Ramshot Silhouette Zero 125 Gr. 9MM JHP Questions

[Ghost In The Fog]

Hello everyone!
I have been reloading for just under 2 years now and I have received SO much great info here.
I load 9MM only and have used 700X, Autocomp and now have switched to Silhouette specifically because of reviews and how accurately it meters in my Lee Classic with the Autodrum. The 700X is good powder but it meters horribly for me. I shoot Glocks and a Sub 2K
I have loaded 8500 rounds so far and I am getting this figured out and want to now dial it in as exactly as I can. I recently bought a chronograph and it has been the final missing piece and has really put my mind at ease as to where my loads are coming in at.
I really like the Zero 125 Gr. JHP (not the target JHP) and have loaded 3,000 so far and have another 3,000 waiting to be loaded.


Below is the load data from Ramshot for 124 Gr. Berrys plated RN.
124 (P) BERRY RN 5.2 1,023 5.8 1,133 34,986 1.160

My actual chrono results for Berrys 124 Gr. target hollow points are:
5.0 Gr. 1,028 5.2 Gr 1,057 COL 1.060 (Berry's website)
And for Zero 125 Gr. JHP
5.0 Gr 983 COL 1.100 (that's all so far)

Below is the Ramshot info for Silhouette.
Gr V Gr V Pressure COL
124 HDY XTP 4.6 945 5.4 1,072 34,850 1.060
124 SPEER GDHP 5.0 1,002 5.6 1,090 34,969 1.105 (This is what I used)
124 (P) RAIN HP 5.1 1,004 5.6 1,095 34,556 1.110
125 SIERRA JHP 4.6 984 5.1 1,060 34,661 1.035


So.....
I am on the low end for the 124 Gr. THP and will take that up to 5.1 and 5.2 and give that a try.
I am a bit low for the 125 Gr. Zero JHP. I will be testing 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 next week.

I need to be at 1,000 FPS to make power factor for IDPA with the 125 Gr.
Other than that, does it really matter?

My questions are this:
Where is the realistic point I need to be at with a load?
Is it enough to be in the middle of the velocity range?
As long as my guns feed and cycle correctly does 75 feet per second make a difference?
Accuracy is good with all of my tests.
Where is enough, enough?

I shoot IDPA and target shoot a bunch. I will next be comparing my Hornady EDC .vs the Zeros in gallon water bottles taped together to see what the difference is. I don't think it is going to be too different- I have used both on mellons etc. on separate occasions and both are, well, fun.


I also test loads going backwards to find the point where the slide does not function correctly to know how close I am to the minimum and stay well away from that. I do the plunk and push test with each new combination.

Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

Brad

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Berry's bullets and Reiner bullets are plated bullets and would use cast bullet load data where as your Zero bullets are jacketed bullets and will use FMJ and JHP bullet data.

I don't think I would go above 5.4gr maybe 5.5gr Silhouette with that bullet. If that won't generate the velocity you need go to a different powder.

 

[Walkalong]

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/crimping-rmr-plated-bullets.779419/#post-9897359

 

[Walkalong]

A 124 Gr Gold Dot loaded to 1.120 OAL with a WSP primer and 5.5 Grs Silhouette at 102 degrees gave me:

3" EMP - 996 Avg FPS
5" S&W 1911 - 1130 Avg FPS
16" AR 15 - 1210 Avg FPS

A 124 Gr Gold Dot loaded to 1.120 OAL with a WSP primer and 5.7 Grs Silhouette at 102 degrees gave me:

3" EMP - 1064 Avg FPS
5" S&W 1911 - 1202 Avg FPS
16" AR 15 - 1263 Avg FPS

Western Powders +P 9MM Data (Attached)

124 REM GS 5.9 1,131 6.4 1,212 38,332 1.145
124 SPEER GDHP 5.6 1,092 6.0 1,159 38,495 1.105
124 (P) BERRY RN 5.8 1,136 6.1 1,196 38,267 1.160
124 (P) RAIN HP 5.6 1,090 6.0 1,159 38,320 1.110
124 (P) RAIN RN 5.8 1,133 6.1 1,188 38,128 1.160
124 (L) LC RN 5.0 1,091 5.3 1,149 38,330 1.050
125 SIERRA JHP 5.0 1,043 5.5 1,126 38,458 1.035

Start low and work up using the data in the PDF.