X-Treme Loading manual data...

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I picked up a 500/box of X-Treme 124gr. .355" HP for $49 and have started looking at loading them for my Stars - the Firestar and BM. X-Treme says in all of their documentation their HP bullets are not for defensive use, I'm guessing because they don't expand well. For the Stars that's fine, they're good pocket pistols but short barreled so I don't want expansion, I want penetration.

That being said, X-Treme also notes this in their reloading manual: " Our loads are not a 'Min/Max', these cartridge lengths, powder charges, and associated data is what are recommended by our trained ballistics technicians for the best overall performance." Speer and most bullet makers are the opposite: they note in their documentation that the loads published are "Max" and the hand-loader should back off 10% for a starting load. I've seen some reference to the ideal load for this bullet being 3.7gr. of TiteGroup, which is the only load listed by X-Treme, but it seems like most of those people are loading for duty-sized competitive shooting. I'm going to start at 3.5gr. and see how they FFF. If anyone has a load for a short-barrel light load in the 900fps range, let me know. I'm going to try AA#5, R-Comp and TG just because those are good go-to powders for 9mm.

 

[higgite]

I'm not familiar with your pistols. What do you consider to be a "short" barrel?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I'm not familiar with your pistols. What do you consider to be a "short" barrel?

The Star M-43 Starfire has a 3"bbl. The Star BM has a 4" bbl. The manual says, "All pressures and velocities have been captured using SAAMI Specification processes, equipment, and barrel lengths." SAAMI testing is done with a test barrel and universal receiver. The posts I've seen by hand-loaders using the 3.7gr. TiteGroup load recommended by X-Treme have all been loading for 5" or longer service pistols.

I'm not worried about the bullet not performing I just don't want or need a hi-vel load for either of these small, light pistols using this bullet. It's not a defense use bullet, per X-Treme, because it doesn't expand well.

 

[Riomouse911]

X-treme sells “target hollow point” plated bullets, I have a thousand or so .358 versions still on the shelf and at least a .30 cal ammo can full of loaded rounds using that bullet.

They may expand, but like you said they aren’t specifically designed to perform like defensive hollow points. I wouldn’t count on them to either penetrate like a fmj because they may expand too much, or they may not expand at all and act just like a fmj. For me, I just shoot paper and steel plates with them and leave my defense loads to design-specific ones.

I’ve used lots of lead-bullet reloading data rather than X-tremes load data for my .38 and .357 loads, I think you’ll be ok finding a similar lead/plated load for your 9mm Star from other sources and give them a try if you don’t want to use the data they provide.

Good luck finding a load you like, let us know how they shoot in your Star when you get a chance to hit the range.

Stay safe.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

X-treme sells “target hollow point” plated bullets, I have a thousand or so .358 versions still on the shelf and at least a .30 cal ammo can full of loaded rounds using that bullet.

They may expand, but like you said they aren’t specifically designed to perform like defensive hollow points. I wouldn’t count on them to either penetrate like a fmj because they may expand too much, or they may not expand at all and act just like a fmj. For me, I just shoot paper and steel plates with them and leave my defense loads to design-specific ones.

I’ve used lots of lead-bullet reloading data rather than X-tremes load data for my .38 and .357 loads, I think you’ll be ok finding a similar lead/plated load for your 9mm Star from other sources and give them a try if you don’t want to use the data they provide.

Good luck finding a load you like, let us know how they shoot in your Star when you get a chance to hit the range.

Stay safe.

Will do and thanks! That's as I suspected but I like to hear from actual users before making assumptions. My FMJ load for the CZ's and FEG HP is 7.0gr. of HS-6 under a 115gr. steel-core FMJ - that's a great load for full-size service pistols - but I found out at the range that's not a good short(er) barrel load. Not terribly accurate and doesn't always cycle the M-43.

 

[higgite]

The Star M-43 Starfire has a 3"bbl. The Star BM has a 4" bbl. The manual says, "All pressures and velocities have been captured using SAAMI Specification processes, equipment, and barrel lengths." SAAMI testing is done with a test barrel and universal receiver.

FWIW, SAAMI test barrel length for 9mm Luger is 4". Would assume X-treme uses the same from what their manual says.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

FWIW, SAAMI test barrel length for 9mm Luger is 4". Would assume X-treme uses the same from what their manual says.

That's my assumption, too.

I was a little surprised their manual only gives one load and they say it's not a min or max but their ideal load - for their testing equipment. Then don't say exactly what that testing equipment is. I got some good feedback on these though and I think Rio's got a good suggestion using cast data instead of jacketed. The smaller 9mm have tighter springs and a more radical tilt to the cam lock so they tend to be a little fussier about fast powders and long bullets.

 

[NMexJim]

I would treat them like other 124 grain bullets given xTreme info AND a good seat depth.

This is what you were referring to?


I load for several 3” - Kahrs and Sigs - and I’m using AA#2 as it’s good in short barrels although #5 is good too. I like that X-Treme 9mm plated and jacketed run .355.

Penetration is good to a point, but there may be better choices for SD.