Finally, something that works!

[hulley]

Hello guys, I just back from the range and it was a good day!
As you all will recall from my other thread, I was having difficulty with a particular bullet. I'm brand new at reloading so due to my inexperience I just couldnt find something that worked despite the great info and incouragement I received from you all. Its ok, I havent givin up on the round, I'm just gonna try again later.

Here is my first attempt.

Far left. Speer Gold Dot 124gr JHP +P
Middle. My first batch 1.095 OAL, terrible crimps, did not fit in case gauge or barrel.
Far right. My second batch 1.050 OAL, good crimps, fit easily into case gauge and barrel but every round got hung up on the feed ramp.

Here is 50rds on Berry's 124gr RN

1.125 OAL
5.3gr ACC #5
Shot like a DREAM! Every round was flawless, soft shooting and as accurate as I am.

Here is Berry's 124gr RN next to some 125gr Lead cast bullets.

These (LCRN) were loaded with 6.0gr of ACC #5 in the following lengths
1.140, 1.135, 1.130, 1.125 and 1.120.
To be honest, all lengths felt the same, however the LC rounds had alot more kick then the Berry's RN. The LCRN had 6.0gr where the Berry's RN (copper jacketed?) only had 5.3gr. The powder charge was pretty much in the middle for load specs.
I enjoyed shooting the Berry's much more so than the Lead. All rounds were fired from a Kahr CW9 with 3.6in barrel.

I want to say "Thanks" for all those that contributed to my thread and through PMs. I also want to give a big "Thanks" to Jay @ Berry's for hooking me up with 50rds of 124gr RN and another ammo box! Without all your help I would still be struggling I'm sure. Please feel free to comment or ask questions.

Thanks
Steve

[jimbob86]

(copper jacketed?)

Copper plated. As in electroplated.

I like them ...... used to use Ranier Ballistics' plated bullets, till they got real expensive..... switched to Berry's.

[engineermike]

Are these the RN or the HBRN (HB=Hollow Base) bullets?

[Miata Mike]

I just loaded 100 Berry's 124gr RN last night at 1.15" OAL with Bullseye last night. I admit mine could have been loaded shorter, but yours look a little deep.

It's a good feeling to have something feed and shoot nice after having troubles.

[Habaz72]

I don't reload 9mm only been focusing on .45acp but I do remember reading suggestions to reduce powder charges by 10% for lead bullets to keep from depositing lead in your barrel. I also checked the rainer website (the bullets I purchased because I didn't shop around) and it said for their plated bullets to use loading data for lead ammo because the copper was so thin.. So I went very low on my .45 ammo and have to see how that works out when I get to the range (hopefully on Saturday).

I just went to the accurate website to take a peek at their load data... for the no5 powder using a 9mm luger 124gr lead cast bullet it says to use 4.7gr of their no5 powder as a starting load and 5.4 as the max load. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something because I'm very new to this as well. But it seems to me like you made some very hot +p ammo out of the lead cast bullets. I'd check the barrels of your guns very carefully for leading.

edit to add: The berry's site suggests using FMJ load data but use the low to mid range data for their bullets.

Someone school me if I'm wrong please.

[TXGunNut]

Way to go, Hulley!
Hulley's pistols seem to prefer a shorter OAL, Mike. My old Smiths liked them long, too. I'm glad he's figured out what his guns like and where to get the magic bullets.
Thanks Jay! We won't tell Hulley about casting his own boolits for a little while. He's having so much fun doubt he'd listen anyway.

[engineermike]

Habaz72 you are right about the powder load range but Accurate is also loading this range using a C.O.L. of 1.050 and hulley is loading a little longer. He probably is loading a little hot but still within the load data.(Maybe) He just now found a something what would cycle through his gun and I guess he has found a new bullet, so now he can adjust his powder. But hulley, you may want to run a swab of cleaner through that barrel just in case. When you shoot Jay's bullets you will have to find something that will remove copper. I don't find copper in my guns very often and that was only in my 38 spl. But in fairness I also shoot a box of store bought ammo through that gun once and a while so the copper might not be Jay's.

Yes TX, I seem to remember reading somewhere where the CZ's and Walthers and something else were bored more for the 115 grain round nose (NATO) ammo. Other bullet shapes (Besides the Berry's 124g HP) load a little longer in my gun but this bullet probably would work better in a glock than mine. As Jay says it's a finicky bullet to load. This bullet is the one that taught me that C.O.L. is dictated more by bullet shape than bullet weight.

Good luck hulley...

[chris in va]

Yes TX, I seem to remember reading somewhere where the CZ's and Walthers and something else were bored more for the 115 grain round nose (NATO) ammo

Wouldn't doubt it. My 75BD would only accept my Lee 358 boolit at 1.01oal. Severely short leade.

[Jim243]

Nice going Hulley, those round nose look really nice, it was about time they replaced those hollow points for you.

Good luck and have fun shooting.
Jim

[Hook686]

Your first loads would spook me, and your second loads would spook me even more. I use Alliant Unique and their web site shows 1.12" OAL minimum.
Both 1.095 and 1.050 seem short to me. Then I have no idea the data for the powder you were using. I would just be concerned about pressure. You shot them without pressure problems, so what do I know ? Good luck with your new hobby.

[hulley]

Yes they are HBRN. I need to check my book but I thought I was well within spec. I could have looked at the wrong bullet type. I'm gonna do more research before I load my next batch and check my book (Lee), powder website and Berry's site for load recomendations. To be honest the LCRN where REAL powerful and I almost didnt shoot them all but I didnt have that many and with the lightness of my CW9 I thought it was due to it. I shot the LCRN first and it wasnt until I shot Berry's that I realized that the LC were probably too hot. The gun "seems" fine, no noticable slop but I need to get my feelers out and check. I'll definitly load a much softer round for the LCRN.

Sorry, I dont know how to "qoute" properly on this site.

[engineermike]

It's all a process hulley...

[hulley]

We won't tell Hulley about casting his own boolits for a little while. He's having so much fun doubt he'd listen anyway. TXGunNet.

Its funny you mention that, I work at a dealership and I can take home all the old wheel weights that I want! Dont worry, I think thats abit out of my scope right now, I just want to find a good load and have some fun!

Did I qoute that right? I see some people have the qoute in a white backgroud.

[Habaz72]

Did I qoute that right? I see some people have the qoute in a white backgroud.

1) copy your desired quote and paste into your reply window.
2) highlight the desired quote
3)click the picture that looks like a tiny word balloon wiht text in it, on my screen it is directly below the curved arrow to the right (redo edit) button.
* alternatviely you can use HTML tags to do a quote, type the word quote surrounded by brackets [ ] at the front of the text and /quote surrounded by brackets at the end of the text.

[hulley]

1) copy your desired quote and paste into your reply window.
2) highlight the desired quote
3)click the picture that looks like a tiny word balloon wiht text in it, on my screen it is directly below the curved arrow to the right (redo edit) button.
* alternatviely you can use HTML tags to do a quote, type the word quote surrounded by brackets [ ] at the front of the text and /quote surrounded by brackets at the end of the text.

Thanks!

[hulley]

Modern Reloading 2nd Edition by Richard Lee

Pg 534 124gr Copper plated
Accurate #5 4.9-5.4gr Min OAL 1.100
I used 5.3gr and OAL was 1.125

Pg535 125gr Lead Cast
Accurate #5 5.6-6.2gr Min OAL 1.100
I used 6.0gr and OAL was 1.140-1.120, If I drop down one hole on the Lee disk measure I get 5.3gr which is below spec so thats the reason for going 6.0gr.

Is this not correct? I'm gonna get the Lyman reloading book so I have another point of reference.

[Habaz72]

These are from the Accurate website in their load data section for jacketed bullets:
No 5 124 REM GS 5.7 1,002 6.5 1,127 34,544 1.145
No 5 124 SPR GD 5.2 938 5.9 1,061 34,658 1.105

and for lead cast bullets:
No 5 124 LC RN 4.7 957 5.4 1,078 34,557 1.050

It didn't cpy/paste very well so I made the starting and max powder values bold. The last number is the COL. Their site doesn't list a 125gr bullet for lead so I'm not sure how to work that up.

I also look at the handloads website for cross reference and make sure to check the bullet manufacturer's website for any additional info.

[hulley]

Thank you. I cant access these site from works, so I made notes and will refernce these when I get home. I guess my LC was abit too much eh?

[TXGunNut]

We won't tell Hulley about casting his own boolits for a little while. He's having so much fun doubt he'd listen anyway. TXGunNut.

Its funny you mention that, I work at a dealership and I can take home all the old wheel weights that I want! -Hulley


I work at a dealership too, but somebody beats me to them. Bring them home if you have a place to store them. You'll thank me later. My .45 loves Berrys' HBRN bullets but I prefer my repurposed wheelweights.
And engineermike? I was replying to Miata Mike but I guess us "Mikes" all seem to have longer-chambered 9mm's.

Mike

[engineermike]

That's right TX, size matters... I think everyone is talking to me, its the meds.

[Miata Mike]

I was replying to Miata Mike but I guess us "Mikes" all seem to have longer-chambered 9mm's.

I have usually tried to keep my overall length as long as possible, perhaps as a habit to keep pressures down in case of bullet slipping back into the case from recoil.....A safety thing I guess.

I have had a good record of having my reload cycle very well through my hand guns....with the exception of some .45acp 200 grain LSWC bullets I loaded with my Lee Pro 1000 when I first got it. I eyeballed seating depth, as it is not a science with them, and I was a few 1000ths off.

[1SOW]

Congratulations! Feels good doesn't it.

re feel:

To be honest, all lengths felt the same, however the LC rounds had alot more kick then the Berry's RN.

"FEEL" is not a reliable tool for me. I learned that after I bought my chrono.

chrisinVA:

Wouldn't doubt it. My 75BD would only accept my Lee 358 boolit at 1.01oal. Severely short leade.

but those Berry's 124 gr HBRN can be loaded out to SAAMI max, and shoot very accurately at 1.132 in my 75B.