ConcernedCitizen
Member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2004
- Messages
- 149
I need some opinions on a current project. I apologize for the long-winded explanation, but hope you will bear with me.
I'm loading 9mm using some 124-125 grain lead bullets that I got at a swap meet. I'm not sure of the manufacturer, but they are a truncated cone design similar to the ones offered by Penn or Dardas. They are not nearly as tapered as the ones offered by MBC. The lube is a brown color, but could be faded. They were loose in a tub when I got them, so I have no way to identify them.
I have successfully loaded some for an M&P-9 Pro at a COL of 1.060". The throat on the M&P seems to be at 1.080", so I figured this gave me a safe margin. I tried to load some for my XD-9 Tactical, but the throat on that one was around 1.050", so I held off as I wasn't comfortable loading that short for my first test.
Now I'm feeling adventurous, and want to create a load that will work in both the M&P-9 and the XD-9. The COL that drops freely out of the XD-9 is 1.035". I've seen numerous posts of people using a similar COL, including Walkalong, but was hoping someone could help validate my loads in combination with the COL.
My problem is twofold, based on the lack of available components. In addition to changing COL, I'm also changing over from Winchester SPP to Tula SPMP, as mentioned in this thread. I plan take chronograph readings for comparison, and will also take chronograph readings comparing the 1.060" COL to the 1.035" COL.
Here's the data I have so far:
9mm Luger
124 gr. Lead Truncated Cone
Winchester Small Pistol Primer
Mixed Brass
1.060" COL
Pistol: 5" M&P-9 Pro
3.7 grains Win. 231
Avg. Velocity: 995.5 fps
ES: 49.2
SD: 14.6
3.9 grains Win. 231
Avg. Velocity: 1036
ES: 54.6
SD: 16.3
4.1 grains Win. 231
Avg. Velocity: 1080
ES: 32.0
SD: 8.0
The 3.7 & 4.1 grain loads both shot very well at 10 yards. 3.7 grains does not meet IDPA power factor, so I was planning to settle on 4.0-4.1 grains after some more testing.
I plan to keep the load the same for the first test, with the exception of changing over to small pistol magnum primers. Would you feel safe starting at 3.7 grains again, or would you start at 3.5 grains to be safe? I will probably stop at 3.9 grains using the magnum primers, as 4.1 grains was already a bit over my desired velocity of 1050 fps.
I then plan to load the same batch, but changing the COL from 1.060" to 1.035". Do you feel 3.5-3.9 grains of Win 231 and a Tula small pistol magnum primer will be safe at this COL?
Would anyone with QuickLoad mind running a quick pressure check for me, based on the 1.035" COL?
Any and all opinions are welcome. I've tried to research and reason out my project as much as possible, but I'm sure there's something critical that I'm overlooking. The knowledge of this forum never ceases to amaze me, so I'm hoping you can either help set my mind at ease, or help stop me from making a grave mistake. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
I'm loading 9mm using some 124-125 grain lead bullets that I got at a swap meet. I'm not sure of the manufacturer, but they are a truncated cone design similar to the ones offered by Penn or Dardas. They are not nearly as tapered as the ones offered by MBC. The lube is a brown color, but could be faded. They were loose in a tub when I got them, so I have no way to identify them.
I have successfully loaded some for an M&P-9 Pro at a COL of 1.060". The throat on the M&P seems to be at 1.080", so I figured this gave me a safe margin. I tried to load some for my XD-9 Tactical, but the throat on that one was around 1.050", so I held off as I wasn't comfortable loading that short for my first test.
Now I'm feeling adventurous, and want to create a load that will work in both the M&P-9 and the XD-9. The COL that drops freely out of the XD-9 is 1.035". I've seen numerous posts of people using a similar COL, including Walkalong, but was hoping someone could help validate my loads in combination with the COL.
My problem is twofold, based on the lack of available components. In addition to changing COL, I'm also changing over from Winchester SPP to Tula SPMP, as mentioned in this thread. I plan take chronograph readings for comparison, and will also take chronograph readings comparing the 1.060" COL to the 1.035" COL.
Here's the data I have so far:
9mm Luger
124 gr. Lead Truncated Cone
Winchester Small Pistol Primer
Mixed Brass
1.060" COL
Pistol: 5" M&P-9 Pro
3.7 grains Win. 231
Avg. Velocity: 995.5 fps
ES: 49.2
SD: 14.6
3.9 grains Win. 231
Avg. Velocity: 1036
ES: 54.6
SD: 16.3
4.1 grains Win. 231
Avg. Velocity: 1080
ES: 32.0
SD: 8.0
The 3.7 & 4.1 grain loads both shot very well at 10 yards. 3.7 grains does not meet IDPA power factor, so I was planning to settle on 4.0-4.1 grains after some more testing.
I plan to keep the load the same for the first test, with the exception of changing over to small pistol magnum primers. Would you feel safe starting at 3.7 grains again, or would you start at 3.5 grains to be safe? I will probably stop at 3.9 grains using the magnum primers, as 4.1 grains was already a bit over my desired velocity of 1050 fps.
I then plan to load the same batch, but changing the COL from 1.060" to 1.035". Do you feel 3.5-3.9 grains of Win 231 and a Tula small pistol magnum primer will be safe at this COL?
Would anyone with QuickLoad mind running a quick pressure check for me, based on the 1.035" COL?
Any and all opinions are welcome. I've tried to research and reason out my project as much as possible, but I'm sure there's something critical that I'm overlooking. The knowledge of this forum never ceases to amaze me, so I'm hoping you can either help set my mind at ease, or help stop me from making a grave mistake. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
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