Results of my first Chono test - 9mm Loads

[marc82much]

Chronograph results from 11-27-2011

Temperature 38 degrees – overcast and gray – Bristol Range, Bristol WI - Outdoors

Bullets = Missouri Bullet Company 147 grain cast lead flat point, lubricated – 9mm

Powder = Hodgdon HS-6

Brass = mixed range brass

Primers = Federal Match Small Pistol MFG PART #100M

Chronograph = Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital Chronograph #CE13800

I did 10 loads using different amounts of powder. I used the Hornady Auto Charge, then put them back in the Lock N Load to finish. COAL (goal) was 1.125. Here are the results:

4.00 grains = velocity reading of 805 -- USPSA Power Factor of 118
4.10 grains = velocity reading of 827 -- USPSA Power Factor of 120
4.20 grains = velocity reading of 899 -- USPSA Power Factor of 132
4.30 grains = velocity reading of 888 -- USPSA Power Factor of 130
4.40 grains = velocity reading of 869 -- USPSA Power Factor of 128
4.50 grains = velocity reading of 907 -- USPSA Power Factor of 133
4.60 grains = velocity reading of 858 -- USPSA Power Factor of 126
4.70 grains = velocity reading of 951 -- USPSA Power Factor of 140
4.80 grains = velocity reading of 914 -- USPSA Power Factor of 134
4.90 grains = velocity reading of 1023 -- USPSA Power Factor of 150

In addition to the 10 above, I did the following 15 as well:

Five Missouri Bullet Company 147 grain cast lead bullets from the Lock N Load with the Powder Drop set at 4.6 grains of HS-6…the average PF is 123.68 with the lowest reading of 881 yielding a PF of 129.

Five Dardas 124 grain cast lead bullets from the Lock N Load with the Powder Drop set at 3.4 gains of TiteGroup with a target COAL of 1.10. The average PF is 120 with the lowest reading of 962 yielding a PF of 119.

Five Hornady HP/XTP 147 grain jacketed bullets from the Lock N Load with the Powder Drop set at 3. gains of TiteGroup with a target COAL of 1.10. The average PF is 132 with the lowest reading of 767 yielding a PF of 113. Maybe the 767 reading is an anomaly, as the other four were 942, 940, 928, and 924. Using these four and dropping the one outlier yields an average PF of 137.

So, I guess to stick with the MBC cast lead bullets and HS-6, and to make sure I at least make minor, I should be loading to about 4.6 grains on the Hornady Lock N Load with the Hornady Powder Drop. Does that sound right?

 

[Hondo 60]

Hodgdon recommends 4.3 - 5.0 for a 147 gr Hornady XTP - I didn't see any data for lead bullets.
I hope you got your load from a reputable source.

Please stay safe.

Sorry, don't know anything about USPSA.

 

[J_McLeod]

Lyman #49 lists 4.3-5.0 grs at 1.078. I've shot a few hundred at 4.8 with good results.

 

[J_McLeod]

Interesting post. That's my favorite bullet and powder for 9mm,but I've never used a chrono with my loads.

 

[marc82much]

Thanks.

I edited the post to correct a typo: the target COAL on the first ten mentioned was 1.125. Now correct in the post.

 

[J_McLeod]

I was a little surprised that more powder didn't always get more velocity. Any ideas why?

 

[MachIVshooter]

I was a little surprised that more powder didn't always get more velocity. Any ideas why?

Perhaps only one round was measured per charge weight? Extreme spread can be substantial; I fire at least 20 and average the velocites, rounded to the nearest 5 before I state that X load in Y gun gives Z velocity. I've had extreme spreads in large rifle cartridges be as much as 200 FPS.

 

[marc82much]

Perhaps only one round was measured per charge weight? Extreme spread can be substantial; I fire at least 20 and average the velocites, rounded to the nearest 5 before I state that X load in Y gun gives Z velocity. I've had extreme spreads in large rifle cartridges be as much as 200 FPS.

Yes, I only did one round per measured charge.

I shared my results with a friend who is much more experienced than me. He said the same thing. I did not know that when I did my test, but it makes sense. He also stated that the same test done in the summer heat would also yield different results. Next time I will do the average of 5-10 rounds. Next time, it will also be indoors, that might make a difference, too.