Should you partially following published data?

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LKLive13

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I would like to load 147grn Berrys plated rounds over longshot powder but hodgdons website only lists specs for 147grn Hornady XTPs. Is it safe to follow that data with a plated bullet?
 
From Berry's web site.

Plated bullets occupy a position between cast bullets and jacketed bullets. They are soft lead, but have a hard outer shell on them. When loading plated bullets we have found best results using low- to mid-range jacketed data in the load manual. You must use data for a bullet that has the same weight and profile as the one you are loading. Do not exceed mid-range loads. Do not use magnum loads.

We recommend using hard cast load data or start with mid-range jacketed data. Make sure data is below 1250fps unless you are using a Thick-Plated bullet that we list a higher max velocity for like the 9mm 124gr HBRN-TP that can be shot to 1500fps in open class guns like a .38 Super. Keep in mind that since our plated bullet has the same pressure curve as a hard cast bullet, the published cast data will be very close to what you will get with our plated bullets. If you use Jacketed data with our plated bullets you can get from 5% - 8% increase in velocity using that data.

http://www.berrysmfg.com/faq.aspx?n=456448
 
Thanks... I did read that on the site. Being new at the whole reloading hobby I'm looking for an experienced interpretation of those two paragraphs. I take it to mean that I can load the 147grn to those specs at the min starting charge. Do you think I should back out the OAL any at all?
 
I use LongShot for the 9mm and use cast bullets.
I don't particularly care for Berry bullets. The ones I've gotten were no where as good as the Rainier. The Rainier's are almost, but not quite as good as the Speer Gold Dots, but then GoldDots are more expensive than Hornadys or Noslers. I think you get the picture.

Back to the Berry's and LongShot. Just use data for a similar weight bullet and start with the starting load. Enough umph to cycle the action is all that you are looking for, however my efforts with LongShot and cast bullets suggests that you'll get better accuracy towards the upper end of pressures. I'm running a 105gr SWC to ~1,300fps and a 125gr RFN to ~1,200fps (6"bbl S&W PPC-9 Limited).
LongShot is no where near as sensitive in the 9mm such as faster powders like Bullseye, HP-38 or TiteGroup (worst in my experience).
Just use the XTP data, but expect min/max loads to be a little bit lower with the Berry bullet. I'd lower starting load .2-.3gr and load 5 or so to see how they function. Don't use much crimp with the Berry's. The plating is very, very thin and brittle.
I can't give you more specific data as my use of LongShot has been with 105-125gr cast bullets. But, LongShot is exceptionally accurate in my applications... Best cast bullet powder I've found for 9mm, .40S&W, .44mag, .45colt. It's not economical enough for me in .38spl or .45acp. Here Bullseye and HP38 get the nod.

p.s. re: seating depth; With the 9mm, the case capacity is very small, and operating pressures are high. This makes bullet seating depth a bit more sensitive than such as .38spl or .45acp. Also, using a fast burning powder and getting bullet set-back from feeding in a s/a pistol can cause pressures to skyrocket.
Just use "reasonable" seating depth. Minimum for the 9mm is ~1.050" oal max is ~1.169". Mostly depending on what your gun will accept in the magazine and feed reliably. I ususally look for something around 1.125- 1.135" with a 147gr bullet in the 9mm.
With LongShot, you won't get wild reactions in the 9mm. Just don't get too rowdy with the powder charge and don't seat excessively deep and you'll be "ok".
 
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FWIW, I have seen people here assert that X-Treme bullets are thicker plated than the Berry's.
 
Let me suggest that you find a known soft-shooting plinker round, like maybe UMC, to use as a sanity check in comparison to your loads. Not having a chrony, I always work up a small increment of charge at a time comparing three of the reloads to three of the factory.
 
Thanks goose... That's kinda what I planned on doing but just wanted some confirmation from other more experienced loaders. Thanks again
 
The thing to remember is that a round nose bullet will always have the same approximate seating depth as any other round nose style.

A hollow point bullet will be longer due to the large hollow cavity and as such the pressure will be higher if you use round nose data with them instead. All hollow points will use the same approximate data/OAL. XTP's, Gold Dots, X-treme HP, and such are examples of bullets that are longer. There are exceptions and they have unique data and those will be noted in your reloading books or included with the actual bullets. Barnes solid bullets are an example of this. Handgun ammo is more critical due to case capacity than rifle ammo.
 
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I have seen people here assert that X-Treme bullets are thicker plated than the Berry's.

The guys at my club that order Xtreme by the pallet say the same and that you can start with minimum jacketed loads.
 
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