HP38 Load data for 9 mm 120 gr LCN?

[berettaprofessor]

Beginning reloader here. I bought some lead conical nose 9mm 120gr bullets from a caster. Would anyone have a favorite HP38 load for that?

Second question; I've seen a Winchester 231 recipe for it....is it true that HP38 and 231 have identical performance and are interchangeable?

And third question, I'm a bit confused by the lube/don't lube cases for carbide dies? I understand I might not need to lube a straight case like a 45ACP, but what about the slight taper of a 9 mm?

Thanks.

 

[TfflHndn]

I'm no help on your recipe question.

Yes, HP-38 and W231 are identical. Except for the price in most places. HP-38 will generally run you a couple bucks less per pound.

No lube needed for most all pistol cases in a carbide die. 9mm is fine without lube in my RCBS carbide set. Just watch for a lube buildup in your seater die and clean it out periodically.

 

[sexybeast]

Beginning reloader here. I bought some lead conical nose 9mm 120gr bullets from a caster. Would anyone have a favorite HP38 load for that?

Second question; I've seen a Winchester 231 recipe for it....is it true that HP38 and 231 have identical performance and are interchangeable?

And third question, I'm a bit confused by the lube/don't lube cases for carbide dies? I understand I might not need to lube a straight case like a 45ACP, but what about the slight taper of a 9 mm?

Thanks

Are they 120 truncated or 122? The 122 is a popular bullet, many casters sell them. Its a Magma mold.
I've loaded and shot at least 15k of the 122's, my load with 231/hp38 is 3.7gr. Its light and an accurate load. Tffhddn is correct about 231 and hp38 being the same powder made in the same factory. He's also correct about hp38 being a couple bucks a pound less expensive.
If you are using carbide dies there is not nead to lube. Tumble the cases and get them clean. Tffhddn is also has a very good point of lube building up in your seating die. Pull it apart evey 500rds or so and clean it out. I've read that brake cleaner spray cleans the lube and any other gunk right off. I want to try this myself.

 

[Potatohead]

SexyBeast,
Your post reminded me. I'm reading a book that says you can clean gunky parts of your gun by just dousing with lighter fluid. I had never heard that one.

 

[berettaprofessor]

They are 120 truncated. Picture below:

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[Jesse Heywood]

Those look like the 124 gr Missouri Bullet conical.

Have you weighed them, or did the caster say they were 120 gr. It really doesn't matter much, the advice I will give is to use load data for the 124 gr. lead. Your reloading manual should address using data for a heavier lead bullet when there is no data for your bullet weight. And the profile won't make much difference, either.

Hodgdon tells us they bottle the HP38 and W231 using the same powder, the only difference is the label and the royalty payment to Winchester.

As for lubing 9mm cases for sizing with a carbide die. When I get a case that is difficult to size I will back it out and lube. Other than that, no lube is needed.

 

[Jim Watson]

I am loading a moly coated lead 125 gr 9mm conical with 4.2 gr HP38 for certainty in making IDPA ESP Power Floor. I have some with a different coating that gets out the barrel easier and it looks like 4.0 will be enough for my goal of 1050 fps.

I apply a LITTLE spray lube (One Shot) to 9mm and .45 pistol brass. It really cuts down on the effort with even a carbide sizing die. Use LITTLE enough and you won't have to clean it off. It will probably be enough to spritz half of them, then stir them around with unsprayed cases.

 

[sexybeast]

They are 120 truncated. Picture below:

yeah, they do like like 9 cone that Missouri sells. They usually are 125gr. I second that you weigh them and use 125gr load data.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yes, W231 and HP-38 are identical made in the St. Mark's powder plant. Different labels, different prices, same powder.

If you have CURRENT load data for W231 you can use it as is with HP-38.

 

[berettaprofessor]

Well...the caster said they were 120gr.....and since he taught the reloading class I took and reloads 50K rounds a year himself, I hope I can believe him.

On the other hand, I just have a balance scale and can't weigh over 111 grains on it, so I'll have a hard time checking until I get an electronic scale.

 

[sexybeast]

Well...the caster said they were 120gr.....and since he taught the reloading class I took and reloads 50K rounds a year himself, I hope I can believe him.

On the other hand, I just have a balance scale and can't weigh over 111 grains on it, so I'll have a hard time checking until I get an electronic scale

Yeah, get a "good" electronic that you can trust, or even better an additional beam scale so you can double check the electronic. You need to know how much your bullets weigh!
With lead bullets the charge does not change that much between say 115gr and 125gr, but the max loads changes quite a bit with fmj.
Loading lead in 9mm is more challenging than in 40 or 45 as far as accuracy goes. Start low and work up, and you are going to spend a lot of time at the range testing.