RMR 9mm 115gr FMJRN seconds

[vaalpens]

A few weeks ago I bought some seconds bullets from RMR. My plan for these bullets will be loading them using my normal RMR 115gr FMJRN bullet loads data, with quantities of 50+. They will basically be used for my normal shooting, but no load development. That does not mean I am not going to test and evaluate them. For these bullets I will test a regular load, and will compare it with my standard new bullet data.

First things first. When I received the bullets I obviously had to take some pictures and compare them to the non-seconds bullets. I basically grabbed 10 of each and did some measurements. Following are my findings:


From the above data you can see that the seconds have less spread in the weight, but more in the length. The average length is a bit higher for the seconds, but the average weight is a bit lower and closer to the 115gr.

Just based on the data I could not see any reason why I should work up any new loads.

Probably the most noticeable difference between them is the color. The seconds has a more brass color. Here is a picture with the seconds at the bottom.


So today I loaded up 50 of the seconds bullets using W244. The plan is to do a bit of testing, and compare it head to head with some of my ammo with the non-seconds bullets. I will do just the basic accuracy and velocity testing.

Here are the bullets I loaded today. In this picture the loading is done and I am basically transferring the rounds to a 50 round box where I will affix my printed label. That is basically how I store all my loaded ammo.


Normally I don't include this information when I post information about my loads, but following are the data points I save in a spreadsheet for every load I create:
Load #: 1496-50
Cartridge: 9mm
Case: Blazer
COL: 1.125"
Crimp: FCD
Bullet: RMR 115gr FMJRNB
Powder: W244
Powder weight: 4.5gr
Primer:FED100
Load date: 10/27/2021
Total rounds: 50
Calculated cost: $6.23

I will follow up with another post at when I have completed my comparison testing between the seconds and non-seconds bullets.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Probably the most noticeable difference between them is the color. The seconds has a more brass color. Here is a picture with the seconds at the bottom

Interesting, I picked up a couple thousand 9mm 147gr MW 2nds a while back to see what all my CZ friends were raving about. My reloading buddy picked up a couple thousand regular 147gr MW about the same time...he lives at home and doesn't have a GF.

Comparing the two they looked the same color, but the 2nds seemed to have not been tumbled as a final step...the still had a light coat of lube on them

 

[vaalpens]

Interesting, I picked up a couple thousand 9mm 147gr MW 2nds a while back to see what all my CZ friends were raving about. My reloading buddy picked up a couple thousand regular 147gr MW about the same time...he lives at home and doesn't have a GF.

Comparing the two they looked the same color, but the 2nds seemed to have not been tumbled as a final step...the still had a light coat of lube on them

There was time when RMR posted something about the copper they received had more of a brass color. This could be from that lot.

I visited RMR a while ago, and the tumbling is still being done, and it looks like a lot of work, especially for the MPR bullets, getting the medium out. They are working on getting wet cleaning in place, but need to work out waste water issues with the city.

I was impressed with the consistency of bullets, and expect them to perform the same as the non-seconds.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I was impressed with the consistency of bullets, and expect them to perform the same as the non-seconds.

I'm not as organized as you are about testing. I just needed some ammo for a match that weekend.

I loaded on a Dillon 750 which had previously been set up to load 125gr Blue Bullets and to throw 3.6grs of Sport Pistol. Luckily the powder measure was equipped with a Armanov click adjustment wheel and it used a Redding Competition Seating die. A few clicks of the wheel got me to 3.4grs of N320 and a twist of the micrometer on the seating die got me to 1.125" (plunk tested in the M&P9 Apex Tactical barrel).

If their 1st shoot any better than their 2nds I'll be stunned. While shooting an IDPA Standards Stage, out to 7-30 yards, it wasn't quite printing snowmen, but the furthest apart the shots (2 per target) were was less than 2"...really impressed me

 

[vaalpens]

I'm not as organized as you are about testing. I just needed some ammo for a match that weekend.

I loaded on a Dillon 750 which had previously been set up to load 125gr Blue Bullets and to throw 3.6grs of Sport Pistol. Luckily the powder measure was equipped with a Armanov click adjustment wheel and it used a Redding Competition Seating die. A few clicks of the wheel got me to 3.4grs of N320 and a twist of the micrometer on the seating die got me to 1.125" (plunk tested in the M&P9 Apex Tactical barrel).

If their 1st shoot any better than their 2nds I'll be stunned. While shooting an IDPA Standards Stage, out to 7-30 yards, it wasn't quite printing snowmen, but the furthest apart the shots (2 per target) were was less than 2"...really impressed me

I don't shoot any competition, so my competition is against myself. I try to be meticulous with my loading, and then try and find good loads, but also try and improve on my best.

Nice setup you have. For now the only improvement I have made is upgrading to a Lee turret. At some point I would like to invest in more precise dies, and hopefully see some measurable improvement in the data. Thanks for mentioning the plunk test. I am treating these bullets as the same as the 1sts and neglected to do a plunk test. Thanks for the reminder. I will definitely do a plunk test also just for peace of mind.

RMR also indicated that one of the employers used the 2nds in a match and won the following weekend. Your 2" separation between the 2 shots takes good bullets, but I think the shooter has a lot to do with it. That is some excellent shooting under competition pressure.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Thank you, you're too kind.

Being a Standard Stage it was just stand and deliver, no movement except transitioning between targets. I'm pretty proud of that stage as the only iron sighted pistol to outshoot me was an ESP Master...3 PCC shooters bettered our times, but we beat all the Carry Optic shooters also

 

[vaalpens]

Thank you, you're too kind.

Being a Standard Stage it was just stand and deliver, no movement except transitioning between targets. I'm pretty proud of that stage as the only iron sighted pistol to outshoot me was an ESP Master...3 PCC shooters bettered our times, but we beat all the Carry Optic shooters also

Excellent. It seems it is a combination of the shooter, the reloader and a good bullet. Maybe RMR should send you a nice RMR shirt to wear to these matches.

 

[mdi]

FWIW; I rarely go to such lengths with my reload bullets (up until the last 5 years 90+% of my reloads were with cast lead). Being bored a few days ago I weighed and measured OD of 50-60 124 gr RMR JHP 9mm bullets. I made notes but found it unnecessary. Weight averaged 124.3 with a max spread of .4 gr, and diameter was .3551"-3555". Plenty "tight" enough for me and my OCD!

 

[vaalpens]

FWIW; I rarely go to such lengths with my reload bullets (up until the last 5 years 90+% of my reloads were with cast lead). Being bored a few days ago I weighed and measured OD of 50-60 124 gr RMR JHP 9mm bullets. I made notes but found it unnecessary. Weight averaged 124.3 with a max spread of .4 gr, and diameter was .3551"-3555". Plenty "tight" enough for me and my OCD!

Thanks for the comments. I normally verify a few bullets for weight, length and diameter when I receive them, but never go into a very detailed analysis. This time was just done as a curiosity since I had both the 1st and 2nd types of bullets. They had an obvious difference in color, so it peaked my interest to find out what else was different.

 

[lordpaxman]

From the above data you can see that the seconds have less spread in the weight, but more in the length.

Wow, still that much spread??? No wonder I can’t hit A’s consistently….
I like the heavier bullets, but am trying out 124s now that I’ve got more time to do so. I settled on 1.120” primarily because it’ll fit all my barrels, but admit I didn’t do any COL testing for precision. You had 1.125”, if you don’t mind me asking, was this based on a plunk test or groups? I can go way longer on RNs, but didn’t see the need to.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Those seconds look like Montana gold bullets. In my experience with a few thousand of them, I found a lot of length variation in Montana gold bullets. Especially, the placement of the ogive. This resulted in having to make them shorter than my standard load because some of those ogives get jammed into the rifling of one of my pistols.

 

[vaalpens]

Wow, still that much spread??? No wonder I can’t hit A’s consistently….
I like the heavier bullets, but am trying out 124s now that I’ve got more time to do so. I settled on 1.120” primarily because it’ll fit all my barrels, but admit I didn’t do any COL testing for precision. You had 1.125”, if you don’t mind me asking, was this based on a plunk test or groups? I can go way longer on RNs, but didn’t see the need to.

I'm not sure why I settled on 1.125" since Western Powders give a COL of 1.120" for the RMR 115gr bullet. When I received the bullet looked at other bullet data for the 115gr FMJ, and the 1.120" COL seemed short. I then just went though my process of loading it a bit longer until it passed the plunk test. I think I was around 1.135" or something like that. Since these were dummy bullets, I always had to pull them. Pulling the 1.135" seemed they were coming out to easily, so I went down to 1.125". I had a thread going others also used 1.125" or lower. Since it passed all my testes, I decided to try 1.125" first, and then adjust again if needed. I normally compare my velocity to published data, and if it is much higher or lower, then I'll adjust the COL a bit. My test results showed I was close to other data, so I have not made any changes again. I think once I get to an accurate load, then maybe I'll play with the COL to see if I can get some better accuracy.

 

[vaalpens]

Those seconds look like Montana gold bullets. In my experience with a few thousand of them, I found a lot of length variation in Montana gold bullets. Especially, the placement of the ogive. This resulted in having to make them shorter than my standard load because some of those ogives get jammed into the rifling of one of my pistols.

I did a plunk test for about 10 out of the 50, and they were all good, but I will definitely keep an eye on it. Thanks for the comments.