Hard cast flat point 9mm question

jc2094 · January 24, 2015, 11:40 PM

Hello all, I have lurked around here for awhile, read a lot learned a lot.

My question is pertaining to 122 gr FP hard cast 9mm loading. I can not find any data for the exact bullet and powder I am using. The closest thing is data in Lyman 49. 120 gr #2 alloy. OAL 1.110". When I seat the bullet to that the lube groove is more than half exposed, Is this OK or not? I loaded 4 gr of Bullseye.

chris in va · January 25, 2015, 06:09 AM

It's a little tricky.

The two main issues are how deep the bullet is seated in relation to powder charge, and how well that particular bullet chambers in your particular gun.

Here's what you do. Make a dummy round with a fired case (no powder) and seat the bullet so the round passes the 'plunk' test, meaning it drops into your barrel without any sticking. Seat it pretty far out and slowly seat it deeper until it finally 'clinks' into your barrel.

Once you've established the proper OAL for your barrel, adjust the powder charge accordingly.

For example my CZ has a very short leade, and it didn't pass the plunk test until 1.07". As a result the bullet had to be seated fairly deep in the case and I had to back off the charge to barely above minimum to prevent overpressure.

The crimp groove is mostly for decoration to be honest and usually meant for 38 Special rounds where a roll crimp is necessary. 9mm doesn't use a roll crimp so if you find it passes the plunk with it past the groove, so be it.

Mike / Tx · January 25, 2015, 07:57 AM

Did you purchase these bullets from a commercial source or did you pour them up or have them poured up on your own?

If you give some specifics as to the exact bullet it is more helpful as we can then either look itup or compare it to something we may already be using.

Also as mentioned the initial testing should be done with a dummy round to determine the seating depth for your particular barrel. Once you know just where it is supposed to be, you will then have your OAL for that particular bullet. Drawing from that you can measure just the bullet and determine about what you have inside the case. This will help you later one as you will know about how much of a different bullet is seated inside, and if you need to back down on the charge weights more than you have in the past.

Generally speaking though with the 120'ish grain weights, unless they are simply full on DEWC's your not going to encroach too much into the case to get into an overpressure situation. Generally speaking however is the key phrase. Never take anything for granted while playing with this type pressure in front of your face.

9mmSkeeter · January 25, 2015, 10:36 AM

I loaded the same bullet and its very accurate in my px4 storm.

I used 4.5 grains of Unique, I loaded it to about the same as my 124 grain bullets.

January 24, 2015, 11:40 PM	#1
jc2094 Junior Member Join Date: January 24, 2015 Posts: 1	Hard cast flat point 9mm question Hello all, I have lurked around here for awhile, read a lot learned a lot. My question is pertaining to 122 gr FP hard cast 9mm loading. I can not find any data for the exact bullet and powder I am using. The closest thing is data in Lyman 49. 120 gr #2 alloy. OAL 1.110". When I seat the bullet to that the lube groove is more than half exposed, Is this OK or not? I loaded 4 gr of Bullseye.

January 25, 2015, 07:57 AM	#3
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2000 Posts: 2,137	Did you purchase these bullets from a commercial source or did you pour them up or have them poured up on your own? If you give some specifics as to the exact bullet it is more helpful as we can then either look itup or compare it to something we may already be using. Also as mentioned the initial testing should be done with a dummy round to determine the seating depth for your particular barrel. Once you know just where it is supposed to be, you will then have your OAL for that particular bullet. Drawing from that you can measure just the bullet and determine about what you have inside the case. This will help you later one as you will know about how much of a different bullet is seated inside, and if you need to back down on the charge weights more than you have in the past. Generally speaking though with the 120'ish grain weights, unless they are simply full on DEWC's your not going to encroach too much into the case to get into an overpressure situation. Generally speaking however is the key phrase. Never take anything for granted while playing with this type pressure in front of your face. __________________ LAter, Mike / TX

January 25, 2015, 10:36 AM	#4
9mmSkeeter Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2014 Location: South Dakota Posts: 205	I loaded the same bullet and its very accurate in my px4 storm. I used 4.5 grains of Unique, I loaded it to about the same as my 124 grain bullets. __________________ I kind of like weaponry.

January 25, 2015, 06:09 AM	#2
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	It's a little tricky. The two main issues are how deep the bullet is seated in relation to powder charge, and how well that particular bullet chambers in your particular gun. Here's what you do. Make a dummy round with a fired case (no powder) and seat the bullet so the round passes the 'plunk' test, meaning it drops into your barrel without any sticking. Seat it pretty far out and slowly seat it deeper until it finally 'clinks' into your barrel. Once you've established the proper OAL for your barrel, adjust the powder charge accordingly. For example my CZ has a very short leade, and it didn't pass the plunk test until 1.07". As a result the bullet had to be seated fairly deep in the case and I had to back off the charge to barely above minimum to prevent overpressure. The crimp groove is mostly for decoration to be honest and usually meant for 38 Special rounds where a roll crimp is necessary. 9mm doesn't use a roll crimp so if you find it passes the plunk with it past the groove, so be it.