Need load data for Winchester 115-gr FMJ FB with Win-231, please.

[IMtheNRA]

I just got a bunch of these Winchester 9mm, 115-gr FMJ Flat Base bullets and I'd like to use my Winchester-231 powder with them. Does anyone have load data for these bullets that they'd like to share?

 

[cdrt]

My Lyman book has a load for 231 that starts at 3.5 grains min and maxes at 4.9 grains. OAL is 1.090 but that with a 115 grain jacketed HP Hornady bullet.

 

[Luggernut]

Ummm, cdrt those numbers seem very low.

This is directly from the Hodgdon site for LEAD. This would be slightly low for FMJ .

115 GR. LRN 115 231 .356" 1.100" 4.3 1079 28,400 CUP 4.8 1135 32,000 CUP

 

[cdrt]

I double checked. That's what the book shows. It's in Lyman's #47 reloading manual. My Speer book shows 4.5 to 5.0 grains of 231 for their 115 TMJ flat base bullet. Go figure.

 

[paperpuncher49]

I doubt that 3.5 would cycle the action reliably. It seems very low.

 

[Walkalong]

Winchester Data

Like cdrt said: Speer #13 gives 4.5 to 5.0 Grs with a 115 Gr jacketed bullet for 1026 to 1133 FPS from a 4" barrel.

 

[The-Fly]

Based on my own personal experience, you could run it at 5.0gr without problems. Thats a near max load, so work your way up slowly of course. 4.8gr will give you a factory level performance, and is well under max. Keep your OAL under 1.150 (i use 1.125 myself) and you shouldnt have too many problems.

Winchester shows a max of 5.1 with a jacketed round.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Thanks for all the info guys. I saw the data on their site, but they did not specify the bullet manufacturer, so I wanted to see if there is any Winchester-specific data. I'll start at the low end of that recipe.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I charge 4.4gr W231 under a 115gr LRN bullet.
I charge 4.8gr W231 under a 115gr FMJ bullet.
I charge 4.0gr W231 under a 124/125gr LRN bullet.
I charge 4.4gr W231 under a 124/125gr FMJ bullet.
Sorry, I haven't loaded a 147gr bullet for the 9mm.

All the above rounds are on the light side for target practice. When I want something heavier I use Longshot or Power Pistol.

This is directly from the Hodgdon site for LEAD. This would be slightly low for FMJ.

Luggernut,
Actually, for the 9mm, the charge of W231 is higher for a FMJ bullet than a Lead bullet. (the opposite of what you said)

 

[cdrt]

I did some looking and found my copy of Winchester's Twelfth Reloading Components Catalog. They show for their 115 grain FMJ bullet a starting load of 4.4 grains of 231 with a velocity of 1045, 25,900 psi and a max of 4.9 grains, velocity 1135, 32,600 psi.

Winchester used to give these books away at various gun stores, etc. This one is dated 1992.

 

[Walkalong]

The 2006 Winchester handout load book just shows 5.1 W231 with a 115 SPR GDHP for 1167 FPS @ 28,1000 CUP O.A.L. of 1.125

Interestingly enough, they show 4.8 with a 115 LRN for 1135 FPS @ 32,000 CUP O.A.L. of 1.100

Same as the link above, but the link shows the start loads as well.