Zero Bullets

[DavidM55]

Just bought some 9mm 124 FMJ Zero bullets, and I'm looking for a good load with preferably Power Pistol, Bullseye, or HP-38.

Tks.

[Lost Sheep]

Welcome to the forum, DavidM55.

It is best not to make assumptions. What cartridge will you be shooting these from? 9mm Parabellum (a.k.a. 9x19 and 9mm Luger), or 9mm Makarov (9x18), 9mm Kurtz (380 Auto, 9x17, 38 Automatic). These bullets also might be fired from such disparate chamberings as .357 Sig and 38 Super.

What loading manuals have you looked in already? (The one I keep next to the computer does not list those powders, either. Modern Reloading by Richard Lee.

Have you gone to the powder manufacturers' web sites or emailed them for suggested loads?

Be careful about what loads you take from the internet, particularly from people you don't know. It is very easy to misunderstand a request, make a wrong assumption, mis-read a number or make a typographical error. I heard of one powder manufacturer's web site that had incorrect information posted. The mistake was quickly corrected, but ALWAYS check your data for reasonableness. When I was into sailing, the U.S. Government published their celestial navigation reference books. They have example calculations in the front. In the first printing, those calculations were wrong. They were quickly recalled, and the data tables were correct anyway, but people do make mistakes. (I read this in a popular boating magazine, where one of the editors had been given a copy so he could write a review.)

Good luck. Always wear safety glasses when working with primers and don't pinch your fingers in your press.

Lost Sheep

[DavidM55]

Thanks for the welcome and I'm loading for 9mm Luger, and the bullets purchased are Zero 124 FMJ RN..I have the Lymans and Lees reloading data and also use the Wolfe Publishing Data Loads.

The latter indicates the following loads for 9mm 124gr:

1) Speer TMJ RN Power Pistol 5.6-6.1 and Bullseye 3.9-4.4
2) Hornady FMJ FP Bullseye 4.6
3) Hornady FMJ RN Encapsulated Power Pistol 4.3-5.7.

Lee's has:

1) 124 Grain Jacketed HP38 4.4-4.8
2) 125 Grain Jacketed Power Pistol 6.0-6.6.

I'm a bit perplexed with the difference between the Speer and Hornandy Power Pistol loads, and with the Lee Data for Power Pistol for the 125 Grain.
So I'm thinking about now to start with Power Pistol at 5.6 or 4.4 with the HP38.

Dave

[jepp2]

Can you list the suggested OAL's for the loads you are considering?

The 9mm is very sensitive to seating depth, so part of the difference may be the seating depth of the bullet, which changes the pressure, thus velocity.

[Bullet94]

Where did you find Zero bullets?

[Lost Sheep]

When I posted before, I missed that my manual did have HP38. I have the 1997 reprint and it lists for HP38:

124 Grn Jacketed 4.7 gr to 4.8 gr 1088 fps and 28,800 CUP OAL 1.100" minimum
125 Grn Jacketed 4.7 gr to 4.8 gr 1088 fps and 28,800 CUP OAL 1.095"

The other powders you listed are not in the lineup for those bullet weights.

Sorry, I missed those when I looked earlier.

As jepp2 suggested, the volume underneath the bullet is of vital importance. The overall length is supposed to tell us, but a long-nosed bullet will give less volume underneath than a stub-nosed one will. I have no idea of the nose shape of the Zero bullet, so cannot give any help there (besides, my own reloading is not that sophisticated).

Good luck.

Lost Sheep

[DavidM55]

Thanks to all for your responses, I might be/am a tad anal I guess so bare with me. Lee data shows:

1) 125 Jacketed, HP 38 @ 4.8 Min OAL 1.095
2) 124 Jacketed, HP 38 @ 4.4-4.8, Min OAL 1.090
3) 125 Jacketed, Power Pistol 6.0-6.6, Min OAL 1.15

So I'm thinking for Zero 124 FMJ Power Pistol 5.6 at Min OAL 1.15 would be a starting load.

I'm going to take Lost Sheep's advice and contact alliant on a recommended load.

Bullet 94, purchased at gun show in Atlanta area there on line distributor is at http://www.rozedist.com..I have no idea what there turn around time is.

[Bullet94]

If you E-Mail Zero they will give you there loading info.