[kstuart]

I loaded up my first set of test rounds with berrys 9mm 115 ds and w231. All are set to oal 1.150. I made some of varying loads from 4.1, 4.3, 4.6 4.9 and figure I'll work up depending on how they function and look after firing. Do these numbers look ok to you guys? From the manuals the 4.9 looks high to me but I've found lots using 4.9-5 on the internet

[dfrak]

Good morning, kstuart.
I've never used Berrys, so I don't feel qualified to post an opinion.
If you want to double check, you can go to: http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

You can look up loads from the manufacturer of Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester powders there, by caliber and bullet.

Dan

[kstuart]

Yep those jive with what I've been finding but I just wanted to make sure nobody on here thought these loads were entering dangerous levels on either end of the spectrum.

[dfrak]

A quick question for you: I have never used Berrys, so would you use cast bullet data or jacketed bullet data?
Dan

[kstuart]

I've read to use cast number loads but I find lots of references to people using berrys at jacketed load numbers and justifying it by their quality I guess? That it's decent plating that can handle more?

[The Bushmaster]

You mention that they were plated. You may exceed 1200 fps with the 4.9 (W-231) loads. If lead you are way too high (according to my Lyman Manual 4.1 is maximum for lead).

If plated I would lower the powder charge to around 4.4 or 4.5. A lot depends on the barrel length. One of my 9mm X 19s is a 3.4" barrel and it is hard to exceed 1200 fps , but on my other Wonder 9 I have to reduce the load to 4.5 grains of W-231 to stay below the magic number (1200 fps).

[kstuart]

4.3 is what i'm thinking will be the magic number, I loaded 5 of each except the 4.3 which I loaded 10 of since I think that will be the one. I just want a nice load that sends the bullet down range at paper that cycles ok, probably any reload will be more accurate then me. They'll be going out of a 4" xd and probably a 3" xd.

[RidgwayCO]

For what it's worth, QuickLOAD predicts the following for your 9mm Luger loads:
(115gr Speer TMJ bullet, Win 231, .750" case length, 1.150" COL, 4" barrel)

Grs .. % Fill .... fps ... ft-lbs ..% Burned .. PSI
---------------------------------------------
4.1 ... 66% ... 1003 ... 257 ..... 99% ..... 21.4k
4.3 ... 69% ... 1041 ... 277 .... 100% .... 23.6k
4.6 ... 74% ... 1095 ... 306 .... 100% .... 27.3k
4.9 ... 79% ... 1147 ... 336 .... 100% .... 31.3k

As an aside, QuickLOAD predicts that shooting these loads out of a 3" barrel will reduce the velocity by about 75 fps for each load. If you have a chronograph available, I'd like to see how close the predicted velocity numbers are to your reality.

Please remember that QuickLOAD is software written by humans, it's not the divinely-inspired Bible. Use with caution!

[kstuart]

Thanks for posting that, really kinda interesting to see what it says even just for comparison sake. If I get a hold of a chrono at the club I'll deff let you know what i find.

[rfwobbly]

Kstuart -
What you have to do with the plated bullets is work your way UP with the powder loads. While you CAN load these to the jacketed bullet max load, you'll probably start to find little holes in the target paper next to the bullet hole. Those are little flecks of copper being thrown off the bullet in flight. So the copper is actually being flung off. This de-plating effect can throw the bullet out of balance which makes for poor long distance shots and several other issues.

Therefore most people using plated bullets are staying in the low-to-medium load ranges. So it's not really that they can't be loaded "hot", but most people simply find it impractical.

Hope this helps!

[kstuart]

Is there any danger in loading them too low besides not being able to cycle the gun fully? what point do you guys think would be verging on too low with this round?

[The Bushmaster]

As long as he stays below 1200 fps he will be O K with plated bullets whether they are Berry's or Rainier...

Lyman's 48th Edition lists W-231 starting point with 120 grain lead at 3.0 grains. This will be just fine for a starting load for 115 grain plated for 9mm X 19...

[RidgwayCO]

Personally, I'd be surprised if 3.0gr of W231 reliably cycles the action. A lot would depend on the pistol. Condition, cleanliness, proper lubrication, etc. etc.

With 3.0grs of W231 out of a 4" barrel, QuickLOAD predicts about 780 fps (155 ft-lbs, or less than even a wimpy .380 Auto load meant for a blowback pistol) and only 11.7k psi. Plus, the 3" barrel is computed to produce a massive 715 fps (131 ft-lbs)!

But I've been wrong before. And if you don't believe that, ask my wife ...