9mm 115gr Berry Hollow Base Round Nose-Thick Plate

[doctorjohn]

Experimented with subject loads today with decent results.

Winchester brass, CCI 500 small pistol primer, Lyman M die, Lee seat/crimp die, and Power Pistol for all loads. Chronograph is PACT Model1XP with screens 8' from muzzle. Shot with Taurus PT99AF.

5.8gr Power Pistol. COAL 1.132". Crimp 0.381". Average speed = 1,144 feet/sec.

6.0gr Power Pistol. COAL 1.131". Crimp 0.380". Average speed = 1,165 feet/sec.

6.2gr Power Pistol. COAL 1.132". Crimp 0.380". Average speed = 1,206 feet/sec.

I am trying to match speed of commercial 115gr FMJ. I found a list of velocities for a number of 9mm FMJ loads, and the average was 1,183 feet/sec. I clocked some Winchester White Box 115gr FMJ today and got an average of 1,153 feet/sec.

Loads above chambered well, and empties ejected well. I was satisfied with the way these bullets grouped.

I'm thinking 6.1gr of Power Pistol will do the trick.

 

[Walkalong]

By the numbers, it looks like 6.0 will as well.

 

[Load Master]

In my experience in 9mm velocity hasn't helped as much as bullet mass as far as improved grouping if that is the goal. You mention matching commercially loaded ammo velocities, but this normally isn't something that will promise you a good shooting round for your gun. In fact in most cases will not even come close to the best for your gun.

I have found through testing and hand held pistol that the 124gr and 147gr round nose give me much tighter groups under rapid fire and at subsonic velocities. One other good side effect, you use less powder too. I guess it all boils down to what your goal is.

 

[mokin]

It looks like 6.0 - 6.1 should be close enough. I like 6.1 grains of HS-6 behind a Berry's Flat Point. I spent a little time developing that and it clocked at around 1,150 fps. That's just off the top of my head. Check your data before trying it....

In my experience in 9mm velocity hasn't helped as much as bullet mass as far as improved grouping if that is the goal. You mention matching commercially loaded ammo velocities, but this normally isn't something that will promise you a good shooting round for your gun. In fact in most cases will not even come close to the best for your gun.

I have found through testing and hand held pistol that the 124gr and 147gr round nose give me much tighter groups under rapid fire and at subsonic velocities. One other good side effect, you use less powder too. I guess it all boils down to what your goal is.

You're correct that a factory load may not give the best results, but, as far a reason goes, I've participated in one event where you had to use factory ammunition and I've heard of others out there. That was my motivation for pursuing a "factory load".

 

[Load Master]

For compition I've heard of measuring power factor, but not being forced to use factory ammo.

 

[LiveLife]

I've participated in one event where you had to use factory ammunition and I've heard of others out there. That was my motivation for pursuing a "factory load"

I don't know of any USPSA/IDPA/GSSF/PPC/NRA/bullseye/cowboy action matches that require use of factory ammunition.

Perhaps they were talking about minor power factor of 125? Factory Winchester White Box/CCI Blazer 115 gr FMJ may not make 125 PF depending on lot and barrel used. To make 125 PF, 115 gr bullet needs to travel faster than 1087 fps. Many match shooters load to 130 PF which is 1130 fps.

I started shooting USPSA matches with best of factory ammunition but switched to reloading when I found my reloads shrank the shot group size by more than 40%.

 

[doctorjohn]

Update: I loaded 200 rounds at 6.14 grains of Power Pistol. I took two rounds at random from each of the four boxes and chronographed them today. Average speed was 1,203 feet per second. From my earlier test data, I predicted that the average for this load should be 1,193.

I loaded this ammo for my daughter so that she could get some trigger time with something approximating 115gr FMJ. She is in a LEO training program, and my information at the time was that they were using 115gr FMJ.

Now I learn that they are using 124 grain FMJ. She was able to get a few rounds of that for me, and I chronographed them today. So, I'll be developing a load to match what I chronographed today.