Rainier bullets and Bullseye in semi-autos

[whm1974]

I just picked up a XD-9 and I'm wanting to reload for it. Looking at midway Rainier bullets are rather cheap. I reload for my .38 special and I'm wondering if I could get away with using 3 grains of Bullseye with a 115 gr 9mm copper plated bullet. The loading data on Rainier's wesite the mim is 3.5 of bullseye.

I use 3 grains w/ Rem 158 gr SWC for my .38 and it would be nice if I didn't have to adjust my power measure.

-Bill

 

[caz223]

Just looking at the data on alliant's website , prolly not.
I don't know if the gun would cycle, and you'd run into the possibility of having one stuck in the bore.
Rainier's data is on the long side for OAL, I personally don't use rainier's data for their bullets, I just start 'em out on the low side of normal and work up.
<EDIT>
Any reason you don't want to go to 3.5 grains in your .38 special?

 

[whm1974]

I suppose I could load a few rounds to see if it will cycle. I could also switch to 125 gr bullets for my .38 and use 3.5 to 4 grains for both calibers. It would be easy on my if I didn't have to adjust the power measure eveytime I reload.

-Bill

 

[caz223]

I'd load them as short as possible on the OAL, that may help. (Only when UNDER starting loads.)
The lowest numbers I've seen in any of my books even for 125 grain lead loads is 3.5 grains of bullseye. (9mm)

According to my books, you can go over 3.5 grains of bullseye on .38 special with 158 grain SWC.

What gun are you shooting the .38 special with, if I may ask?

 

[armoredman]

I shot 500 Ranier plateds in my CZ75 PO1 - work great. I use Accurate Arms #2, though - know nothing of Bullseye... Use 4.2gr AA#2 as a nice light target load.

 

[happy old sailor]

is there or is there not a difference in the diameter of 9mm and .38 bullets. people keep telling me it is .366 vs .357. and, that the .366s are not accurate, or as accurate, in .357 bores. think i would buy just one box of 9mm bullets and check things out before getting a bunch.

i hope this works out ok and you post your results so i can buy a BH with two cylinders, 38/357 and 9mm

 

[caz223]

I don't think he's using .357 bullets in his 9mm, there's no reason to, 9mm bullets are about the same price.

Anyway, I wouldn't expect 9mm to be an accuracy champion in a blackhawk convertible.

9mm jacketed bullets are .355, 9mm plated bullets are .3555, 9mm lead bullets are .356 (Usually.).
.357 bullets are just that, .357, unless you're shooting lead, then they're .358 (Mostly.).

I shot a lot of different bullets, and rainiers are as good as any, loaded within their limits.

But realistically, the 9mm/.357 convertible could theoretically be as accurate with 9mm ammo, it depends on the groove diameter of the barrel, and the diameter of the respective cylinders.
I guess it depends on the specimen, more than the model.

 

[whm1974]

Ok I have two .38s. A Model 10 w/ " barrel, and a model 36 chief special. When I started reloading last year I did used 3.5 grains of bullseye behind a 158 SWC. I went down due to the chart listing max charge at 3.6.

I also want to avoid putting undue wear and tear on my guns, so I'm leaning towards light loads.

-Bill

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've found the Rainier 115gr PHP's to be very accurate in my S&W PPC-9's. However, I've gotten best results with Winchester WSF and Hodgdon LongShot.

3.0gr will not be enough to get ejection/feeding in the 9mm with the 115gr bullet. Rainier is correct, as I found that 3.6gr of Bullseye was the minimum to get reliable feeding. Accuracy was best at 4.3gr, and 1.100" oal. Most manuals list 4.6gr as max, but I've found that this can produce excessive pressures. Consider the 4.3gr as MAXIMUM.

However, with the 147gr PHP, 3.4gr functioned and cycled well and gave acceptable accuracy. You could set your powder measure at this and also use it for your .38spl. It will be a tad warmer than you are accustom to, but not over normal .38spl pressures. 3.1gr was the least that I found would function with the 147gr bullets.

 

[whm1974]

I may stick with 3.5 to 4 grains of powder then for both calibers. It will be awhile before I reload for 9mm since I got 1200 rounds of that stuff.

-Bill

 

[HKGuns]

I'm not using that powder, but I initially tried 3.0 grains of 700X for my P7 and had two problems. (It shot like a .22) Ranier 124gr bullets BTW.

1. Powder fouling the gas chamber
2. Poor cycling of the action

I upped the load to 3.8 and my problems are gone.

 

[whm1974]

Well it looks like I will have to use 3.5 to 4 grains of bullseye then. I'm going to give other powders a try when I use up my supply of bullseye

-Bill