Edcnh
Member
Wondering if data for 125 grain lead round nose bullets in 9mm can be used for loading 124g lead round nose bullets. I have a little Bullseye and Unique. I have some Autocomp, 231 and SR 4756.
9mm 124g lead vs 125g lead
- Thread starter Edcnh
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Comrade Mike
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Yes. You should be fine. Just work up carefully as always. If you were to weigh a batch of 124 grain bullets you would likely see a swing of a grain or more in bullet weight
moxie
Member
Essentially the same thing. Go for it.
Sunray
Member
One grain makes no difference whatsoever, in any cartridge. Has nothing at all to do with the shape or seating depth. Partial to Bullseye myself.
Two round nose lead bullets, one 124 gr. ad one 125 gr.? Not enough difference in weight or seating depth to change/worry about anything. As noted above, you will more than likely see 1 grain variation anyway (I have purchased commercial cast bullets with 2 grain variations and accuracy was well within my needs)...
As with any lead bullets, fit is key...
As with any lead bullets, fit is key...
Schwing
Member
I have cast my own 9mm with as high as 5 grain variations with no difference in accuracy.
CZ9shooter
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Any batch of 124 grain bullets probably has a few 123's and 125's sprinkled through it. One grain variance is essentially nothing.
[email protected]
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Find out how deep you will have to seat the bullet and use load data for that depth in that weight range. Load data ranges anywhere from 1.065 to a more normal 1.125 with lead bullets.
armoredman
Member
If you are using two different bullets that nominally come in those weights, YES, there can be a difference. What I mean is the Lee mold 124 grain bullet has a narrower ogive, a step down from the full diameter of the driving bands, and can seat out fully in short chambers. The Lee mold 125 grain single lube groove bullet is fatter, and the ogive, when seated out fully, might engage lands in a short chamber more readily, something I have run into myself. So while on paper there's naught but a whiskers' difference, in reality they do have a real difference.
So, to be perfectly clear, was that what you were referring to? Load data is identical for grain weight alone...
So, to be perfectly clear, was that what you were referring to? Load data is identical for grain weight alone...
Average Joe
Member
124 and 125 load the same, no difference.
[email protected]
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Do not start at max and load away. Work the load up once you find a working OAL from a manual that lists a similar OAL. The profile of the bullet and the gun it's used in will be factors that consider what the OAL will be. For example I have two 9mm molds. One is the Lee round nose that has a fatter taper to the ogive. I can seat it almost to the point that it will fall out of the case for my ruger, but my S&W requires it to be seated deeper. My working OAL for this mold is 1.098. When I load this bullet I compare data in that weight range with that approx OAL. My NOE 9mm mold is a stepped design and can be loaded to 1.125 in both guns due to the bullet shape. The OAL is whats important, not a weight + or - a few grains.
OP
OP
Edcnh
Member
The bullet manufacturer, Missouri Bullet, told me the profile for their 115g LRN and 124g LRN is the same. I will load some and hopefully get to try them by the weekend.
blarby
Member
Oh boy.
Noted and locked for reference.
Edcnh, you were good right up till the very end,
Please use appropriate data. See posts 10 & 13 and review again.
Noted and locked for reference.
Edcnh, you were good right up till the very end,
Please use appropriate data. See posts 10 & 13 and review again.
greyling22
Member
also the lee 125 bullet is for a 357. my mold drops them .360. my 124 9mm mold drops them .356. ironically the 9mm mold bullets are too narrow for my barrel and I have to use the 125's and size them down to .358.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
For bullets of the same profile and composition there is not difference at all in the load data for a 124gr and 125gr bullet in the 9mm. Like said above, if you weigh 124gr bullets in a bulk box you will find some that weigh 125gr and 123gr and if the bullets are bad you will find an even wider spread.
Hondo 60
Member
The shape of the bullet & the bearing surface will make a bigger difference than just 1 grain.
RugerOldArmy
Member
My experience is totally different than those that posted here. I offer different advice.
I had been using 124 Gr lead loads that simulated 124 Gr FMJ's.
I switched to SNS 125 Gr Coated bullets. The bullet profile is very different, much more blunt.
Loading them to the same OAL resulted in malfunctions, because the slide wouldn't return to battery on test loads. The fatter bullet didn't allow the cartridge to headspace on the case rim, at the longer OAL that had worked so well with for me with other bullets. (1.135"-ish)
I learned my lesson, and always do the 'plunk' test in the barrel (removed from the gun. Google for a diagram of this test), to be sure the OAL is correct. This seems particularly important for 9x19 lead loads.
Lead loads that are near the maximum functional OAL are almost always more accurate.
Determine your OAL with the plunk test, THEN compare with the data. If you can get by with a similar OAL, you're probably good, as folks have said. In my case, I had to go to an OAL of between 1.085" and 1.1" for the SNS coated 125(s). In that case, working up seemed worthwhile, for the bullet was seated much more deeply in the case.
Would using the other data have caused a catastrophic problem? I doubt it, with lead.
Then again, accuracy wise, reworking up was worth it for me. My go-to Unique, in this case, was much less accurate than Power Pistol, at the shorter OAL.
Just another $0.02. Hope it helps.
I had been using 124 Gr lead loads that simulated 124 Gr FMJ's.
I switched to SNS 125 Gr Coated bullets. The bullet profile is very different, much more blunt.
Loading them to the same OAL resulted in malfunctions, because the slide wouldn't return to battery on test loads. The fatter bullet didn't allow the cartridge to headspace on the case rim, at the longer OAL that had worked so well with for me with other bullets. (1.135"-ish)
I learned my lesson, and always do the 'plunk' test in the barrel (removed from the gun. Google for a diagram of this test), to be sure the OAL is correct. This seems particularly important for 9x19 lead loads.
Lead loads that are near the maximum functional OAL are almost always more accurate.
Determine your OAL with the plunk test, THEN compare with the data. If you can get by with a similar OAL, you're probably good, as folks have said. In my case, I had to go to an OAL of between 1.085" and 1.1" for the SNS coated 125(s). In that case, working up seemed worthwhile, for the bullet was seated much more deeply in the case.
Would using the other data have caused a catastrophic problem? I doubt it, with lead.
Then again, accuracy wise, reworking up was worth it for me. My go-to Unique, in this case, was much less accurate than Power Pistol, at the shorter OAL.
Just another $0.02. Hope it helps.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Not very funny Harry1969.
I am all for a good laugh,but
I agree you will probably see 1gr difference amoung any batch of cast bullets.
It depends on the seating depth and bullet shape but in general no difference.
I use MBC cones and SWC in 9mm. THe SWC seat deeper and take up more of the case and generally need .2-.3 less powder depending on the powder.
But the difference is due to seating depth not weight.
armoredman
Member
RugerOldArmy, exactly what I posted, thank you.
greyling22, not quite.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/65...125-grain-2-ogive-radius?cm_vc=ProductFinding
Not the same as the .357 mold. I'm not wild about trying that bullet shape in an auto loader. Might work, might not.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/91...eter-125-grain-flat-nose?cm_vc=ProductFinding
My 124 mold drops at .360, which is great by me - I size them .356 for 9mm and .358 for 38 Special.
greyling22, not quite.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/65...125-grain-2-ogive-radius?cm_vc=ProductFinding
Not the same as the .357 mold. I'm not wild about trying that bullet shape in an auto loader. Might work, might not.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/91...eter-125-grain-flat-nose?cm_vc=ProductFinding
My 124 mold drops at .360, which is great by me - I size them .356 for 9mm and .358 for 38 Special.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Sunray
IMO 1 grain can make a BIG difference
Lots of pistol loads have less than 1 grain between Start and Max listed charges.
IMO 1 grain can make a BIG difference
Lots of pistol loads have less than 1 grain between Start and Max listed charges.
tylenol9999
Member
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I think the context here was for 1 grain difference in bullet weight and not powder weight.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
That's what I was about to say and of course I agree. He was talking about 1gr in bullet weight, not powder charge.
I also completely and strongly agree if we were talking about powder, 1gr could make a huge difference.
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