MBC "9 Cone" 9mm loads

Do you have any WST?

Dunross said:

Missouri Bullet Company ... 125gr 9 Cone bullet ... full sized Beretta and a pocket Ruger 9mm ... Win 231 and Unique. I'll be picking up some Bullseye as soon as I can find some.

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I would suggest you use W231 as Bullseye produced snappy recoil for me and likely more snappier for pocket Ruger 9mm.

Here is step-by-step process I use for load development from determining max OAL to working OAL to powder work up considerations to fine tuning OAL for most accurate load - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/help-with-9mm-loads-and-oal.851180/#post-11126373

Hodgdon has load data for 125 gr Lead CN bullet - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

• 125 gr Lead CN W231/HP-38 COL 1.125" Start 3.9 gr (1,009 fps) 25,700 CUP - Max 4.4 gr (1,086 fps) 31,200 CUP

I have used both powders you mentioned and have no problems. Just pick a starting load from your reloading manual and load a few. Shoot to check for function and accuracy and work up if necessary. Unique has worked well for my 125 gr cast bullets but it burns cleaner at mid to upper charges ("dirty burning" has never effected nor bothered me or my shooting since my first pound of Unique in '88)...

Personally I think the chosen bullets may be a bit small in diameter and unnecessarily hard. Just my opinion, but I size my cast bullets to .357" for my 9mms (Ruger and FMK) with an alloy about 12-14 BHN.

mdi said:

Personally I think the chosen bullets may be a bit small in diameter and unnecessarily hard. Just my opinion, but I size my cast bullets to .357" for my 9mms (Ruger and FMK) with an alloy about 12-14 BHN.

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Good point.

Many members reported Beretta barrels to have larger than typical .356" groove-to-groove diameter. So slug the Beretta/Ruger barrels to determine what the groove diameter is.

If the barrels are oversized at .357"+, you will likely get leading with standard pressure loads, and why I suggested faster burning W231 over Unique to bump/deform the bullet base better as I suspect your Beretta barrel to be oversized.

If that's the case, then there's the HiTek coated bullet option - https://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=237&category=20&secondary=8

My Beretta slugged .357” FWIW

I've also used both unique and HP-38 with the identical bullet to yours. I referenced Lyman cast data and seated to crimp ring as you did. I found my P1 walther and an SW SDvE9 to cycle near the start load. My Argentine High Power needed them run closer to maximum to cycle reliably and notably preferred the Unique load both for accuracy and reliability.

I got better accuracy with the uncoated than the coated I tried later. Also noticed I needed to up the charge a couple 10ths to reliably cycle with the HP-38. Unique load remained unchanged. I've moved on to a different load, so I can't provide the exact charges and COL I used, but I did like this bullet and will likely go back to it when my current supply is depleted.

When I used to shoot those I liked 4.0-4.1 of Universal Clays.
I didn't have a chrono back then so no vels, but they always shot well for me.
(both lubed lead and coated)
I always liked them but had lead issues and changed to plated bullets.
(traced to the indoor range I used to shoot at)

Random 8 said:

I got better accuracy with the uncoated than the coated I tried later. Also noticed I needed to up the charge a couple 10ths to reliably cycle with the HP-38.

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This is likely from bullet base bump/deformation that compress the lube ring squishing out the lube against the barrel to form an "O" ring seal around the bullet where as coated bullet without the lube ring will simply leak gas around the bullet. Gas leak will translate to more powder required to burn to produce comparable amount of chamber pressure to generate similar muzzle velocity and the force required to cycle the slide.