Reloading question.

bfunk

I'm looking to start reloading. An experienced shooter I know is showing me the ropes, but I have a question that he doesn't seem to have an answer for.

I'm going to start reloading 9mm, and the bullet I want to load is a a 124 grain hollow base round nose, copper plated lead. Now, I've read and looked at a lot of manuals and I can't find any specific load data for this bullet. Would it be safe to load it using 124 grain FMJ data? or would this not be a wise idea?

Where do loaders get data for some of the less popular bullet selections? This is a Berry's bullet available locally by the way. And, the reason I'm using plated is that the indoor range that I shoot at weekly doesn't allow jacketed ammo...

Thanks,

Brian

Jayhawker

Here...

http://www.reloadersnest.com/query_bw_handgun.asp?CaliberID=6&BulletWeight=124

Find a comparable bullet and be conservative in your loading...

snake284

^:that:^ Is exactly what I was thinking.

ironduke

AmmoGuide Interactive shows 5 loads with the Berry'sbullets. 3 of them use HS-6 powder. In my experience with plated bulletslike the Berry's and Rainiers, they don't perform like jacketed bullets so jacketed bullet data isn't always interchangable.

A quick check on Berry's website says to find data for jacketed bullet the same weight and shape, then use low to mid level charges. Berry's says not to exceed mid level loads. That was easy.

Spk

bfunk wrote: »

I'm going to start reloading 9mm, and the bullet I want to load is a a 124 grain hollow base round nose, copper plated lead. Now, I've read and looked at a lot of manuals and I can't find any specific load data for this bullet. Would it be safe to load it using 124 grain FMJ data? or would this not be a wise idea?
...

Accurate #2 charge (3.7start - 4.1max) veloctiy (930 -1057 f/s @ 29500 CUP)
Accurate #5 charge (4.9start - 5.4max) velocity (909 - 1034 f/s @ 32100 PSI)
Accurate #7 charge (6.2start - 6.9max) velocity (940 - 1069 f/s @ 33600 PSI)
(source: Modern Reloading 2nd Edition - Richard Lee p. 534)

There's more recipes available if you use v-N350, v-3N37, v-N340, v-N330 or v-N320.

I've even used 3.8 grs of Titegroup with 124 grain plated and they shoot just fine but that's my own recipe so fair warning :silly:there.

jbohio

Loadbooks, is also a great resource. Really good for handguns, when you're picking up odd bullets and gunshows, etc.

temmi

From the Source

http://www.berrysmfg.com/faq-q9-c1-How_do_I_load_Berrys_Preferred_Plated_Bullets.aspx

FAQ: How do I load Berry's Preferred Plated Bullets?

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.

---

Six-Gun

^^Well, there ya go. I would start around the min load just to make sure nothing gets frisky.

Case in point, I recently made up a rifle load recipe that sits firmly in the middle of the road by book standards, a full 1.5 grains below book max to be exact. However, it's showing very mild pressure signs and MUCH higher velocities than advertised (like 150 fps faster than the book's load data predicted). It's a safe load, but had I gone even a few fractions of a grain hotter that might be a different story. It never hurts to work up through a few more test batches than to risk a dangerous situation.

bfunk

temmi wrote: »

From the Source

http://www.berrysmfg.com/faq-q9-c1-How_do_I_load_Berrys_Preferred_Plated_Bullets.aspx

I guess I just haven't looked up enough recipes yet, I still can't find any data on 124 grain hollow base round nose bullets.

Six-Gun

Just go with FMJ data and be conservative. You'll be fine.