RMR's own line of Thick Plated bullets

[LiveLife]

It's interesting to point out that RMR decided to go with 11-12 BHN lead alloy for their bullet core.

... harder lead core (11-12 BHN) than any plated bullet company that we know of.

I think some plated bullet manufacturers use softer swaged lead for bullet core. Perhaps the harder 11-12 BHN lead alloy maintains neck tension better when the bullet is seated and taper crimp applied instead of being squished? If that's the case, more consistent neck tension would produce more consistent chamber pressures.

 

[Potatohead]

As ljnowell posted, most popular pistol powders we use are also shotgun powders, even Unique. During the powder shortage since 2008, I read many reloaders and match shooters tried other shotgun powders like e3, American Select, 20/28, Solo 1000 and Steel with some success. In fact, American Select is next powder I would like to venture out to test in 9/40/45.

Yea, I reckon youze guys are right. I guess if the burn rate is conducive to shotgun and pistol, that makes it a shotgun AND pistol powder.

I was meaning the "true" shotgun powders, Herco, Amer Sel, and I dont know any more, versus the "true" pistol powders, AutoComp, 7625, Bullseye etc, but I guess it's a blurry line and maybe no "true" anything.

Also, I think you'll be surprised with Amer Sel in 9mm. Very nice.

 

[longdayjake]

Jake got you pulling double duty, monitoring THR now?

Actually, Ryan is still pretty new to reloading. He does an excellent job taking care of the boring stuff that I suck at (quick books, HR issues, price negotiations, etc.) but because he has an overachiever syndrome he has expressed a desire to learn the reloading aspect a little more so that he could better answer questions. I can think of no better place to learn this stuff than here at THR.

 

[Potatohead]

I can think of no better place to learn this stuff than here at THR.

me either

 

[LiveLife]

Ryan is still pretty new to reloading ... he has expressed a desire to learn the reloading aspect a little more so that he could better answer questions. I can think of no better place to learn this stuff than here at THR.

That's great Jake ... Ryan, you are a lucky guy.

We'll do our best to show him the ropes and detail the reloading steps we use for load development to identify accurate loads along with other tips so he doesn't have to "reinvent" the wheel and make mistakes we made.

 

[Potatohead]

so he doesn't have to "reinvent" the wheel and make mistakes we made

Mistakes?? Never made one

 

[blarby]

Ryan,

I would suggest thick plated in 44 Magnum. Lots more need for 1400 fps + in 44 than in 45, IMHO.

Seems not a week goes by we get a thread about someone wanting to shoot full-house magnum loads on the cheap.

The "wee-wee" plating can't take it safely, and the art of Hot Magnum Lead is apparently dying off !

I personally have a lifetime+ supply, but good 44 Mag bullets on the cheap seem to always be in demand.

 

[griff383]

Dare I ask for 300blk subs and/or supers? Something in the 220-230 for heavies and 120-140 for the supers.

I would imagine those would sell themselves

 

[longdayjake]

Dare I ask for 300blk subs and/or supers? Something in the 220-230 for heavies and 120-140 for the supers.

Actually, we are going to look into this a little bit. We aren't sure how easy it will be to do though. If it can be done well, then we will be doing it as soon as possible.

The 44 magnum bullets may be more difficult to justify. 44 mag stuff sells relatively slowly and we want to make sure we have enough money to keep a constant supply of the faster movers. Don't get me wrong, 44 mag stuff is on our list, it is just a little bit further out than some other options. That said, we may be stocking some of another manufacturer soon.

 

[orionengnr]

+1 on the .300BLK.
I'll be keeping an eye on your website.

 

[LiveLife]

Well, I had planned to do more range testing with 230 gr RN and W231/HP-38 along with the initial testing of 115/124 gr RN using W231/HP-38 and AutoComp but need to travel out of town for the weekend to checkout a retirement property.

So the range testing will resume next week.

 

[LiveLife]

Offer on the retirement property was accepted and we open escrow next week!

I was busy yesterday making arrangements to buy my retirement fishing boat (21' aluminum vintage Starcraft) but was able to squeeze in a quick range session to test the 230 gr TP RN at 25 yards. Hey blarby, it's got V8 driven Berkeley jet drive so we are set for river fishing in Oregon.

And my lead level? Saw the doctor last week and it went down from 12 to 8.1 the past 3 months without shooting at indoor ranges so the 3M respirator with 2091 filters will be a permanent part of my range bag from now on and whenever I handle dirty range brass. For me, it's a cheap $15 insurance against lead exposure - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=17SYHXYRZZZ8K0TZ0AGX

RMR 230 gr TP RN on the left/middle and factory PMC round on the right

If you recall from post #1, RMR's new thick plated 230 gr RN with dished base has different nose profile than typical 230 gr RN that allows longer bullet base/bearing surface and instead of 1.250"-1.260" working OAL I typically use with 230 gr RN bullets, I used shorter 1.230" for Citadel 1911 and 1.200" for Sig 1911 barrel with short leade and quick start of rifling.

After 3 months of no shooting indoors (doctor's orders) or outdoors (my voluntary decision), this was my second range trip and the same 5.0 gr W231/HP-38 powder load was used with Sig 1911. I loaded 16 test rounds and after initial warm up shots, these were the shot groups. Shot group on the left measured less than 2" center-to-center and I was doing better with the shot group on the right until I got a flyer. I would have shot another round but I ran out of test rounds. I think this bullet definitely has potential and look forward to testing the new thick plated bullets in other calibers.

I am planning to load and range test some 9mm and 40S&W test rounds so I will test more rounds with the Sig 1911 at 1.200" and I am thinking about testing 5.2 gr at 1.230" for the Citadel 1911.

 

[J_McLeod]

Has anyone tried the plated .308 bullets? Was thinking about starting to load cast in .308, but the plated might be better.

 

[vaalpens]

I am planning to load and range test some 9mm and 40S&W test rounds so I will test more rounds with the Sig 1911 at 1.200" and I am thinking about testing 5.2 gr at 1.230" for the Citadel 1911.

bds, looks like your last picture is missing. Looking forward to see your results from the 9mm and 40S&W loads, especially using AutoComp.

 

[ljnowell]

Offer on the retirement property was accepted and we open escrow next week!

I was busy yesterday making arrangements to buy my retirement fishing boat (21' aluminum vintage Starcraft)

Congrats!! Very happy for you. I wish you many years of shooting and fishing fun.

 

[LiveLife]

looks like your last picture is missing.

I reloaded the pic - should see it now.

Looking forward to see your results from the 9mm and 40S&W loads, especially using AutoComp.

Me too. Finalizing the boat purchase kept me from doing any range test so 9mm/40S&W testing will wait until next weekend.

I wish you many years of shooting and fishing fun.

Thank you. The retirement spot has ocean/river fishing and BLM shooting/offroading within a few miles and a few hours drive from blarby so he will finally get to taste some of my BBQ while I vacuum pack the fish!

 

[LiveLife]

25 yards ... Shot group on the left measured less than 2" center-to-center and I was doing better with the shot group on the right until I got a flyer. I would have shot another round but I ran out of test rounds

Keep in mind that I am using mixed range brass. As we have discussed in the "What causes flyers other than the shooter" thread, flyers are more prone from mixed range brass and since I use mixed range brass, I will shoot extra rounds for flyers (chances are, the flyer on the right shot group was likely caused by me ) - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=760834

 

[LiveLife]

One question I have regarding the bearing surface of the 9mm or 40 S&W. Is there a minimum surface based on the weight, diameter or length of the bullet that needs to be inside the case to give enough neck tension?

I am not sure if we can determine a minimum for sufficient neck tension as variables such as bullet diameter, bullet base/bearing surface length, brass case quality by lot and work hardening etc. all contribute to neck tension. So even if you are using the same bullet and OAL/COL, if the mixed range brass has different number of reloadings and levels of work hardening/brass spring back, the neck tension would vary from case to case.

Also, are the hollow based 115 gr 9mm rounds designed with the hollow/concave base to give it more length/bearing surface like the 124gr, or purely to reduce/control gas leakage?

I believe that's the intent of hollow base bullets, to extend the bullet base and to enhance bullet base expansion.

BTW, RMR sells pulled 115 gr hollow base FMJ for $81/1000 - http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/9mm-...-PULLED-1000-Ct-9mm-115-HB-RN-FMJ-1000-Ct.htm

 

[LiveLife]

Are the RMR 9mm thick plated 124gr bullets a flat base or a concave type base. It is difficult to see from the picture.

RMR's new own line of "thickly" plated bullets are "dished" in all calibers. Below is a comparison picture of 380 100 gr RN, 9mm 115 gr RN and 124 gr RN

 

[vaalpens]

RMR's new own line of "thickly" plated bullets are "dished" in all calibers. Below is a comparison picture of 380 100 gr RN, 9mm 115 gr RN and 124 gr RN

Thanks bds.

I'm not sure what the difference between "concave" and "dished" are, but at least we know it is not flat.

Do you also have the bullet OAL for the 115gr and 124gr bullets?

 

[1KPerDay]

Thanks bds.

Do you also have the bullet OAL for the 115gr and 124gr bullets?

FYI you need to figure out the correct OAL for your barrel/gun, with every new bullet. Plunk test at a minimum.

 

[vaalpens]

FYI you need to figure out the correct OAL for your barrel/gun, with every new bullet. Plunk test at a minimum.

My mistake. I incorrectly worded the question.

What I would like to know is what the actual length of the bullet is, not the cartridge OAL/COL. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[1KPerDay]

Ah. Cool.

 

[Toprudder]

My mistake. I incorrectly worded the question.

What I would like to know is what the actual length of the bullet is, not the cartridge OAL/COL. Sorry for the confusion.

I've always thought the BULLET length would be an important parameter for reloading, but I've almost never seen that information anywhere.

For my own use, and curiosity, I have a spreadsheet of sorts where I have recorded that information. About halfway through I started adding the max COL for different bullets in different guns. For instance, I can seat Xtreme .45 230 RN to the max rated dimension (1.275) and still not touch the lands in my Witness .45. The RMR .45 230 thick plated, on the other hand, can't be seated longer than about 1.21 or it starts touching the lands.

 

[vaalpens]

I've always thought the BULLET length would be an important parameter for reloading, but I've almost never seen that information anywhere.

For my own use, and curiosity, I have a spreadsheet of sorts where I have recorded that information. About halfway through I started adding the max COL for different bullets in different guns. For instance, I can seat Xtreme .45 230 RN to the max rated dimension (1.275) and still not touch the lands in my Witness .45. The RMR .45 230 thick plated, on the other hand, can't be seated longer than about 1.21 or it starts touching the lands.

I am also interested in knowing the length since if I know the length of a bullet, the case length and the COL, then I can look at the length of the bullet I want to use to see it it could have a possible impact on the pressure. A longer bullet with the same COL as the shorter bullet should generate more pressure.

I actually saw an image from a post regarding labeling load data where the bullet was documented with type/dia/OAL data (case OAL was separate). It made sense to me since all plated RN bullets are not create equally and could impact the pressure.