Guys,
I've been reloading for a few years now, and have been frequently encountering brass discoloration (obturation is the term-I think). Found in other threads in the reloading forum that this is typically caused by loads being too light.
Here's my situation-
-loading 9mm 124 gr FMJ round nose, using Berry's Bullets (plated, not jacketed)
-4.7gr Power Pistol.
Hornady's reloading guide recommends 4.3-5.7gr of Power Pistol for 124gr FMJ RN-so I'm within their safe range
Speer recommends 5.6-6.4gr of Power Pistol (with their bullets)
Lyman recommends 5.1-5.7gr of Power Pistol (for 125gr HP, no load data for 124 RN)
Question 1-Are my loads too light?
Question 2-If I increase the load, do I need to switch from plated (e.g. Berry's) bullets to jacketed (e.g. Hornady, Speer) because of the increased pressure? Reason I ask the 2nd question is that when I reloaded Berry's in 357 mag with Blue Dot recently, the plated bullets shattered and shards came out the cylinder openings. Guys at the range said I should stop using plated bullets for magnum loads and switch to jacketed.
Thanks for the help.
Gerry
I've been reloading for a few years now, and have been frequently encountering brass discoloration (obturation is the term-I think). Found in other threads in the reloading forum that this is typically caused by loads being too light.
Here's my situation-
-loading 9mm 124 gr FMJ round nose, using Berry's Bullets (plated, not jacketed)
-4.7gr Power Pistol.
Hornady's reloading guide recommends 4.3-5.7gr of Power Pistol for 124gr FMJ RN-so I'm within their safe range
Speer recommends 5.6-6.4gr of Power Pistol (with their bullets)
Lyman recommends 5.1-5.7gr of Power Pistol (for 125gr HP, no load data for 124 RN)
Question 1-Are my loads too light?
Question 2-If I increase the load, do I need to switch from plated (e.g. Berry's) bullets to jacketed (e.g. Hornady, Speer) because of the increased pressure? Reason I ask the 2nd question is that when I reloaded Berry's in 357 mag with Blue Dot recently, the plated bullets shattered and shards came out the cylinder openings. Guys at the range said I should stop using plated bullets for magnum loads and switch to jacketed.
Thanks for the help.
Gerry