Sierra 147gr V-Crown

[STORMINORMAN]

To paraphrase Randy Newman: "Don't want no short bullets 'Round here! Short bullets got no reason to live!"

Cheers!

P.S. God only knows what powder they might be using...?

 

[Nevada Ed]

The Hodgdon site has 9mm, Silhouette data.

124 HP Gold Dot.......... 6.0 at 1159fps.

147 Speer TMJ........... 5.0 at 1006fps.

I can get these same fps with the use of BE-86, if you have that powder
out of a 5" barrel.

A JHP 147 only needs 975fps to be a good SD load in a 9mm but some
think faster is better.

 

[zeke]

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.

Would sincerely appreciate knowing the results of your trials, if possible. The V-crown bullets are still commonly available.

 

[HeavyLoad]

It may be a lil while before I get to shoot these. We just got 4" of snow and it's supposed to rain Friday. The place where I do most of my shooting is a muddy mess this time of the year.
I did load up a handful of them with 5gr of Silhouette. I all so stopped at a local shop yesterday and picked up a box of 124gr V-Crown & 147gr XTP's.
I was able to find information on the 124's, Sierra recommends a C.O.L. of 1.090" on them.

 

[Nevada Ed]

My Sierra manual with their 125 gr bullets with Silhouette and HS-6
with a oal of 1.09", list 950 - 1150fps.
W231 at 900 - 1100fps.

In my 5" barrel, I can get a 124 Berry THP up to 1220fps with BE-86.

You might try a OAL of 1.14 or 1.12", to see what takes place with your first loads
since there could be a major difference in fps and pressure in your pistol
from what was used in Sierra's test.

I only load shorter than 1.12", when I am trying to get the maximum fps, out of a few powders, if it will fit, into the case.

Safe loading.

Note;
A short OAL does not always give the highest fps. (5" barrel)
115 FMJ OAL 1.10"
HS-6....... 1276fps
BE-86...... 1265
Unique oal 1.12" .... 1350

124 FMJ OAL 1.09"
Bullseye..... 1155
HS-6.......... 1186
Unique oal 1.14" .... 1267

 

[zeke]

It may be a lil while before I get to shoot these. We just got 4" of snow and it's supposed to rain Friday. The place where I do most of my shooting is a muddy mess this time of the year.
I did load up a handful of them with 5gr of Silhouette. I all so stopped at a local shop yesterday and picked up a box of 124gr V-Crown & 147gr XTP's.
I was able to find information on the 124's, Sierra recommends a C.O.L. of 1.090" on them.

we have had bout 2 ft over the last 2 1/2 weeks, with more scheduled omn thurs. Haven't been at our range lately, but doubtful they kept up with plowing this winter.

Have the new Sierra manual, but forgot to look in it.

 

[HeavyLoad]

I see Sierra lists a 124gr. & a 125gr. V-crown. Along with a 124gr. & a 125gr. Sportsmaster. Anyone know why they make two bullets 1 grain apart? I can visually see a difference in the Sportsmaster but none with the V-crown.

 

[zeke]

Am guessing the manufacturers usually do this for a different bullet profile for another caliber? 357 sig maybe?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I see Sierra lists a 124gr. & a 125gr. V-crown. Along with a 124gr. & a 125gr. Sportsmaster. Anyone know why they make two bullets 1 grain apart? I can visually see a difference in the Sportsmaster but none with the V-crown.

I'm fairly sure the 124gr bullets are for the 9mm and the 125gr bullets are for the 357 Sig. (like zeke just posted)

 

[BLUEDOT37]

...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'd plunk check it in the pistol's barrel that you intend to shoot them in & not put a lot of faith in the ammo checker.

Different pistol barrels have different amounts of leade/freebore in them. Some have none with the rifling tapering to the chamber's shoulder & others have a generous amount of throat, with no rifling ahead of the chamber shoulder.

If your pistol's barrel will accept a longer COAL" I'd go longer especially if you're working up to +P.

I always load my 9x19 +Ps as long as I can but still pass plunk, feed smoothly in the mag & not exceed SAAMI COAL" max.

And Yes, those are NOT cannelures.

And Yes the 125gr V-Crowns are intended for 357 SIG.

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[HeavyLoad]

The ammo checker assures the round will work in all firearms, which is good when you own multiple guns in same caliber. And the ammo checker hasn't let me down yet as far as the manufacturers recommended c.o.l. compared to what passes my ammo checker.
IMO you don't have to worry about +p loads in modern pistols.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

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The ammo checker assures a worse case scenario will work, i.e. no leade/freebore in the barrel which requires a minimum COAL".

If you have leade/freebore available in your barrel why not use it to your advantage with a longer COAL"? More powder but less pressure than the shorter length.

I know all of my guns' capabilities as I record spec details in this area, & others, in a spreadsheet when I first obtain them.

I have nine 9x19 firearms & I handload for my son's assortment as well.

Ones that have less leade/freebore than I want, or won't work with my common loads, get a trip to my workbench to meet the appropriate throater reamer to relieve the problem.

Coated barrels with less leade/freebore than wanted can't be reamed (the CSX is my one & only 9x19 that's coated; my son had a 9mm Kriss Vector but sold it) so they're the oddball you have to live with.

Manufacturer COAL" recommendations are what they used & is the minimum COAL" they recommend, not the maximum nor the best COAL that may work in your firearm.

Handloading is about exploring new possibilities, some of which requires going outside of the box especially with certain components, which I'm comfortable with, but still keeping factors in your favor.

Using leade/freebore clearances to your advantage is one of them.

Of course you're free to do what's most comfortable for you too.

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My "new to me" CS40 was found to be deficient in this area also, which I posted about in another thread.

CS40 added to the collection (other content added)

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[HeavyLoad]

So I have to ask, what are you gaining by seating your bullets.02,.03,.04… longer than manufacturers recommended C.O.L.?
Because me personally don't see any purpose for it in pistol cartridges. And I don't want to have to worry about rounds not chambering let alone have to buy a throat reamer.

 

[zeke]

Am guessing the manufacturers usually do this for a different bullet profile for another caliber? 357 sig maybe?

And then there are always exceptions like the Sig 125 gn fmj bought during the last great component crisis. They have a "long" nose profile, and can be seated out to max 9mm col, and still easily chamber/feed in my CZ 75 compact .

 

[zeke]

So I have to ask, what are you gaining by seating your bullets.02,.03,.04… longer than manufacturers recommended C.O.L.?
Because me personally don't see any purpose for it in pistol cartridges. And I don't want to have to worry about rounds not chambering let alone have to buy a throat reamer.

In 147 gn loads, seating longer allows more volume for bulkier/slower powders. In addition, and very generally speaking, some may get greater accuracy, with less jump to the lands and more "gentle" nose profile.

Years (decades) ago bought some Corbon 9mm hp's loaded with Sierra"s 125 (edited for eternal confusion) jhp. They were loaded longer, but unfortunately jammed tight into the lands of several pistols owned. Sierra's old style jhp's/fmj can seriously limit the powder capacity in a small 9mm case.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I just read a article, where the writer thought that a pistol bullet that was closer to the rifling
would have a lower ES spread, due to the reduction of leaking gases, that
are sealed off quicker, than deep seated bullets, that allow gases to leak by
the bullet, as it try's to seal in the barrel.

I will test this out in my pistols and revolvers, when the ground dries out
later this year, unless someone has already done it?

Note;
If, your pistols let you use a long OAL.
I have one 5" that will by pass the magazine OAL by .188"

 

[HeavyLoad]

I just read a article, where the writer thought that a pistol bullet that was closer to the rifling
would have a lower ES spread, due to the reduction of leaking gases, that
are sealed off quicker, than deep seated bullets, that allow gases to leak by
the bullet, as it try's to seal in the barrel.

I will test this out in my pistols and revolvers, when the ground dries out
later this year, unless someone has already done it?

Note;
If, your pistols let you use a long OAL.
I have one 5" that will by pass the magazine OAL by .188"

Can you please share this article, I would like to read it.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Can you please share this article, I would like to read it.

I read articles on powders, bullets, gel impacts, all in one day and never save or book mark 99% of them.
I think this was from one of the rags, but I did not save it or know
where to start to find it.
Sorry.

Note;
If you have noticed my shooting test,
I generally have short & long OAL's
plus fast and slow powders, to see what pops up.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

So I have to ask, what are you gaining by seating your bullets.02,.03,.04… longer than manufacturers recommended C.O.L.?
.
Because me personally don't see any purpose for it in pistol cartridges. And I don't want to have to worry about rounds not chambering let alone have to buy a throat reamer.

I do it because I load predominately (+P) & (+P+) loads & seating longer reduces the pressure since that much powder fills the smallish 9x19 case quickly, not for the accuracy reason which I believe is mainly a rifle concern, not pistol.

I have QuickLoads & for one of my common loads, FWIW, it shows:

COAL @ 1.125" = 36,380 psi
and the same load seated longer is:
COAL @ 1.135" = 34,638 psi

You lose 14fps on the longer COAL but you get a drop of 1,742 psi in pressure. Works for me.

Also considered "if" you encountered some bullet setback, on a chambered round, you'll still be under SAAMI max pressure rather than over pressure if you started out shorter.

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I understand.

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