9mm 145 RN Hitek OAL and powder questions

[Chillydog]

I’m working with a Summers Enterprises hitek coated 145 rn .356 but actually .357 with coating. I’m determining max and working OAL for a S&W Shield Plus performance center with the non ported 4” barrel.

Max OAL came to 1.127 to plunk and spin freely. I’m thinking of 1.121-1.120 for a working OAL. Am I getting too short for the 145? It chambers smoothly, no issues.

I’m planning to start with 2.8 WST and work up to get in the 800-850fps range. Thoughts?

I can also size this bullet to .356. That might help lengthen the OAL?

Slugged barrel at .3555, maybe .3558 Lands and groove pattern make it hard to accurately measure.

Planning to start with 5 each starting at 2.8and maybe work up to 3.1gr WST give or take .1?

thank you for your time,

Gary

 

[LiveLife]

Disclaimer: This post lists unpublished loads and use them at your own risk.

Max OAL came to 1.127 to plunk and spin freely. I’m thinking of 1.121-1.120 for a working OAL. Am I getting too short for the 145? It chambers smoothly, no issues.

But does the max OAL length feed reliably from the magazine? (lock slide back, insert magazine and release slide)

If yes, you can use the max OAL as your working OAL. If no, you may need to shorten the OAL until it feeds reliably from the magazine.

I can also size this bullet to .356

If .357" works fine, why?

I’m planning to start with 2.8 WST and work up to get in the 800-850fps range. Thoughts?

Planning to start with 5 each starting at 2.8and maybe work up to 3.1gr WST give or take .1?

Where did you get that load data information?

When we did our 9mm published load data thread for WST, only load data we found were for 90-124 gr bullets, not 147 gr - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...er-target-published-load-data-for-9mm.870180/

Lacking published load data, I would suggest you consider a different powder you can find published load data for.


Just FYI, I would calculate max case fill and see how much WST will fill the case:

• Determine working OAL
• Measure bullet length and subtract this from OAL to get max case fill
• Measure several resized cases to get an average case length
• Subtract max case fill from average case length and mark inside of case with this amount using end of calipers (This is where bottom of seated bullet is inside the case)
• Fill the case with powder to this mark and weigh powder charge
• I usually don't exceed max case fill with powder when I am using shorter OAL/deeper bullet seating depth. If published max charge is less than max case fill charge, I will not exceed published max. If I am using much shorter OAL than published, I will consider reducing my start/max charges by .2-.3 gr.

Be safe.

UPDATE: Check out this thread on BE forum for 9mm 147 gr coated FP and WST - https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/259289-147-gr-blue-bullets-and-wst/

They are reporting 3.2-3.4 gr WST and 147 gr coated FP loaded to 1.130"-1.150" to produce 130 PF.

Since you are loading shorter with larger sized .357" diameter RN bullet (And FP at same OAL as RN will have less bullet seating depth), I would go conservative with my start charge and powder work up.

Perhaps start at 2.5 gr and see what powder charge will start to reliably cycle the slide and extract/eject spent cases? Then work up towards 3.0 gr in .1 gr increments?

Be careful.

 

[Chillydog]

Live Life - Let me do some some home work/measuring. Great points, this is what I needed.

I will get to explore this combo over the weekend and let everyone know what I come up with.

Gary

 

[GoldieMI]

Live Life - Let me do some some home work/measuring. Great points, this is what I needed.

I will get to explore this combo over the weekend and let everyone know what I come up with.

Gary

and that is why I'm glad to see him posting again...one example out of countless where he jumped in with some insight to share.