Your most preferred coated 9mm bullets

[TexanFX2]

Another vote for Bayou Bullets 124gr TCG

[extremist]

I took length measurements from a sample and I also did the plunk test. Then loaded a few dumby rounds to validate my Max OAL from the plunk test. Here's the numbers for length, Max OAL, and two working OAL's (just for the heck of it).

125gr H&S
Avg Bullet Lngth   0.5824
Standard Dev   0.0007
Max OAL    1.085
Adjusted OAL (Max - 0.015)    1.07
Adjusted OAL (Max - 0.010)    1.075

Using First Working OAL
Case Length    0.75
Bullet Length    0.582
OAL   1.07
Seating Depth   0.262

Using Second Working OAL
Case Length    0.75
Bullet Length    0.582
OAL   1.075
Seating Depth   0.257

SIDE NOTE: Having to translate tables into HTML coded tables is annoying, anyone know of a tool that does it automatically?

Deeper, equivalent, or not as deep as this little episode you helped me through? Just for reference.

Your OAL's correspond to what I use on my reloads and they work flawlessly in my SP01 Shadow, Phantom, Scorpion and PPQs.


[Mods removed the quote for clarity]

[SPO1SHADOW]

I haven't tried ACME yet but think I will.

Dimensional consistency from bullet to bullet is among the best.  No curing issues.  And the coating is evenly applied.

My only warning is that [the ACME] 124gr RN seats considerably shorter than most in a CZ -- around 1.06.  They haven't caused me a problem personally, and they've been very accurate for me, but I know people start to get nervous when OAL gets really short, so it's worth mentioning.  My current preference for 124/125 is the Bayou 124gr TCG, but if this BBI (another quality producer) 125gr is oversized at .357, that could become my go-to, for CZ pistols anyway.


[Clarified who "they" referred to.]

This just to show how different the CZ chamber leade's can be:
In my un-throated P-09 I can get the ACME 124 bullet to plunk at 1.126 OAL
In my Un-throated Shadow I get the 124 bullet out to 1.120 OAL
All the throated guns take the bullet out to 1.150 OAL, I didn't keep a log on what they all were prior to throating. The throating process takes all of 10 minutes to do and has no effect on the accuracy of the gun. The P-07/P-09 barrels are too hard for a conventional throating cutter.

[clw42]

I just loaded up some ACME 124's for my Shadow Target 2 at 1.070 for consistent plunks and spins.  At about 1.073 they would plunk but not spin.  I use HP-38 and I've got some at 3.9 and some at 3.7 to see which I like better.  I'm looking for soft repeatable shots.

My Standard 124gr ACME load for my Sig P226 and HK VP9 is 3.9gr at 1.090 OAL.

[painter]

I just loaded up some ACME 124's for my Shadow Target 2 at 1.070 for consistent plunks and spins.  At about 1.073 they would plunk but not spin.  I use HP-38 and I've got some at 3.9 and some at 3.7 to see which I like better.  I'm looking for soft repeatable shots.

My Standard 124gr ACME load for my Sig P226 and HK VP9 is 3.9gr at 1.090 OAL.

Welcome!

Is your reloading process tight enough to assure less than a +.003 variance?

I, personally, would probably use 1.065.

[IDescribe]

Exactly.  I'm loading the ACME 124gr at 1.06. 

[clw42]

Thanks for the Welcome!  Glad to be a CZ owner.

The tolerances are fairly decent I think.  I actually went to 1.068 - 1.071

I loaded 100 last night and all plunked and spun freely so I think I'm in the right window for my chamber.

[painter]

Thanks for the Welcome! 

The tolerances are fairly decent I think.  I actually went to 1.068 - 1.071

I loaded 100 last night and all plunked and spun freely so I think I'm in the right window for my chamber.

The OAL you choose, and aim for, is totally up to you.

My thinking is if your test rounds wouldn't spin at 1.073, and you've verified your tolerance brings you to within .002 of what's too long, I'd add a little more margin for safety is all.


[Mods corrected quote]

[cdhbrad]

I have used Blue, Bayou, Missouri, and Falcon coated 125g TC bullets and all shoot well in my three CZs when loaded to between 1.16-1.17 OAL depending on the brass base thickness.  The throats on mine have been reamed by Bunker Arms to the length he uses on his custom 1911s in 9mm and that works for me.     

[clw42]

My thinking is if your test rounds wouldn't spin at 1.073, and you've verified your tolerance brings you to within .002 of what's too long, I'd add a little more margin for safety is all.

Thanks, I'll bump it down a bit then. 

[Wobbly]

Thanks, I'll bump it down a bit then.

Painter has made a very helpful suggestion. The objective of the extra clearance comes from a simple tolerance analysis. As a reloader and/or as a competitive shooter, you try to reduce all the possibilities of error that are under your control. Whether plinking or in competition, you'll have plenty of screw-ups to recover from without adding to the pile.

So you want a generous clearance present when even your longest round hits the chamber. That's what assures 100% functionality. That's the thinking behind what he's telling you.

 

[J Lee]

BAM!  125gr BBI will be my next purchase.   

If you want to try some first,  be happy to mail you some from my sample pack. 

[clw42]

So you want a generous clearance present when even your longest round hits the chamber. That's what assures 100% functionality. That's the thinking behind what he's telling you.

Understood.  I bumped it down to 1.06

Now I just need to dial in the charge. 

[Earl Keese]

I came across this article this morning. Not much new info, but a pretty nice list of manufacturers.
https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2017/3/7/coated-bullets-the-future-of-lead-bullets-for-handloaders/

[Scarlett Pistol]

Thanks for sharing, that's a good little article.