Reloading 9mm 115gr Rainier copperplated

[lawson88]

I recently stated reloading 9mm with AA#5 and I have started low with the powder load. When i pull the trigger the bullet ejects but the casing stays in the champer and i have to manually eject it. Do i just need to keep adding powder and when i get to the desired powder amount the casing will then have enough powder charge to eject?

Also im going to start using unique and my lee maunual does not give me any data for 115gr bullets with unique. I was wondering if anyone had any luck with this powder using 115gr Rainier copperplated bullets. Any advice would be appriciated. Thanks

 

[cfullgraf]

Yes, you need to up the powder charge a little. Your slide is probably not cycling far enough to eject the case and pick up the next round from the magazine.

Here is what Rainier says about loading their bullets...

http://www.rainierballistics.com/load-data/

So, assuming you are loading 115 grain Rainier FMJ bullets, data for similarly shaped 115 grain FMJ jacketed will work. Start in the middle as they recommend.

 

[kcofohio]

lawson88, Western Powders .pdf file shows Rainier 115 gr. plated bullet with AA #5 at 4.8 start, and max 5.9 gr. with a COAL of 1.140".

Go to Western Powder and download the free .pdf file. They have a nice variety of loads listed for Accurate and Ramshot powders.

Lee's Modern Reloading manual is just copies of the powder makers data.

Hope that helps!

 

[Walkalong]

Sounds like you started under the minimum load. Or did you use the stating load for lead data?

Load Data

Rainier recommends using commercially published jacketed bullet load data when loading our bullets. There is no need for adjustment when using jacketed bullet load data. Our bullets are jacketed using an electroplating process and are softer than traditionally jacketed bullets. Be sure to use only load data that is published in a reputable reloading manual.

We recommend a starting powder charge directly between the listed minimum and maximum load.

A slight roll or taper crimp may be used with our bullets. Over-crimping plated bullets may result in decreased accuracy, and fragmentation of copper plating.

It can be confusing because Ranier has changed its advise over the years.

When shooing the 115 Gr Ranier side by side with a Hornady jacketed 115 Gr RN I got almost identical velocities for the same powder charge using 2 or 3 different powders, or in other words they acted like a jacked bullet as far as velocity went.

With the Ranier 115 Gr RN loaded to 1.130 to 1.135 OAL 6.9 Grs of AA #5 gave 1108 FPS from a 3" EMP, 1204 FPS from a 4 1/2" TZ, and 1405 FPS from a 16" AR 15.

This is max jacketed data by one source, do not start here, but it will give you an idea of the velocities given. Start at the minimum and work up.


http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=6195350&postcount=11

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9885586&postcount=2

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9897359&postcount=10


Welcome to THR.

 

[lawson88]

Yea i started a little low about .2 grains over starting charge. I was using the copperplated data used in the lee manual but i made some new cartridges and started with a charge in the middle for the lead data. If that does not work i think ill just keep slowly working up .1 or .2 grains. Thanks for the info!

 

[Walkalong]

i started a little low about .2 grains over starting charge. I was using the copperplated data

Interesting. Starting data should function most guns. Did you use the same shape bullet/OAL as the bullet in the data?

What OAL did you use? What charge weight of AA #5 did you use?

 

[lawson88]

I used 115gr copperplated data for aa #5 starting is 4.8 to 5.9 and I used 5.0. Min O.a.l is 1.140 and I was in the ball park at about 1.142. Loads would fire fine the cartridge would not eject. It wasn't recoiling enough to eject the case.

 

[Walkalong]

Ranier used to say 5.2 to 5.8 for 957 and 1099 FPS with an OAL of 1.100 from a 4" barrel.

http://web.archive.org/web/20050502161132/www.rainierballistics.com/loaddataAA.htm

At any rate, just bump it up until accuracy and function are good.

 

[nevadabob]

I use 6.1 grns. of AA #5, Berry's 9mm 115 RN @ a COL of 1.135. It's a nice load.