Sierra 147gr V-Crown

HeavyLoad

HeavyLoad

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2017
Messages
133
Reaction score
119
Location
Ohio
I just picked up some of these, 9mm 147gr. V-Crown.
I can't find any data on them. What I need is the C.O.L.
Anyone have the newest Sierra manual? If they are even listed in there. I emailed Sierra all so but no response yet.
 
Register to hide this ad
When hand loading projectiles that have a cannelure, I never worry about cartridge over all length, I just seat until the case mouth is in about the middle of the cannelure

9mm-147gr-v-crown-jhp-500ct.jpg


I figure that the projectile manufacturer put the cannelure in the correct place.

I only go in search of a cartridge over all length specification if the above method creates a cartridge that is too long for the magazine or cylinder
 
I don't believe the cannelure on this bullet is for crimping purposes.
Sig factory loads these Sierra bullets. Here's a pic of them. Says its purpose is for bonding the jacket and core. If you look at the pic it shows the cannelure below the case mouth.
I'm sure Sierra will get back to me. Maybe I'll call them tomorrow for a faster response.
 
Since it is a 147 gr JHP design. I would not seat that bullet any shorter than a OAL of 1.10" or
letting the base of the bullet go deeper than .30" into the case, where it
might start bulging the walls of the brass case?
( bullet length: .64" +/- )

Not having that bullet, this is only guess work and you will need to see what
actually happens when you load those bullets in your cases, with "Dummy" loads, first.

Being the large 147 gr. bullet, care is needed when deep seating this long bullet
into the short 9mm case.

I have to seat the Berry plated RN that is .672" in length,
no shorter than 1.13" , to keep it from going .30" into the case.

Bullet design, tip and base, plays a big part on what OAL to use
in your pistols.

Good luck.
 
Last edited:
The OP's comment about the "can" is correct: the ones on their 124 & 125gr
bullets are at different points as well. It is there to aid in bonding jacket to core.

As Ed says, the longer heavier 147gr need to be loaded a bit longer:. I would suggest the data vis-a-vis OAL could be approximated from that shown for other 147gr HPs. Typically 1.145+"...

The question being whether when loaded longer how easily they'll chamber, although most factory 147gr ammo seems to generally work in most guns.

Cheers'
 
The main concerns are that the round will completely seat in chamber AND fit in the magazine. Ignore the cannelure. I use 147 grain RN-FMJ bullets in .38 Super.
 
Last edited:
STORMINORMAN said:
The OP's comment about the "can" is correct: the ones on their 124 & 125gr
bullets are at different points as well. It is there to aid in bonding jacket to core.

As Ed says, the longer heavier 147gr need to be loaded a bit longer:. I would suggest the data vis-a-vis OAL could be approximated from that shown for other 147gr HPs. Typically 1.145+"...

The question being whether when loaded longer how easily they'll chamber, although most factory 147gr ammo seems to generally work in most guns.

Cheers'
Click to expand...
Agree.

I would use one of the loads shown here for the 147 grain JHP and load it as long as possible then try a plunk test in the barrel that will be used. Shooter's Reference Load Data for 9 mm Luger
 
There are a lot of 147 gr OAL's from 1.13 to 1.165" listed in loading manuals and bullet companies.

There is some data with 1.11" or even shorter listed OAL's however, I would read this data
very carefully and make sure that you have the CORRECT bullet, if loading these short OAL loads
in the short 9mm case, due to high pressures that may happen and
work up to the full loads, slowly.

Here is a picture of two styles of 147 gr. bullets, that I have used.
I have no problems with powders up to the bulky Unique in the shorter Speer, developing loads.
However, the long RN design, cuts down the case volume, quickly, where
finer grained powders are needed,
if I want MORE than just light target loads, if using a OAL of 1.14" or less.
 
I called Sierra a couple days ago and they couldn't give me a c.o.l. for this bullet. Said it was to new and they had no data for it.
But he said it would be somewhere around 1.10".
So I had some free time this morning and finally got to experiment with it.
I started rd at 1.65" and gradually seated it deeper until it worked in my ammo checker. Well the c.o.l. is 1.10"
 
Uh, "started rd at 1.65"..."?

I'm confident you really meant you " started at" 1.165" (since SAMMI MAX for 9mm is 1.169"...

Cheers!

P.S. At 1.100" there must be a lot of the 147grs within the case: what do you estimate the actual penetration to be? How long are those 147gr V-Crowns anyway?
 
Might consider checking where the full dia of bullet stops, seat bullet to where full dia is slightly forward of case edge, plunk and load test of dummy round and check various loading manuals for powder charges of 147 gn bullets seated to that length. As a start.
 
Yes I meant 1.165"
The bullet measures .655"
The 124gr GD is .564
The bock shows 147gr. XTP's at 1.10 also.
Hers a pic of a 124gr XTP, 124gr. GD & 147gr. V-crown
 
Last edited:
zeke said:
Might consider checking where the full dia of bullet stops, seat bullet to where full dia is slightly forward of case edge, plunk and load test of dummy round and check various loading manuals for powder charges of 147 gn bullets seated to that length. As a start.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what I did to come up with 1.10"
I ordered 4lbs of Ramshot Silhouette to try with these bullets and I'm going to try it with 45acp too.
 
That OAL of 1.10" will have the 147 V-Crown 147 gr. bullet seated

.309", down into a 9mm case that is .754" in length.

You might be near or at seating and pressure maximums,
so tread lightly
depending on your pistol and cases, with medium or heavier loads.

Good shooting.
 
You can look up OAL data on the 9mm 147 gr bullets.

Hornady has their XTP listed at a OAL of 1.10"
Lyman has a Speer TMJ listed at a OAL of 1.115"
Speer list their TMJ & HP designs at 1.13".

The bullets base and tip design plays a big part in what OAL will work
and be safe in most 9mm pistols and also fit into the magazines, to work properly.

If deep seating the 147 gr bullet, you have to know if it is a proper fit
or if you are crimping & also sizing the bullet, as the round goes into, your seating die.

Just because you can seat a 147 gr bullet .309" into a 9mm case,
does not mean that it is correct.
On the other hand, it's design might let it be seated .319",
without any problems.


Here is a picture of a 9mm case, to give you an idea of what happens when you get past 33%
of the way down, into the tapered case.

Please note, that the Berry plated RN 147 bullet is also .356" in diameter, not the standard 9mm .355".

Safe loading to all.
 
Last edited:
I'm definitely going to work these bullets up to +p loads. I didn't buy them to shoot at paper and cans.
I appreciate all the advice given. I will say I've been reloading for 37 years and haven't blown anything up yet. Everything from 20 and 12 gauge to 380 up to 458 win mag.
I started this thread to see if anyone else had tried these bullets knowing they were pretty new on the market.I guess I'm the first.
I called Sierra for their imput and I guess the bullets are even too new for them to have data on them. But the guy I talked to did say or recommend 1.10". So like I said, I started seating the bullet at 1.165 and it took until I got to 1.10" to fit in my ammo checker. I'm pretty confident I'll be fine with that. I've never used ramshot silhouette before but it looked like a good powder to work up some +p loads in 9mm & 45acp.
For my normal loads I use hp-38/231, titegroup. All so unique, bluedot, hs-6 and longshot in some +p loads.
 
Last edited:
Am always willing to learn from those who go first, it saves on components and effort! (:>) While there are likely many good powders, am partial to AA-7 and small mag pistol primers for 124,147 grain 9mm plus p velocity's.
 
It should be noted that SIG's factory 147gr V-Crown Elite ammo is rated @ 985 fps and is not a +P. Hornady's XTP & the Speer Gold Dot G2 even less, the Federal HST @1,000 fps...

The Hornady 147gr XTP also measures .655". All Hodgdon's load data for this bullet is at the 1.100" the OP mentions, so there shouldn't be a problem with the V-Crown. I can't find any Silhouette load data for the 147gr XTP (or the V-Crown) but there is a (non +P) 4.7gr Longshot MAX load @ over 1K fps using the 1.100" OAL & I plan to try soon that looks like a winner! It is listed at 33,800 psi so there would appear to be some "room at the top" if one so desired...:confused:

Cheers!
 
Last edited:
While reading all the comments, remembered that several years ago I had bought a box of the Sig factory 147 V -Crown elites. Dug them out, and checked the length. Everyone measured 1.055". Re-measured each one a 2nd time, and made sure micrometer was properly zeroed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Sierra no. 6 vs all
2 3
Replies
41
Views
3K
Nevada Ed
Nevada Ed
elpac3
Model 53 Jet, Unique / BE86 loading
Replies
2
Views
563
Flyingliver
F
R
9mm SIG SAUER 124gr V-Crown JHP Review
Replies
1
Views
2K
dben002
dben002
lrrifleman
Does anyone have experience reloading the Hoosier poly coated 147gr 9mm flat point bu
Replies
6
Views
886
David Sinko
D
R
9MM SIERRA 124gr JHP Review
Replies
2
Views
1K
RDub
R

Latest posts

Back
Top