. 130 PF is good.

That is my reasoning as well. I don't know how big of a difference it'll make, but I like seeing the nice clear rings. Thanks for the reminder on PF. When I record my data on a spreadsheet, I have a row that gives me the PF based on my lowest recorded velocity for that string. Usually my average PF is around 130 and my low is around 127.

 

[GJSchulze]

That is my reasoning as well. I don't know how big of a difference it'll make, but I like seeing the nice clear rings.

The difference is between a clean hole, like a hole punch, with no paper and a ring around it vs. a hole with paper pushed through and still visible, like pushing a pencil through the paper. Remember, radial tears do not count if they touch the line. It's best to not leave any doubt.

 

[moonman16]

Bayou Bullets 147 RNFP (lube groove) Red Copper HI-TEK coated over VV N320 in a CZ P-01, CZ SP-01 and a Springfield Range Officer 9 MM all cycle.

Many use 147's for making power factors WITH REDUCED FELT RECOIL.

 

[jell-dog]

Bayou Bullets 147 RNFP (lube groove) Red Copper HI-TEK coated over VV N320 in a CZ P-01, CZ SP-01 and a Springfield Range Officer 9 MM all cycle.

Many use 147's for making power factors WITH REDUCED FELT RECOIL.

Bayou Bullets web site doesn't show 147gr RNFP (lube groove) RED COPPER Hi-Tec plated bullets???
They show green tho, same thing?

 

[Dudedog]

Just ordered some coated MBC bullets.
I have had no feeding issues whatsoever with MBC 9mm cones or SWC in my Taraus PT99 or my Springfield XD but these were the uncoated ones. I have shot 1000s of each. As a FYI the SWCs seem to want about .2 gr less powder than the cones depending on powder flavor.

The SWCs cut nice clean holes (if I am wearing my glasses they are clean) otherwise I can't tell the difference, the cones cut cleaner holes than round nose but not as nice as the SWCs, both my pistols seem to slightly prefer the cones accuracy wise.

MBC offers THR members a 5% discount, they ship fast, (ordered today at noon PST order shipped today) they are great to do business with! As a FYI they can ship 3000 9mm bullets for $14. They normally put 4 boxes of 500 in one Flat rate box but if you call they will for example put 1500 SWCs in two boxes and 1500 Cones in two boxes all of which fit in one flat rate box for the $14. (and weigh about 50lbs!) (of course they will ship only 500 if you want) My postperson must wonder what in the heck I am ordering, but by now it's probally "Not one of these again"

9/11/14 MBC order arrived in my mailbox.

 

[1John1:9]

Bayou Bullets 147 RNFP (lube groove) Red Copper HI-TEK coated over VV N320 in a CZ P-01, CZ SP-01 and a Springfield Range Officer 9 MM all cycle.

Many use 147's for making power factors WITH REDUCED FELT RECOIL.

moonman, can you share your powder charge and OAL with n320 and 147 lead bullets?

I actually prefer 147 gr bullets in my non-CZs. I have to load the CZ shorter than my other guns, so it leaves less wiggle room for OAL with the longer 147s. As a matter of fact, I'm shooting some 147's over n340 today to see how they perform. But, I have quite a bit of n320, so I'd like to try that as well. I have found that the MBC 147 will feed with a longer OAL than the BBI bullet by about .015" even though both are flat points.

 

[1John1:9]

Just ordered some coated MBC bullets.
I have had no feeding issues whatsoever with MBC 9mm cones or SWC in my Taraus PT99 or my Springfield XD but these were the uncoated ones. I have shot 1000s of each. As a FYI the SWCs seem to want about .2 gr less powder than the cones depending on powder flavor.

The SWCs cut nice clean holes (if I am wearing my glasses they are clean) otherwise I can't tell the difference, the cones cut cleaner holes than round nose but not as nice as the SWCs, both my pistols seem to slightly prefer the cones accuracy wise.

MBC offers THR members a 5% discount, they ship fast, (ordered today at noon PST order shipped today) they are great to do business with! As a FYI they can ship 3000 9mm bullets for $14. They normally put 4 boxes of 500 in one Flat rate box but if you call they will for example put 1500 SWCs in two boxes and 1500 Cones in two boxes all of which fit in one flat rate box for the $14. (and weigh about 50lbs!) (of course they will ship only 500 if you want) My postperson must wonder what in the heck I am ordering, but by now it's probally "Not one of these again"

Dudedog,

I tried a sampling of the SWC from MBC. I had to load them to 1.060 or shorter in order to get them to chamber in my CZ 75. This leads to compressed powder with n320. I did load some with Autocomp and some with Titegroup that I'm going to shoot today. I know Titegroup is a "hot" powder, so shooting it with lead may not be the best long term choice, but I'll see how they do. You're right, though. Very nice holes in the target with LSWC bullets.

 

[moonman16]

jell-dog,

GO TO,

Bayou Bullets, Coated Bullet Choices 9 MM, then Page 2 of 9 MM.

The 147's from Bayou come in GREEN, GOLD, AND RED COPPER.

He has sample packs of bullets (100 Pcs) from $7 up to around $10

for Heavy Bullets such as .45 230 grain.

Up to 3 (100 sample packs ship in POSTAL BOX for about $8.)

YOU COULD EVEN GIVE DONNIE A CALL, HE ANSWERS THE PHONE.