Berry's 115grn fp COL help needed
- Thread starter kgpcr
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Which powder you use makes a difference.
FWIW, I use a lot of AA#2 for 9mm and their data shows 1.12"-1.16" depending on the exact bullet, so I always try to load my 115gr ammo at 1.15".
Keeps it real simple, and they work in all my guns.
FWIW I don't load hot ammo at the top of the pressure range though.
FWIW, I use a lot of AA#2 for 9mm and their data shows 1.12"-1.16" depending on the exact bullet, so I always try to load my 115gr ammo at 1.15".
Keeps it real simple, and they work in all my guns.
FWIW I don't load hot ammo at the top of the pressure range though.
Twoboxer
Member
You can set the COL anywhere you're comfortable between 1.100 and your 1.169 . . . as long as your pistol is happy to feed that length.
Then check your powder manufacturer's published TEST data, and see what COL and charge range they used. If yours is shorter, start lower and work up. If yours is longer, you can expect to be able to go over the published TEST max.
As you work up evaluate recoil, ejection, and accuracy. If you have a chrono to compare MVs, great. Also good is to fire some factory rounds in the same range session to compare.
FWIW, with Berrys 115gr PRNs I use 4.6gr of HP38 at a COL of 1.100 that gives an MV of 1080fps from a 3.75" barrel.
Then check your powder manufacturer's published TEST data, and see what COL and charge range they used. If yours is shorter, start lower and work up. If yours is longer, you can expect to be able to go over the published TEST max.
As you work up evaluate recoil, ejection, and accuracy. If you have a chrono to compare MVs, great. Also good is to fire some factory rounds in the same range session to compare.
FWIW, with Berrys 115gr PRNs I use 4.6gr of HP38 at a COL of 1.100 that gives an MV of 1080fps from a 3.75" barrel.
metricmonkeywrench
Member
I have a copy of the Berry's chart from 2016 and it shows a COL of 1.060 for the FP 115g bullets. By comparison the chart shows 115g RN as 1.130 and the 124g RN at 1.160. The ogive of the bullet in relation to the start of the lands and groves while maintaining case tension is what your really trying to balance.
Not sure why (probably for legal reasons) but the 2017 chart only shows SAMMI max across the board now.
Not sure why (probably for legal reasons) but the 2017 chart only shows SAMMI max across the board now.
+1 with post #3;
The oal of 1.169" was set as the maximum to fit in most pistol magazines............
but some pistol mag's reject this longer length.
Another reason that some data starts at the short end of 1.10"
for the ball bullet and even shorter for the Hollow Point design bullet.
It would be GREAT if the data would include a (*) or (C) for a 100%
case volume load at the short OAL, but only a few put out this information.
I have to chuckle at some data manuals that have the short OAL
in their data and list a full load for that length, that will only fit
into a over all length of 1.169", without even a footnote !!
Some pistols like short OAL while others do better with a long OAL.
Try them all, and enjoy the fun of shooting.
The oal of 1.169" was set as the maximum to fit in most pistol magazines............
but some pistol mag's reject this longer length.
Another reason that some data starts at the short end of 1.10"
for the ball bullet and even shorter for the Hollow Point design bullet.
It would be GREAT if the data would include a (*) or (C) for a 100%
case volume load at the short OAL, but only a few put out this information.
I have to chuckle at some data manuals that have the short OAL
in their data and list a full load for that length, that will only fit
into a over all length of 1.169", without even a footnote !!
Some pistols like short OAL while others do better with a long OAL.
Try them all, and enjoy the fun of shooting.
Wee Hooker
Member
Search "Plunk Test" here and you'll find info on how to get the best OAL for your pistol.
Meanwhile looks like you got some good info here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/reload...fp-coal-help-needed.html?highlight=plunk+test
Meanwhile looks like you got some good info here: http://smith-wessonforum.com/reload...fp-coal-help-needed.html?highlight=plunk+test
Last edited:
