Sanity check (9mm 124gr RN plated, Unique)

[reckoner]

Hi guys,

I'm going to shoot my first ever loads. Can you let me know if this looks good, or if I'm headed towards a landmine?

M&P Pro 9mm
1.150-1.155 OAL
X-treme 124gr RN plated
Winchester SPP
Unique: 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, and 5.0gr

I made some dummy rounds and they chamber and feed from the mag okay.

What do you guys think? Is 5.0gr pushing it?

Thanks!

[the86d]

I tested higher than that with no overpressure signs, but brought it back down to what you listed. I can't remember what they chrono'd at, but it was good.

When I went over like 5.2gr in my M9, I started getting powder-flakes all over the place.

Buy a cheap chrono and test if you are concerned. Look at the primers after you shoot your test loads, and see if you have primers-flowing.

I was trying to push 124GR NATO equivalents to see if plated would handle it, and got pretty close, I just stuck with 5.0gr as it seemed to work well, and they were as accurate as I am. Just make sure to work up for your firearms, and check for overpressure primer-signs along the way.

I have used the exact same load.

[HighLander51]

Alliant shows 5.8grs at 1.12"OAL for a 124 JHP. You generally run less powder for moly/plated. How accurate are your groups with the load you are running? And you really need to load in .3 gr increments because most scales are +/- .1 grs to tell the difference. You can't measure pressure directly, but you can measure muzzle velocity. Flattened primers can also be misleading because case rupture can occur long before a smashed primer, but you are nowhere near that.

[short circuit]

My load for 9mm 124gn tmj with Unique is 5.2 grains I shoot in my Glock 17

[reckoner]

I'm hoping to hit around 1050fps to make IDPA power factor + some wiggle room.

[reckoner]

Is there a rule of thumb for how much you should reduce the charge when loading plated bullets based on FMJ bullet load data (for the same bullet weight and shape)? Something like a percentage reduction in charge?

[HighLander51]

I'm hoping to hit around 1050fps to make IDPA power factor + some wiggle room.

Thats good you are trying to meet the power floor per the rules, but at the local level you will not be checked. Most guys are running minor in the 128-135 range. And its less recoil to shoot 147's to make floor than 125's.

[the86d]

Is there a rule of thumb for how much you should reduce the charge when loading plated bullets based on FMJ bullet load data (for the same bullet weight and shape)? Something like a percentage reduction in charge?

I have yet to strip/shred plating due to velocity in any plated 9mm I have shot, and this includes @~1300FPS with 100gr Berry's plated (.380) in my 9mm.

[reckoner]

In case anyone's curious, I shot all the test loads with no problems.

5.0 grains of Unique seemed to be equivalent in recoil to the reloads from my indoor range, which I'm guessing are hotter than what I need for matches.

For now, I'm going to stick with 4.6-4.7gr of Unique for match loads. Based on the Hornady manual, I'm guessing that will give 1025-1050FPS / 127-130PF. Now I have to track down a chrony to confirm...

Thanks for your help!

[bsumoba]

I'm at 5.2 grains with 124gr FMJs in both my compact and full size CZs. Unique typically burns better at higher charge weights, from my experience.

[short circuit]

I'm at 5.2 grains with 124gr FMJs in both my compact and full size CZs. Unique typically burns better at higher charge weights, from my experience.

I agree with, and find the 5.2gn-5.4gn works well and shoots much cleaner than a 4.6-5.0gn

[Datdarkness]

Thank you OP for this post... I literally ordered this exact setup over the past few days before seeing this.

[reckoner]

I'm at 5.2 grains with 124gr FMJs in both my compact and full size CZs. Unique typically burns better at higher charge weights, from my experience.

I will say that I did notice that my test loads seemed dirtier than normal... Definitely something to consider.