9mm 115 coated LRN, final test

[Nevada Ed]

Mama was starting early today with the mop and Kirby vac......
so I got the "Hint" and made for the front door with my range bag.

This would be my final testing for the 9mm 115gr coated lead RN bullets
that I bought awhile ago and they added up to 34 test loads.
I have 330 left to load for the kids to play with.

In my weapons, Bullseye, w231 and Unique powders gave me good
accuracy in target and full loads with either 1.10 or 1.12" OAL.
My first test with a OAL of 1.08" was fair but being a new bullet
and unsure about the loads and my heavy duty spring in my 5" pistol
I did have a few fail to eject with the first light test loads.
I am sure it will work for you if you play around with your loads.

There is nothing wrong with these coated bullets, once you open up the case enough
to seat the bullet, without shaving off the coating.

I settled for a 1.12" OAL, because the case took less of a beating, with the minimum seating depth and still got nice groups, for killing paper.

I also added two loads for my buddy, Storminorman , that asked me for
one of his powders that he likes to use in the 9mm.

So here is the picture of what shook out.
Hope one of your powders is here and this might add to your data if you grab some of these bullets.
Tight groups.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Thanks, Ed!

I can use that CFE, 231 & Unique cross data for my next trial 9mm loads!

Cheers!

P.S. When do you expect to get ol' Tank back in the line-up?

 

[Nevada Ed]

I got the parts in the mail on monday and and got it repaired and ready to be able to shoot it again.
One part failure in 8-9 years of use, is a good record, in my book.

My 5" heavy spring would not work with the 115 coated and trail boss powder......
but that old "Blow back" hunk of medal would eat the loads with TB, with 100% ejection and want more.
I did this powder just for giggles, to see if it could work.

However I will stay with the Bullseye and w231 powders to keep
all of the family members happy with 100% ejections with target loads, with all the different
brands and types of 9mm's used.

Kids came over......
out of the 500 bullets, I now have 230 left.................
Are we having fun yet?

 

[Eddietruett]

I have pretty much been shooting coated lead in 9mm, 38 and 45acp for the last year. One experiment that worked really well was loading 130gr 9mm, 148gr 38 and 230gr 45 acp all with 3.2gr of Bullseye. Sounds light for the 9mm and 45, but got 100% function in 1911's in both calibers. Wound up going back to a heavier load in 9mm to match carry ammo but the 3.2gr load has become my pet load for 45. Fun to shoot and very accurate in all of my 45's

 

[Nevada Ed]

Thanks, Ed!

I can use that CFE, 231 & Unique cross data for my next trial 9mm loads!

Cheers!

P.S. When do you expect to get ol' Tank back in the line-up?

Just know that the light Unique load of 4.6 grs here is with a lead bullet.
My lowest powder amount for a 115 plated FMJ by Xtreme or Berry,
starts out at 5.0 grs for acceptable groups and a safe 1,000fps.

 

[max503]

Did someone say coated 9mm boolits? Here's the Lee 105 SWC over 4.X Unique. My G26.5 loves 'em.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

I've also had very good results with coated 9mm bullets in my Browing High Power.

Accuracy and velocity were about the same as with conventionally lubed cast bullets of the same weight, but they certainly are less smokey on the range and cleanup after reloading is easier.

Here is the High Powder at 25 yards with 124 grain coated RN cast bullets over Unique powder.

 

[BE Mike]

I've also had very good results with coated 9mm bullets in my Browing High Power.

Accuracy and velocity were about the same as with conventionally lubed cast bullets of the same weight, but they certainly are less smokey on the range and cleanup after reloading is easier.

Here is the High Powder at 25 yards with 124 grain coated RN cast bullets over Unique powder.

Somebody still knows how to shoot a pistol!

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have to admit that Unique powder does work with light target to a
standard 9mm loads in my pistols
but I find that w231 and Bullseye powders are a lot smoother and work
better in my powder thrower
without getting out the trickler to get the Unique dead on.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

Thanks for sharing your results. I shoot powder coated cast 120 grain truncated cone bullets in my Glock 19 seated at 1.110. My favorite loads so far are 4.0 gr W231 at 997 ft/s, and 3.7 gr Titegoup at 1017 ft/s.

Ed, did you shoot these tests from a rest or off hand?

 

[Nevada Ed]

Thanks for sharing your results. I shoot powder coated cast 120 grain truncated cone bullets in my Glock 19 seated at 1.110. My favorite loads so far are 4.0 gr W231 at 997 ft/s, and 3.7 gr Titegoup at 1017 ft/s.

Ed, did you shoot these tests from a rest or off hand?

These targets were all shot two handed off hand.
I had good days and times , when my right hand shakes and tremors caused flyers and so, so groups.

However, these test were really about OAL from a short 1.08 to 1.12"
to see if loads would eject and second, if they might have any accuracy.

I ran into loads too light to eject to one that did not even leave the magazine area on all 5 loads. (Trail Boss)

When the weather warms up and the winds calm down, I might
get outside to do some chrony work with the C9, 3.5" 9mm pistol.
This is when I use a sand bag and a card table and chair, for a relaxing outting, at my age.

All 34 loads hit the paper target, which was good to know........
and only one load came back and hit me in the forehead !!
That was HS-6 powder, that did not do well in this test, from 5.8 up to 6.8 grains with a oal of 1.12" with these coated bullets.

As a note, my heavy spring in my 5" pistol shots this 115 gr coated bullet well but....
it does not alway eject the last round and lock the slide back
with 4.0 grs of w231 at a oal of 1.12" but works with a short 1.08".
One reason I miss my chrony, when doing test loads. (sorry)

My top powders, so far, for both light target and a "Standard" load are
Bullseye, w231 and Unique.
CFE and Green Dot tried very hard to get into 4th place, if I run out of powder.

Thank you again very much for your donation to me.
I have 300 cases belled and ready for future test and the others, "Rat holed" for later use.

PS;
A 1.10" factory OAL worked ok with this bullet but

1.12" was a little easier on the brass and I was looking for target loads with basment fps.
However Bull & 231 with 4.7 is not too shabby !! (posted on 3/6 )

 

[lrrifleman]

Thanks for sharing your results. I shoot powder coated cast 120 grain truncated cone bullets in my Glock 19 seated at 1.110. My favorite loads so far are 4.0 gr W231 at 997 ft/s, and 3.7 gr Titegoup at 1017 ft/s.

Ed, did you shoot these tests from a rest or off hand?

Sir,

Looking at casting the Lee version of this bullet, then powder coating it, for use in my G17.5 and G26.5. Does that 4.0 gr of WW231 cycle the action consistently?

Thanks,
Ed

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

Sir,

Looking at casting the Lee version of this bullet, then powder coating it, for use in my G17.5 and G26.5. Does that 4.0 gr of WW231 cycle the action consistently?

Thanks,
Ed

That Lee 120 gr TC bullet is what I'm casting and powder coating. I have found that they don't cycle well with light loads. The 4.0 W231 is enough to reliably cycle my Glock Gen 3. I think it will depend on how stiff the spring is in your pistol as to whether 4 gr is enough.

 

[Nevada Ed]

With all my different 9mm pistols........

if I can get a 115 gr plated bullet or heavier, up to 940 fps
I have not had any problems with ejections with all the different springs
that all our family members shoot, with any type of powder, that I use
from Bullseye up to cfe & BE86.

Way back when I shot an old Radom 9mm pistol, I gave up on 100 grain weight bullets
since they just did not work in that old war hourse......
but the 124 fmj was top notch for desert jack rabbits at 25 yards, if you
could find one sitting still.

 

[Green Frog]

That 4.2 charge of 231 is one I fell onto with conventionally lubed 124 grain RN bullets. It worked so well for me I've felt no need to experiment further. Looks like it did right well for you to, huh? So far I've resisted the temptation to add powder coating to the technologies I use, but if/when I relent, I know what powder I'll start with, thanks for a thought provoking post with solid data!

Froggie