124gr lead RN questions

[levellinebrad]

I have loaded 115gr plated which I really like and I have loaded 147gr LRN. I much preferred the 115gr plated over the 147gr lead. I will be ordering some 124gr lead that should show up by the end of the week. I have a couple of questions.

What powder have you found that works best with 124gr lead?
                        I have unique, clays, and wsf in stock in my cabinet but will be happy to buy a different brand upon recommendation. The only powder I cannot find is the VV brand.

Does anyone actually prefer lead to plated or jacketed rounds? Looking for 1st hand knowledge on how it shoots and how you like the feel of it.

The other rounds I have been contemplating is a 124gr plated flat point. Anyone have any feedback on that?

The round that I need is for USPSA production. I am looking for a softish recoil and acceptable accuracy. Acceptable to me is aimed fire at 20yds to produce no greater than a 4" group. That seems easily achievable. I will sacrifice a little accuracy for faster follow up shots is what I am saying. These rounds will be shot from an SP-01. Any and all knowledge on what you shoot for competition and why you shoot it is much appreciated.

[Riptide439]

LLB,
Can't help you on lead. As for plated, Berry's 124gr HBRN is my choice. For me the HBRN are a bit more accurate then the FP.

I don't have any data on the powder you have  but I have seen threads on this forum for Unique and WSF. My personal favorites are VV N320 and IMR 7625. Check out the most recent thread on 7625.

http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=57186.0

[levellinebrad]

I have been following that thread very closely. Thanks for the input. The only reason I'm interested in lead is the cost. The 115 stuff I first used was from rmr. It would shoot a sub 2" group at 20 yds and very nice recoil. I may just keep using that if they meet PF. The only issue I have had so far with them is that the steel targets seem to take awhile to fall. That's why I was trying a heavier bullet.

[DWARREN]

I like Missouri Bullets 125gr LSWC over 6.0gr of HS-6 or 4.0gr of Win 231.
Cuts a nice hole in the target.

[ThompsonCustom]

Ive shot every bullet weight that you jam into a 9mm case i think and i can say without a doubt that the lowest recoil round is going to be a heavy bullet with a fast powder. My favorite load is a 168gr SWC over 2.8grs on AA#2.

I prefer lead over copper anything because of the decreased cost and increased accuracy. I cast all my own bullets and then coat them but if your not a caster I would try some bullets from here http://www.bayoubullets.net/9mm.html

[levellinebrad]

Ive shot every bullet weight that you jam into a 9mm case i think and i can say without a doubt that the lowest recoil round is going to be a heavy bullet with a fast powder.

That seems to be the conventional wisdom on the matter. Unfortunately, in my particular pistol, the opposite has proven to be true. I loaded many 147gr lead behind 2.6, 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, and 3.4grains of clays. The 2.6gr and the 2.8gr loads were very soft but just did not feel right to me. And I know that "feeling right" is a very subjective thing. They did not feel any softer, or I should say manageable, than the 115gr in front if 4.7gr of wsf. There were no problems with accuracy except the 3.4gr of clays. I am trading a guy my remaining 147gr. (54 off them) for some 124gr lead rn. At least I can test that round in the near future. Thanks for the input.

[ThompsonCustom]

I don't know what your pressure levels were because they're not enough info on your load but I'm guessing why it felt weird is because the pressure was to low and that can slow cycling and make it fell off.

If you can list all the info of you load I can run it through quickload and give you a idea where your pressure level is.

With a 147gr bullet I would use a faster powder if low recoil is the goal. Nitro 100 seems to be about prefect I think that n310 might be a tad to fast.

[levellinebrad]

I loaded all my 147gr loads to 1.148 oal. Lucky 13 lead rn. And all the powder weights listed above. Mixed range brass. Case was crimped in a Lee factory crimp die to .378

[ThompsonCustom]

Lucky 13 lead rn. Need the length of the lead bullet itself since it's not a major manufacturer.

[levellinebrad]

Lucky 13 lead rn. Need the length of the lead bullet itself since it's not a major manufacturer.

copy that. I will have to measure one when I get home.

[levellinebrad]

the length of the bullet is .6745.  The diameter is .357

[levellinebrad]

I like Missouri Bullets 125gr LSWC over 6.0gr of HS-6 or 4.0gr of Win 231.
Cuts a nice hole in the target.

I looked at those. I really liked the swc in 45. Wasn't sure how they would work in the CZ. Do you have any problems with feeding?

[ThompsonCustom]

Well if your using Hodgdon clays at 1.148 with a 147gr bullet that is .674 in length the pressure is way to high at 3.4gr of clays quickload says the pressure is around 59k give or take 1k but either way that's darn high. 2.4gr comes in at 30k psi and 2.6gr comes in at 35k looks like I assumed you had to little pressure when you had to much.

Have to checked any of these loads with a chrono? Quickload for me has not been off by much

[levellinebrad]

I have not checked any of my loads with a chrono. I just ordered one this past weekend so I am hoping it will be here this week.

Other than having that program, how would I calculate pressure from my rounds?

Thanks for the info.

[jwc007]

What powder have you found that works best with 124gr lead?
                        I have unique, clays, and wsf in stock in my cabinet but will be happy to buy a different brand upon recommendation. The only powder I cannot find is the VV brand.

Does anyone actually prefer lead to plated or jacketed rounds? Looking for 1st hand knowledge on how it shoots and how you like the feel of it.

The other rounds I have been contemplating is a 124gr plated flat point. Anyone have any feedback on that?

The round that I need is for USPSA production. I am looking for a softish recoil and acceptable accuracy. Acceptable to me is aimed fire at 20yds to produce no greater than a 4" group. That seems easily achievable. I will sacrifice a little accuracy for faster follow up shots is what I am saying. These rounds will be shot from an SP-01. Any and all knowledge on what you shoot for competition and why you shoot it is much appreciated.

I use mostly WST these days and it works well with Cast, Jacketed and Plated Bullets.  A close second would be WSF, followed by Unique.  As I assume you will be loading to only Minor Plus Velocities ( 130 PF ), a faster powder will work the best.

I prefer plated bullets, as I'm loading to a bit higher power factor, simply because I want to.
A Berry's 124 grain Flat Point running at 1130 fps.  Back when I loaded Cast Bullets, I loaded only to 1050 fps or so, with a 124 grain bullet.


Armscore/Tanfoglio RIA MAP1 9x19mm Accuracy with Match load of Berry's 124 grn FP over 4.8 grains of WST at 50 feet, offhand.