H. Universal Quandry.

[dave from mesa]

9mm 124grn JRN. H. Universal. Shooting it in a S&W Shield
Trying for some mid range loads.
Looking in the Speer #12 reloading manual it shows 4.5 min to 5.0 max.
Looking on the Hodgdon site it shows 3.8 min to 4.4 max using a 124 GR. BERB HBRN TP.
Now I have no idea what 124 GR. BERB HBRN TP is but am thinking bullet weight being the same the min/max should be kinda close.
If I use the Speer data that would be .1 grain over max just as a starting load compared to the Hodgdon site.
Not sure which info I should use.
Any ideas?

thanks

dave

 

[j357]

You likely have a couple of things going on with the differences.

The Speer #12 is nearly 20 years old at this point. Things may have changed over time and thus new results of testing (and lawyers telling them to slow it down). I'd be looking for data from Speer #14 or other manual for validation. Lyman 49 shows 4.0 to 4.5 for a 125g JHP OAL 1.075. Try expanding your search on the Hodgdon site to include 125g bullets.


The BERB HBRN TP is a round nose hollow base (thick plate). Berry's says these have a longer bearing surface. That in and of it's self may increase pressure in testing results by the powder maker.

Good luck and happy loading.

 

[vaalpens]

You can verify the bullet AOL and your COL to determine if you will have less capacity and thus a higher pressure. Berry's indicate their 124gr HBRN has a length of .620".

I have used the Hodgdon HB load data for other plated bullets in 9mm and saw a trend that their min loads for 9mm normally just barely cycle the gun. I normally load towards the max of Hodgdon 9mm data. It could be the HB design of the bullet, since when I loaded HB and RMR bullets in 357sig using Longshot, it seemed the HB had higher pressure. Maybe the HB seals better when it expands and generate higher pressure, thus the lower load data where HB bullets are involved.

Hopefully the more knowledgeable THR members will also opine on the difference in load data.

Good luck and be safe.

 

[7mmb]

A JRN (jacketed round nose) is more commonly referred to as FMJ (full metal jacket.) That bullet type is the data you want to use. With Hodgdon's data that would be the Sierra 125gr FMJ. Hodgdon's min and max of 4.3gr to 4.9gr with that bullet is much more in line with Speer's 4.5gr to 5.0gr with their 124gr jacketed bullets. The data for the Speer #12 is the same in the #14.

Sierra lists a min and mix of 4.6gr and 5.3gr with Universal and their 125gr jacketed bullets. They use the same data with their 130gr FMJ as well.

I've used Universal in 45 Auto, 45 Colt and 357 Magnum as well as 9mm. It's a good clean powder with a broad range of applications. With properly worked up loads it is capable of stellar accuracy too. In 9mm with a 124gr Xtreme plated round nose I've worked up to 5.0gr but the 4.5gr load was a little more accurate and cycled my pistol just fine. I'm out now and wish I could get some more. If I came across an 8# keg I wouldn't hesitate to pick it up. It ranks at the top of my list for medium burning pistol powders.

 

[Dudedog]

The BERB is a plated bullet the jacketed will want a little more from what I hear. I have not loaded any jacketed but for what it's worth with Univerasal Clays (like Universal good stuff)
I have laoded 3.7 with a MBC (coated) 125, soft shoots well, also 4.0 with the same bullet, went up to 4.3 max, accuracy fell off. I have loaded 4.0 and 4.3 with plated close call there both shot well. So with jacketed I would guess 4.5 might be the ticket. H shows 4.3 to start so that might work well for you. The 3.7 lead loads were actually .1 lower than the start load and they shot the best for me accuracy wise.