Anyone reload heavy-for-caliber 9mm?

[Welder]

So I finally ran out of the MG 125 JHP's I'd been reloading with for the last few years. Wondering if anybody here loads the Xtreme 165 gr 9mm plated bullet? I've got a thousand here that I bought a yr or two ago; thinking about giving them a try. Would be interested in hearing your experiences with accuracy, any issues with keyholing, and your loads if you'd like to share. I load on a Dillon 650 and have 231/HP-38 and Titegroup on the shelf right now.

I figure if I like these, I can go ahead and get a big order for more in now before the craziness starts in a couple months. Thanks for any advice / recommendations.

[Welder]

Some more info and an update. Pistol I'm using for chrono purposes is an LTT 92G with 4.7" Bar-Sto barrel. These loads will also be function-tested in PX4 Compact and SC.

So I started loading these this afternoon. In the middle of testing right now (range in my backyard), but looks like 231 isn't going to do what I want. I want to find a 790-800 fps load for about a 130k power factor. I started loading at 1.164 OAL and 2.9 grs 231 - that got me 720 fps avg over 10 shots. Reduced OAL to 1.155 which only added 2 fps to the 10 shot avg. Increased load to 3.1 grs and had 740 fps, but primers are flattening and some have tiny holes at tip of firing pin indentation. Using WSP primers as that's what I have the most of. Switching to Titegroup and will update results once I have some.

Oh yeah, no evidence of keyholing so far (target is about 20 yds out from firing position).

[okie john]

Some more info and an update. Pistol I'm using for chrono purposes is an LTT 92G with 4.9" Bar-Sto barrel. These loads will also be function-tested in PX4 Compact and SC.

So I started loading these this afternoon. In the middle of testing right now (range in my backyard), but looks like 231 isn't going to do what I want. I want to find a 790-800 fps load for about a 130k power factor. I started loading at 1.164 OAL and 2.9 grs 231 - that got me 720 fps avg over 10 shots. Reduced OAL to 1.155 which only added 2 fps to the 10 shot avg. Increased load to 3.1 grs and had 740 fps, but primers are flattening and some have tiny holes at tip of firing pin indentation. Using WSP primers as that's what I have the most of. Switching to Titegroup and will update results once I have some.

Oh yeah, no evidence of keyholing so far (target is about 20 yds out from firing position).

What's the rate of twist in that barrel? I've had 147's keyhole in a 1:16 barrel that groups very well with 124 XTPs.


Okie John

[Welder]

What's the rate of twist in that barrel? I've had 147's keyhole in a 1:16 barrel that groups very well with 124 XTPs.


Okie John

I'm not sure on twist - 1:16 would be my guess though. Don't see that info on Bar-Sto's page and don't know what they might've been offering back in the early 2000's when this was built.

I had keyholing issues with Missouri Cast 147's years ago, but never an issue with Berry's 147's. This was with factory barrels -assume you know the stock Beretta 92 barrels are all oversize; mine slug at .3575 or so, with some going .358. The 125 MG JHP's I mentioned above were .357 dia and seemed to shoot well in the stock barrels. I haven't slugged the Bar-Sto but ASS-U-ME it's a true .355. Bottom line is on the factory Beretta barrels I'm not sure how much of the keyholing issue was being caused by oversized bores and how much, if any, by rifling twist.

[okie john]

I'm not sure on twist - 1:16 would be my guess though. Don't see that info on Bar-Sto's page and don't know what they might've been offering back in the early 2000's when this was built.

I had keyholing issues with Missouri Cast 147's years ago, but never an issue with Berry's 147's. This was with factory barrels -assume you know the stock Beretta 92 barrels are all oversize; mine slug at .3575 or so, with some going .358. The 125 MG JHP's I mentioned above were .357 dia and seemed to shoot well in the stock barrels. I haven't slugged the Bar-Sto but ASS-U-ME it's a true .355. Bottom line is on the factory Beretta barrels I'm not sure how much of the keyholing issue was being caused by oversized bores and how much, if any, by rifling twist.

I'm not sure that the twist is definitely the problem, but that same barrel slugs a little big and shoots very well with 125-grain .358" diameter cowboy bullets.


Okie John

[Welder]

I'm not sure that the twist is definitely the problem, but that same barrel slugs a little big and shoots very well with 125-grain .358" diameter cowboy bullets.


Okie John

Were your 147's also .358? Back then the only 147's I could round up were the Missouri's, and they were only .356. Before that I was using some 125 LRN's in .358 by Penn, which I never had keyhole issues with either. I gave up on lead about 3 yrs ago when I totally blew an indoor 'night' stage at the VA Commonwealth Cup from the lead smoke obscuring the targets downrange. Thickest fog you ever did see. After that I shot up all my lead and moved on to plated and jacketed bullets.

[okie john]

Were your 147's also .358? Back then the only 147's I could round up were the Missouri's, and they were only .356. Before that I was using some 125 LRN's in .358 by Penn, which I never had keyhole issues with either. I gave up on lead about 3 yrs ago when I totally blew an indoor 'night' stage at the VA Commonwealth Cup from the lead smoke obscuring the targets downrange. Thickest fog you ever did see. After that I shot up all my lead and moved on to plated and jacketed bullets.

I'm not sure of the diameter, but they were jacketed, and from a load on Doc's list, so they were probably standard. They shoot fine in a 1:9.84" twist barrel.


Okie John

[Welder]

I'm not sure of the diameter, but they were jacketed, and from a load on Doc's list, so they were probably standard. They shoot fine in a 1:9.84" twist barrel.


Okie John

Interesting. I've got some 147 GD's here that I should try out, then. The Berry's 147's never gave me trouble with keyholing though.

Just got back in from some more testing. After switching to TG I was able to up the velocity a little until the WSP's started flattening out. I think with these primers I'm going to stop at 2.8 grs, which gets me an avg of 763 fps with a SD of 10. Have some CCI primers here which might let me get some more speed on.

Haven't seen a keyhole yet; need to refill the primers, load up some more, pull the PX-4's out and set the targets back to 35 yds to check for keyholing and function. Have an STI Sentry I'll try this stuff in, too.

[Welder]

Preliminary function testing indicates this round seated to a 1.155 OAL, 2.8 grs TG, WSP primers will function in my 92's, the PX4 Compact and Subcompact, and the STI full-size 1911 Sentry. But I get keyholing at 15 yds in every pistol *except* the LTT 92. Avg velocities for this load were right at 770 fps through both the 92 and the 1911, and down around 730 fps for the PX4 C and SC. Looks like I'm going to want to chase after more velocity if I hope to make this stuff usable in the non-92's I own. The 92 was still stabilizing the round at 35 yds, which is the most distance I currently have cleared to shoot in. Ran two mags at that distance, and not a keyhole one.

[Edwin]

I've shot Bayou's 150 grn SWC, Bayou 160 grn RN, and Xtreme 165grn RN out of my 92G Brig Tac. 4.0 grains of CFE for 147 grn Xtreme RN @ 1.135" OAL gives me 130 PF. Here's my chrono data.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8...HFOSHhJbFFjbjQ