9mm 115 grain plated load data

[atygrit]

My Lee book doesn't have any load data for a 115 grain round nose plated bullet using W231.

I have read that I should use lead data when loading for plated, so I went to Hogdon's website.

4.3 grains of W231 with a LRN which I'm assuming means Lead Round Nose (please correct if wrong).

This is the part I'm concered about, my Lee book has 4.3 grains for a 115 grain FMJ. I have read that lead is generally shot with less powder than FMJ.

Also, on Hogdon's site it mentions 115 GR. SPR GDHP, is the Speer Green Dot Hollow Point? What's so special about this bullet to get 4.7 grains as a starting load?

 

[billybob44]

Plated load data?

Different mfg. of plated bullets can vari. It is a general rule of thumb that you can use the hi end of cast bullet data, up to the mid range of jacketed bullet data. Most bullets will perform best at the hi end of cast bullet data, IMO. The only drawback to this is, why not just use hard cast at max load? If your hard cast bullets do not lead at these speeds than why use plated? Check Missouri Bullets for a large selection on the hard cast route.

 

[atygrit]

I bought them when I was in my local shop buying something else and I was out of bullets and being cheap. I'm waiting for a big FMJ order and I thought I would try the plated since they were the same weight of my FMJs that I just shot and they were cheap.

 

[Mags]

I have found Lee manuals to be conservative on powder charges explaining the low powder charge for FMJ. When I get home I will check my load books for my 115 grain data, I normally use HP-38 which most agree to be the same as W231.

 

[RandyP]

Not only do 'most' agree, the good folks at Hodgdon (who put the stuff into the two different labelled containers) state that HP-38 and Win 231 are the same powder.

FWIW some indoor ranges (my LGS's for one) do not allow lead reloads to be fired. I use Berry or Ranier plated to save cost vs FMJ of my reloads for target use.

 

[ants]

Seek manufacturer's advice on plated bullets. Go to their web sites or call them.

Rainier says to use lead data.
Berry's says to use mid-range jacketed data.
Xtreme says to use jacketed data in the Speer manual.
Frontier makes no specific recommendation.

As with everything else in reloading, you must make your own judgements. It's a personal choice.

 

[mgkdrgn]

I just went through something similar in 45 Colt ... switch from lead to plated bullets.

When using the same loads I had used for lead, I could barely keep the rounds on the backstop, much less on the paper. MFG of the bullets said they need to go much faster to be effective ... and he was right!

Something between the "high end" of your lead cast load and the midrange of your FMJ load ought to be just right.

 

[Walkalong]

Midways old "LoadMAP" for 9MM with the old Midway brand plated 115 Gr RN plated bullet (Ranier?) gives a start load of 3.3 Grs W-231 (832 FPS), then gets into the yellow "caution" area at 4.4 Grs 1068 FPS), and stops at 4.6 Grs (1111 FPS) in the red "caution" area. They say to use "extreme caution" when loading in the yellow or red.

I have shot the Ranier 115 Gr RN plated bullet with full jacketed data, using somewhat slower powders, at up to 1400 FPS from a carbine with good accuracy and no problems. The smart thing to do would be very cautious after reaching 75% of jacketed data.


Accurate data with Raniers

The old Midway data that used to be on the Ranier site gives a start load of 4.2 Grs W-231 for 1025 FPS @ 30,3000 PSI & a max load of 4.5 Grs for 1089 FPS @ 33,800 PSI using the 115 Gr RN.


Use this info at your own risk.

 

[Mags]

Just checked my load journal, with Berry's plated 115 grain plated flat nose I use 4.7 grains of HP-38 with a 1.10 OAL.

 

[Walkalong]

I load the Ranier 115 Gr RN at 1.130 to 1.135 O.A.L. I have not shot any Berrys. I don't know how they differ in length/ogive.

I like the Ranier bullet. It seems to shoot better in more guns than the Hornady 115 Gr FMJ-Encapsulated bullets I have. I think the base is the problem with the Hornady design. It serves it's purpose.

 

[Mags]

The Berry's Prefferred Plated Flat Nose has a cavity in the bottom of the slug increasing case volume. That might explain the low OAL.

 

[okierifleman]

I actually use 4.7 grains of W231 under a 115 Ranier and have been for years.