your thoughts?

[Axis II]

I loaded up 5.2gr of BE86 and RMR 124gr RN 1.150 OAL out of my M&P 9 full-size and fired freehand at a baseball sized circle from about 15-20ft and was able to put 6 rounds in the circle but barely.

I wasn't too happy with that grouping so I worked up to 5.6 and it seemed to worsen. Last night i loaded

10rds 5.2 with 1.140 and 1.130 OAL.
10rds 5.4 with 1.140 and 1.130 OAL
10rds 5.5 with 1.140 and 1.130 OAL.


Any advice on what you guys would do?

 

[Blue68f100]

Try shooting supported, to eliminate the weakest link the shooter.

 

[entropy]

When testing loads, one should use the most supported position available, not the least. (Whatever freehand is. One -handed, maybe?) The Ransom rest completely eliminates the nut behind the trigger's inconsistencies, but firing from a rest with a bag underneath is close enough.

 

[Walkalong]

I see posts on here where some guys are seating way deeper than my 1.130 so should i try that route.

Not for RN.

 

[Axis II]

Not for RN.

I just went back to the thread and it was those JHP/RNFP mixed in with some RN talk. Sorry!

I removed it from my OP as to not confuse people anymore.

 

[Axis II]

Try shooting supported, to eliminate the weakest link the shooter.

I tried using my bag and rifle rest but couldn't get a very good platform. I thought about making something that sits on the mag well and holds the gun steady and just hand feed individual rounds. Im more concerned with the pressure of the rounds. I seen a few posts where guys are saying alliant data is hot and backing off below minimum.

 

[sellersm]

For my RMR 124gr RN 9mm loads, I've settled on 5.4gr of BE-86, seating around 1.13x. Most accurate from my Glocks and Shields. The groups tightened when I got to 5.4gr, and didn't improve any going higher, so I settled on that load.

When testing loads, I just rest my arms on my range bag to support my arms/wrist. Works for me.

As to the 'hotness' of these loads, I didn't see or feel anything that indicated the published loads, even when at max, were too hot. The load I'm using mimics most factory 9mm loads...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

When testing the accuracy of handloads you have to eliminate as much of the human factor as possible. Then you have a chance of seeing the potential of the load.

Additionally, work on your trigger control. Dry firing a DA revolver with snap caps will help a lot!

 

[someguy2800]

Until you start shooting 20 round groups on a rest supported front and back your data means literally nothing.

 

[fxvr5]

Not for RN.

Sierra Does. Their 125 RN is loaded to 1.090". Their 115 RN is loaded to 1.100".

Hornady load their 115 RN to 1.100" and their 124 RN to 1.150".

 

[fxvr5]

ohihunter, don't test accuracy shooting freehand. too many things, especially the shooter, can affect accuracy under that condition. It is the WORST way to test accuracy for most shooters.

I would caution against taking the advice of "guys are saying alliant data is hot". Alliant is the best source for pressure tested data. Ask Alliant if you have any questions about their data.

 

[ray15]

I would caution against taking the advice of "guys are saying alliant data is hot". Alliant is the best source for pressure tested data. Ask Alliant if you have any questions about their data.

Alliant won't tell you anything because they've not tested the RMR bullet in question.

Guys tend to take Alliant data, which is indeed valid for the exact components used, and re-purpose it with a different bullet. If there is a 124gr. load with a 5.9gr max on their site it is assumed one could run that same max charge with their (rather different) projectile. When this doesn't prove the case, the data may be called hot where in reality it's just the effect of the component substitution.

Variance in design and materials can make one jacketed bullet reach max pressure at up to 10% more or less charge than another ostensibly similar jacketed bullet. RMR bullets tend to be sized a bit larger than factory, as well as having a longer bearing surface and blunter nose that can demand a deeper seating depth. For these reasons and more you achieve non +p max pressures with BE86 in the 5.5-5.7gr range with the in-house RMR 124gr jacketed bullets, depending largely on the exact seating depth used.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...24-gr-rmr-mp-hp-for-xd9.826129/#post-10640747

 

[Walkalong]

Sierra Does. Their 125 RN is loaded to 1.090". Their 115 RN is loaded to 1.100".

Hornady load their 115 RN to 1.100" and their 124 RN to 1.150".

Good for them. I still recommend a much less experienced reloader like the OP stick to a longer OAL with RN in 9MM.

 

[fxvr5]

Good for them. I still recommend a much less experienced reloader like the OP stick to a longer OAL with RN in 9MM.

And the reason is . . . ? Recommendations without a reason are hard to understand why you make the recommendation.

 

[sellersm]

Sierra Does. Their 125 RN is loaded to 1.090". Their 115 RN is loaded to 1.100".

Hornady load their 115 RN to 1.100" and their 124 RN to 1.150".

The OP is specifically asking about the RMR 124gr RN. Not Sierra, nor Hornady. As stated in post #12 above, variances in design means different loading considerations...

I suggest that the OP search this great forum and its vast depth & wealth of experience from those of us that have loaded the RMR 124gr bullets, FMJ, RN, plated, MPR JHP, etc.

 

[Average Joe]

When testing a new load, I bench rest my hand, this takes the human factor out of the equation.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I find that having just one solid point of contact on the pistol (IE- set the grip on a bench) helps quite a bit in finding the more accurate load. and don't forget to breathe.

I tend to load bullets longer than book data, but never have run a RMR bullet.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I suggest that the OP search this great forum and its vast depth & wealth of experience from those of us that have loaded the RMR 124gr bullets, FMJ, RN, plated, MPR JHP, etc.

Or you can ask the owner of RMR who is a member of this forum. ( longdayjake)

 

[Dwb1957]

Iam not familiar with the m&p barrel throats but I would be curious to see what the bullet would plunk at to determine just how long you could load to with that bullet.

 

[Axis II]

Iam not familiar with the m&p barrel throats but I would be curious to see what the bullet would plunk at to determine just how long you could load to with that bullet.

1.150 is max for my pistol.

 

[kmw1954]

1.150 is max for my pistol.

That is good information for you to know. I have a Taurus PT92C that I can load bullets for that are longer than will fit into the magazine. With this gun I have loaded Berry's and Xtreme 115gr and 124gr bullets as long as 1.165" to as short as 1.125" and all have shot very well to my normal 25yd distances. With these adjusted lengths I also adjust the powder charge up or down to compensate the length. At the same time I have a Witness in 45acp that must be loaded 0.010" shorter than the listed length or I run into chambering problems. So each gun is different.

 

[kmw1954]

ohihunter, don't test accuracy shooting freehand. too many things, especially the shooter, can affect accuracy under that condition. It is the WORST way to test accuracy for most shooters..

That may be mostly true though in real world experience a self defense shooter isn't going to be shooting from a rest. I would rather know how the gun is going to perform in a real world situation, from my unsupported hands, fired at a target, to distances most likely to be encountered. Again I don't care how it shoots from a bench rest or a Ransom rest. I don't care how it performs or shoots from your hands either, because I will not be firing it from your hands.

 

[ATLDave]

That may be mostly true though in real world experience a self defense shooter isn't going to be shooting from a rest. I would rather know how the gun is going to perform in a real world situation, from my unsupported hands, fired at a target, to distances most likely to be encountered. Again I don't care how it shoots from a bench rest or a Ransom rest. I don't care how it performs or shoots from your hands either, because I will not be firing it from your hands.

"How it performs" in ones hands is mostly going to be dominated by how those hands perform.

 

[bullseye308]

I have loaded RMR 124 rn, JHP, plated, Zero 125 JHP, and cast 124 TC all at 1.12” for years in 6 9mm’s with great success. Best results with 5.2 gr of BE-86.

 

[kmw1954]

"How it performs" in ones hands is mostly going to be dominated by how those hands perform.

Yes Sir. That is the given. Your hands are not my hands and my hands are not your hands. How a gun fits either of our hands is most likely different.
I have shot a pretty good number of handguns and not all have performed the same even though they were very similar. I have even had the same gun perform very differently just by using different ammunition.

Todays real world is most handguns are being carried for defensive protection as another thread I have been reading is talking about how Bullseye shooting is becoming a dying sport. I don't believe there are many people that want to own a pistol that they have to fight with their gun to keep it on target or recover for a follow up shot.

Which must be why I often hear, practice with what you carry, Which I assume doesn't mean shooting from a rest.