Load development with berrys 9mm 124g FP

[M_Silva84]

Hi Everyone, I wanted to get some advice on load development for the berrys 124g flat point, there seems to have been a lot of load data for these in the past which has been difficult to find recently so I wanted to get some feedback.
Following the Nosler and hornady load data for 124g fp XTP, I made the following loads:
Guns: Glock 17 and M&P shield:
Power pistol powder
Mixed headstamp range brass
Remington 1-1/2 primers
Berrys 124g FP bullets-taper crimp at .377-379”
OAL 1.060 (varies +/- .005)
Starting load 4.7g, mid load 5G, moderate load 5.3g.
They pass the plunk test. Any feedback is appreciated, thank you!

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

So, big question is, howzitshoot?

 

[M_Silva84]

So, big question is, howzitshoot?

I should have been more detailed in what I was looking for, does this load look safe with regards to pressures being that there’s limited data available? If so I’m going to chrono on Sunday.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I should have been more detailed in what I was looking for, does this load look safe with regards to pressures being that there’s limited data available? If so I’m going to chrono on Sunday.

Sure, easily. Lyman’s 125gr Alloy #2 cast data for Power Pistol runs from 4.8 to 5.4gr. and that’s usually the standard for plated lead bullets. You should be just fine as long as you didn’t seat too deeply or leave the crimp loose enough to allow for setback during feeding. Tap the noses of a sample of cartridges on a hard surface hard enough to make noise and measure to see if they’ve moved. Other than that, you should be good to go.

 

[M_Silva84]

Thank you for the info! I loaded a couple of dummy rounds into the mag and racked them through, I didn’t measure any setback. That being said the seating too deep is really the only topic I can’t seem to figure out. I definitely don’t want to be seated too deep, any tips on measuring that?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Thank you for the info! I loaded a couple of dummy rounds into the mag and racked them through, I didn’t measure any setback. That being said the seating too deep is really the only topic I can’t seem to figure out. I definitely don’t want to be seated too deep, any tips on measuring that?

Well, you know how long the bullet is and how much is sticking out so you can calculate how much is sticking in. Now, that XTP load you referred to, that’s a jacketed bullet and not really comparable to a thin plated bullet like that Berry’s you’re using. But the Lymans #358093 I referenced is a good reference because the loading data is for a hard cast bullet and it is also a known length and the manual lists a seating depth you can use to calculate how deep that bullet was seated. What you’re looking for is the remaining case volume for each load. If they’re close, within say a few thousandths, or a few tenths of a CC, then you know you’re in safe territory. Does that help?

 

[M_Silva84]

Absolutely, thank you! I appreciate the breakdown as I had analysis paralysis trying to figure it out.

 

[M_Silva84]

I can’t seem to find it in my 50th edition, any chance you can provide those specs?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Go to Marvin Stuart’s site and download the 48th Edition.
http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals/Reloading/Reloading Manuals/

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Took a screenshot off my phone. Use a search engine to find the oal of the cast bullets. Lyman’s specs are all over the net.

 

[M_Silva84]

So I measured my seated depth, my calculations were case length of .750", COL 1.058", bullet length .516" which equals a depth of .208".

 

[lordpaxman]

@M_Silva84, Welcome to THR!
Now, if only you knew the 124gr XTP OAL…. Sorry but I don’t have any to measure. However, the Hornady 10th manual has the 124gr FP listed as well, and they spec COL at 1.050”, which is .010 less than what you’re loading at.
Berry’s plated should be able to handle starting to mid jacketed data. The manual I have shows the starting charge at 4.3gr of PP. If I were you, I’d load a few at this starting charge, and fire them first at the range. I tend to be conservative when there are several unknowns. Good luck.

 

[M_Silva84]

Thank you @lordpaxman! From what I could find the xtp is ~.575” long which would put its seating depth .060” deeper than the berrys. I’m going to load some at 4.3g as well and work up.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Thank you @lordpaxman! From what I could find the xtp is ~.575” long which would put its seating depth .060” deeper than the berrys. I’m going to load some at 4.3g as well and work up.

Seating deeper raises pressure; seating shallower lowers pressure. The data you used is also for a jacketed bullet, but you are using a plated lead bullet. Copper jackets are harder, resist conforming to rifling, raising pressure. In short, you should be safe to test the loads you have.

 

[M_Silva84]

Yup that’s what I was afraid of. Once I found the bullet length on the xtp I was much more confident in the pressures. I have 5 loads to run through tomorrow, 4.3, 4.5, 4.7, 5, and 5.3 depending on how the thr FPS and pressure signs look. I appreciate all the feedback and will report back!

 

[Walkalong]

I loaded a similar bullet, the Berrys 124 Gr HP (.549 long) at 1.050 OAL with 4.7 Grs of N-340. It gave an average of 1087 FPS from a 5" S&W 1911 at 98 degrees. I shot this load again at 84 degrees and got 1097 FPS from the same gun. Later on the 124 gr HP at 1.055 OAL with 4.1 Grs N-320 gave me 1084 FPS, did not record temp.

The Berrys HB TrFP (.561 long) at 1.055 OAL gave me an average 1066 FPS in the low 80s with 4.7 Grs N-330.

I also loaded the Berrys 124 Gr HP at 1.050 with 4.5 Grs of AA #2 and got an average 986 FPS from a 3" Springfield EMP at 56 degrees.

 

[M_Silva84]

I wanted thank you gentleman for all your help, all the loads fired great, no signs of primers flattening even up to 5.3g.