LiveLife
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Disclaimer: Following post lists loads that are currently not listed by Alliant so use them at your own risk.
Since 40S&W testing with Herco went quite well, I decided to test for 9mm using jacketed, plated and lead bullets - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=743416
I have used Bullseye, Red Dot/Promo, Clays, WST, Green Dot, N320, W231/HP-38, Unique, Universal, Power Pistol, HS-6, WSF and Auto Comp for 9mm but never with Herco. Based on the burn rate chart, Herco is listed between Power Pistol and WSF. As the current powder shortage continues, Herco may be another alternative powder to use for 9mm as it is more available than other popular powders, and especially if you also load 40S&W.
Bullet Selection:
After checking 2004 Alliant load data which listed 6.3 gr as max charge for 115 gr FMJ bullet at 1.120" OAL and 6.2 gr max for 125 gr lead bullet at 1.150" OAL, I decided to work up loads for Winchester 115 gr FMJ, Berry's 115/124 gr HBRN and 124 gr lead RN. Why HBRN with longer bullet base for Herco which really fills the 9mm case? I figured if the testing goes well with HBRN with longer bullet base, then I should be OK pressure wise with regular flat base bullets with shorter bullet base that don't get seated as deep in the case neck.
At first I thought about using 18 BHN Missouri 125 gr RN (Small Ball). But because 5.8-6.1 gr of Herco almost fills the 9mm case and the non-stepped nose design increases the bullet base/bearing surface length that gets seated deeper inside the case neck (see comparison picture below), I decided to use stepped bullets with shorter bullet base/bearing surface to minimize compressing the powder charge.
I have both Dardas and Z-Cast 124 gr RN on hand that are stepped nose design and decided to use softer Z-Cast bullets. For those not familiar with Z-Cast, they are advertized as 14-16 BHN in hardness - http://zcastbulletz.com/about.html
Powder charge selection:
With 6.1/6.2 gr as max charges for 115 gr FMJ/125 gr Lead bullets, I found powder drops from .76/.71/.66 Auto Disk holes dropped 6.0/6.1 gr, 5.7-5.8 gr and 5.1/5.2 gr as weighed on Ohaus 10-10.
To improve metering with Herco (and other fluffy flake powders), I tapped the powder hopper around 10 times to better settle the powder and 3-4 charges were dropped until powder drops were consistent.
OAL/COL selection:
Since I wanted to minimize powder charge compression, I used relatively longer OAL/COL which all passed the barrel drop test and feed/chamber from magazine function test (Typically with 115/124 gr jacketed FMJ/plated RN bullets, I use 1.135" OAL and with 124/125 gr lead RN (stepped) bullets, I use 1.125" OAL).
For reference, 124 gr Z-Cast RN bullet was loaded with 4.0 gr of Promo/Red Dot at 1.125" OAL (my range/plinking load). Note: My reference load is loaded to 1.125" because while conversion barrels for G22 has freebore (KKM) and is reamed (LW) that allow longer RN OAL to SAAMI max, my new G23 conversion barrel has quick start of rifling with no leade (like my Sig 1911 barrel) and won't accept stepped RN longer than 1.125" (non-stepped RN like MBC SmallBall is a no-go with this barrel).
Range Test:
Glock 22 with KKM and Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrels were used with G17 magazines. All the test rounds were loaded to .378" taper crimp. Shot groups were measured center-to-center. Shooting distance was 10 yards. 20 rounds per bullet/power charge were fired (10 rounds each KKM/LW barrels).
Reference Promo/Red Dot load - 124 gr Z-Cast lead RN @ 1.125" OAL:
4.0 gr - 1.50" with recoil comparable Winchester white box
Herco test loads:
115 gr Winchester FMJ:
5.8 gr @ 1.150" - 1.30" with light recoil (lighter than reference load)
6.1 gr @ 1.160" - 1.30" with mild recoil
115 gr Berry's plated HBRN:
5.2 gr @ 1.155" - 1.40" with very light recoil (failed to cycle the slide)
5.8 gr @ 1.155" - 1.50" with light recoil
6.1 gr @ 1.155" - 1.04" KKM and 1.20" LW (mild recoil)
124 gr Berry's plated HBRN:
5.2 gr @ 1.155" - 1.75" very light recoil (barely cycled the slide)
5.8 gr @ 1.155" - 1.43" light recoil
6.1 gr @ 1.155" - 1.75" mild recoil
124 gr Z-Cast lead RN (stepped):
5.2 gr @ 1.160" - 1.12" KKM and 1.50" LW (light recoil)
5.8 gr @ 1.160" - 1.50" with mild recoil
Shooting Impressions:
Many posted Herco to burn dirty but the test loads burned relatively clean to 4.0 gr Promo load. After 100+ rounds of lead Promo/Herco loads, the KKM/Lone Wolf barrels were clean without any leading.
I was surprised to find Berry's 115 gr bullet to be more accurate than 124 gr bullet and Z-Cast 5.2 gr load more accurate than 5.8 gr. I will be doing more accuracy comparison test to verify my initial results.
I will also be testing 6.2-6.3 gr max loads (probably hand weighed), still at longer 1.160" OAL, on my next range test and perhaps along with 4.0 gr Promo load at 1.160" OAL too.
Since 40S&W testing with Herco went quite well, I decided to test for 9mm using jacketed, plated and lead bullets - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=743416
I have used Bullseye, Red Dot/Promo, Clays, WST, Green Dot, N320, W231/HP-38, Unique, Universal, Power Pistol, HS-6, WSF and Auto Comp for 9mm but never with Herco. Based on the burn rate chart, Herco is listed between Power Pistol and WSF. As the current powder shortage continues, Herco may be another alternative powder to use for 9mm as it is more available than other popular powders, and especially if you also load 40S&W.
Bullet Selection:
After checking 2004 Alliant load data which listed 6.3 gr as max charge for 115 gr FMJ bullet at 1.120" OAL and 6.2 gr max for 125 gr lead bullet at 1.150" OAL, I decided to work up loads for Winchester 115 gr FMJ, Berry's 115/124 gr HBRN and 124 gr lead RN. Why HBRN with longer bullet base for Herco which really fills the 9mm case? I figured if the testing goes well with HBRN with longer bullet base, then I should be OK pressure wise with regular flat base bullets with shorter bullet base that don't get seated as deep in the case neck.
At first I thought about using 18 BHN Missouri 125 gr RN (Small Ball). But because 5.8-6.1 gr of Herco almost fills the 9mm case and the non-stepped nose design increases the bullet base/bearing surface length that gets seated deeper inside the case neck (see comparison picture below), I decided to use stepped bullets with shorter bullet base/bearing surface to minimize compressing the powder charge.
I have both Dardas and Z-Cast 124 gr RN on hand that are stepped nose design and decided to use softer Z-Cast bullets. For those not familiar with Z-Cast, they are advertized as 14-16 BHN in hardness - http://zcastbulletz.com/about.html
Powder charge selection:
With 6.1/6.2 gr as max charges for 115 gr FMJ/125 gr Lead bullets, I found powder drops from .76/.71/.66 Auto Disk holes dropped 6.0/6.1 gr, 5.7-5.8 gr and 5.1/5.2 gr as weighed on Ohaus 10-10.
To improve metering with Herco (and other fluffy flake powders), I tapped the powder hopper around 10 times to better settle the powder and 3-4 charges were dropped until powder drops were consistent.
OAL/COL selection:
Since I wanted to minimize powder charge compression, I used relatively longer OAL/COL which all passed the barrel drop test and feed/chamber from magazine function test (Typically with 115/124 gr jacketed FMJ/plated RN bullets, I use 1.135" OAL and with 124/125 gr lead RN (stepped) bullets, I use 1.125" OAL).
For reference, 124 gr Z-Cast RN bullet was loaded with 4.0 gr of Promo/Red Dot at 1.125" OAL (my range/plinking load). Note: My reference load is loaded to 1.125" because while conversion barrels for G22 has freebore (KKM) and is reamed (LW) that allow longer RN OAL to SAAMI max, my new G23 conversion barrel has quick start of rifling with no leade (like my Sig 1911 barrel) and won't accept stepped RN longer than 1.125" (non-stepped RN like MBC SmallBall is a no-go with this barrel).
Range Test:
Glock 22 with KKM and Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrels were used with G17 magazines. All the test rounds were loaded to .378" taper crimp. Shot groups were measured center-to-center. Shooting distance was 10 yards. 20 rounds per bullet/power charge were fired (10 rounds each KKM/LW barrels).
Reference Promo/Red Dot load - 124 gr Z-Cast lead RN @ 1.125" OAL:
4.0 gr - 1.50" with recoil comparable Winchester white box
Herco test loads:
115 gr Winchester FMJ:
5.8 gr @ 1.150" - 1.30" with light recoil (lighter than reference load)
6.1 gr @ 1.160" - 1.30" with mild recoil
115 gr Berry's plated HBRN:
5.2 gr @ 1.155" - 1.40" with very light recoil (failed to cycle the slide)
5.8 gr @ 1.155" - 1.50" with light recoil
6.1 gr @ 1.155" - 1.04" KKM and 1.20" LW (mild recoil)
124 gr Berry's plated HBRN:
5.2 gr @ 1.155" - 1.75" very light recoil (barely cycled the slide)
5.8 gr @ 1.155" - 1.43" light recoil
6.1 gr @ 1.155" - 1.75" mild recoil
124 gr Z-Cast lead RN (stepped):
5.2 gr @ 1.160" - 1.12" KKM and 1.50" LW (light recoil)
5.8 gr @ 1.160" - 1.50" with mild recoil
Shooting Impressions:
Many posted Herco to burn dirty but the test loads burned relatively clean to 4.0 gr Promo load. After 100+ rounds of lead Promo/Herco loads, the KKM/Lone Wolf barrels were clean without any leading.
I was surprised to find Berry's 115 gr bullet to be more accurate than 124 gr bullet and Z-Cast 5.2 gr load more accurate than 5.8 gr. I will be doing more accuracy comparison test to verify my initial results.
I will also be testing 6.2-6.3 gr max loads (probably hand weighed), still at longer 1.160" OAL, on my next range test and perhaps along with 4.0 gr Promo load at 1.160" OAL too.
