armoredman
Member
I met a shooting buddy this morning at the CG range, enjoying the cooling off as we finally start our trip out of summer, and the broiling temperatures. We set records on how many days we sweltered above 110 degrees Fahrenheit this summer, so the mercury's slide is a welcome one.
I came out to try out the Berry's 124 grain plated hollow point with some loads I had developed, as this is a bullet with a wide tall ogive, seen here with other 9mm projectiles for comparison, Berry's is the second from the right.
Due to that wide and high ogive, I experimented with the primitive "drop check" test, (drop dummy round in dismounted barrel), to see if they would chamber at a usual cartridge over all length. No, they required a shorter one. How short? 1.01. Yes. Looks odd, doesn't it? That's an old, (I need to replace my factory ammo, ugh), factory Remington 115 grain JHP next to the Berry's loaded to 1.01.
Loaded into the Phantom's magazine, it looks short,
Now I was following the NEW Accurate Arms loading data, and we were down in cast bullet territory power factors, so the short load didn't concern me pressure wise. Also, the big CZ SP-01 Phantom is a tank, and has shrugged off much more powerful rounds with a yawn, so I knew we were gonna be OK. I set up the traditional 10 yard target stand,
And got ready to shoot. This time I wore CZ-USA's newest shirt design! Awesome design plus being light and cool.
Rock on! But, I digress, back to the loads...
The funny thing is, I had data on this bullet from waaaaay back stating it would work at 1.04. Very old data, using AA#5...haven't had that flavor around for 4 or more years. Well, it must have been in a pistol I don't have anymore, because both the P-01 and the Phantom said 1.01. I did load up some testers at 1.04 and 1.03, just in case. Remember that old saying, "You just never listen!" Yep, that's me.
The 1.04 COAL jammed repeatedly trying to load, getting the bullet stuck in the lands. Several times I had to push, not tap the slide forward. The 1.03 wasn't as bad, but still had several failures to go into battery. When they did go into battery, good results.
So, now realizing that it IS smarter to listen to what your pistol is trying to tell you, I worked with the 1.01 loads, and got some good results!
I think the 6.2 grain load, (oddly enough, the exact same as my new favorite cast bullet load!), is the one I am going to experiment with further. There was not one failure to feed, fire or eject with any these 1.01 COAL loads, and no signs of any kinds of pressure issues, of course. Only thing the Phantom said was "burp", and asked for more. I also intend to see what kinda trouble I can get into using Accurate Arms #2 powder, as well. ;D
The P-01 was on it's day off at home, so was unavailable for comment. :-\
When it was all said and done, I like these bullets and they show a lot of potential.
Speaking of that, BTW, my shooting buddy Larry was shooting a modified Mosin, with a home made AK style stock,
Funny thing, his load was also using a Berry's bullet, the new Berrys 125 grain .311 bullet for 7.62x39mm, and doing extremely well with it in 7.62x54R. I was able to scare the bezeezus out of a bucket at 300 yards with them in that old rifle.
I had to give him a baggie of these Berry's 9mm PHPs, and we'll see what he does with them, too.
Well, the tumbler is running away behind me, fresh hot tea beside me, and a lot of new loads to make for my firearms from just emptied brass, sounds like a good day, what do you say, Laughing CZ Skull?
Looks like he had a good time too.
I came out to try out the Berry's 124 grain plated hollow point with some loads I had developed, as this is a bullet with a wide tall ogive, seen here with other 9mm projectiles for comparison, Berry's is the second from the right.
Due to that wide and high ogive, I experimented with the primitive "drop check" test, (drop dummy round in dismounted barrel), to see if they would chamber at a usual cartridge over all length. No, they required a shorter one. How short? 1.01. Yes. Looks odd, doesn't it? That's an old, (I need to replace my factory ammo, ugh), factory Remington 115 grain JHP next to the Berry's loaded to 1.01.
Loaded into the Phantom's magazine, it looks short,
Now I was following the NEW Accurate Arms loading data, and we were down in cast bullet territory power factors, so the short load didn't concern me pressure wise. Also, the big CZ SP-01 Phantom is a tank, and has shrugged off much more powerful rounds with a yawn, so I knew we were gonna be OK. I set up the traditional 10 yard target stand,
And got ready to shoot. This time I wore CZ-USA's newest shirt design! Awesome design plus being light and cool.
Rock on! But, I digress, back to the loads...
The funny thing is, I had data on this bullet from waaaaay back stating it would work at 1.04. Very old data, using AA#5...haven't had that flavor around for 4 or more years. Well, it must have been in a pistol I don't have anymore, because both the P-01 and the Phantom said 1.01. I did load up some testers at 1.04 and 1.03, just in case. Remember that old saying, "You just never listen!" Yep, that's me.
The 1.04 COAL jammed repeatedly trying to load, getting the bullet stuck in the lands. Several times I had to push, not tap the slide forward. The 1.03 wasn't as bad, but still had several failures to go into battery. When they did go into battery, good results.
So, now realizing that it IS smarter to listen to what your pistol is trying to tell you, I worked with the 1.01 loads, and got some good results!
I think the 6.2 grain load, (oddly enough, the exact same as my new favorite cast bullet load!), is the one I am going to experiment with further. There was not one failure to feed, fire or eject with any these 1.01 COAL loads, and no signs of any kinds of pressure issues, of course. Only thing the Phantom said was "burp", and asked for more. I also intend to see what kinda trouble I can get into using Accurate Arms #2 powder, as well. ;D
The P-01 was on it's day off at home, so was unavailable for comment. :-\
When it was all said and done, I like these bullets and they show a lot of potential.
Speaking of that, BTW, my shooting buddy Larry was shooting a modified Mosin, with a home made AK style stock,
Funny thing, his load was also using a Berry's bullet, the new Berrys 125 grain .311 bullet for 7.62x39mm, and doing extremely well with it in 7.62x54R. I was able to scare the bezeezus out of a bucket at 300 yards with them in that old rifle.
I had to give him a baggie of these Berry's 9mm PHPs, and we'll see what he does with them, too. Well, the tumbler is running away behind me, fresh hot tea beside me, and a lot of new loads to make for my firearms from just emptied brass, sounds like a good day, what do you say, Laughing CZ Skull?
Looks like he had a good time too.
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