147grFN Bear Creek, load workup

[dwalker]

I picked up a box of the .356 147grFN Bear Creek Moly coated bullets to try in my 9mm 2011, which uses a Nitrided 5" Bar-Sto .355 barrel. That guns usual load is a 124gr JHP from Precision Delta over 3.5gr of E3, which is super soft shooting and accurate.
E3, for reference is similar to Titegroup while being a little softer and cleaner shooting, but is a Shotgun powder for high volume clay shooters and there is very little load data out there for pistol rounds.

For the Bear Creeks I loaded them with 3.2gr of E3, which is the same charge weight used for TG. I seated the bullet at 1.15 COL and used a LEE FCD with the same crimp setting as used for the JHP's, and headed to the range.

Results were just underwhelming. Group size opened way up. The recoil seemed about the same as the 124JHP's. No keyholing, just bad accuracy.

First thoughts were that I was maybe pushing the Moly coated lead bullets a little faster than they wanted to be, and should drop the charge to 3.1 or 3.0gr. A little further reflection and I think the FCD might need to be backed off a bit as it could be effectively swaging the bullet as well as too tight a crimp for the load. I do not think the crimp is too tight, but it is something to be looked at.

I have not messed around with lead bullets since 90-92-ish and so any and all input is welcome.

[Lead Waster]

I've had bad luck with 147 gn flat point 9mm Bear Creek Moly bullets. It's one bullet I just can't get to NOT keyhole from either a glock or ppq. In my 1911, I'm not sure, but due to the long bullet, I've not tried loading them short enough to not jam up the 1911. I have thousands of them. I'll likely try them out of my PCC, since I think it will have enough barrel length to get them spinning up and straight. But for my pistols, I dislike that bullet. I'm sure others have had success with them, but not me. (I actually bought a lot of them from a fellow shooter who couldn't get them to not keyhole out of his SP-01! I thought it was just him or his gun, but it seems that it's not).

That's my experience with that particular bullet anyway. I've switched to 135 gn round nose and 125/124 round nose for 9mm.

[dwalker]

I've had bad luck with 147 gn flat point 9mm Bear Creek Moly bullets. It's one bullet I just can't get to NOT keyhole from either a glock or ppq. In my 1911, I'm not sure, but due to the long bullet, I've not tried loading them short enough to not jam up the 1911. I have thousands of them. I'll likely try them out of my PCC, since I think it will have enough barrel length to get them spinning up and straight. But for my pistols, I dislike that bullet. I'm sure others have had success with them, but not me. (I actually bought a lot of them from a fellow shooter who couldn't get them to not keyhole out of his SP-01! I thought it was just him or his gun, but it seems that it's not).

That's my experience with that particular bullet anyway. I've switched to 135 gn round nose and 125/124 round nose for 9mm.

Good to hear its not just me! I think the 9mm Revo guys with the 6" or longer barrels are having better luck, so maybe I will load whats left of this 500 up for my PCC and just stick with the PD's.

[RugerNo1]

I dumped Bear Creek when they shipped out an entire case .001-.002" oversized.

[Corbin Dallas]

I've run bear creek bullets for about 10 years now with zero issues.

I run the 147g 9mm (.356) under 4.2g of bullseye at 1.15OAL out of my G17 with factory barrel without any keyholing or accuracy issues.

I'm wondering if E3 is too hot for the heavier weight. Have you run them through a chrono?

[dwalker]

I've run bear creek bullets for about 10 years now with zero issues.

I run the 147g 9mm (.356) under 4.2g of bullseye at 1.15OAL out of my G17 with factory barrel without any keyholing or accuracy issues.

I'm wondering if E3 is too hot for the heavier weight. Have you run them through a chrono?

I have not run it over a chrono, but this load works well with plated Xtreme and Berrys bullets. Still, it might be pushing it a little fast, I may put together another 20 or 30 checking the crimp with 3.1 and 3.0 charge weight, and make up some with bullseye as well.