9mm 115gr plated and unique

[09cs]

09cs let us know the result of your test.

Will do!

[Flyin Brian]

I loaded up a bunch of these a few months ago. I am using Berry's 115 plated bullets with 5.1 grains of Unique, OAL is 1.110". I don't shoot much 9mm but I've shot maybe 300 of them so far and they are accurate out of my STI Trojan 9mm. Cycle fine, no pressure signs, etc.

[09cs]

So I just heard back from Alliant after emailing them,

they informed me they have no load data for 115gr plated Rainer bullets and unique.

So should I just go with the lead data for 115gr and unique? Or cut my losses and just pick up some FMJ?

[dstiltner]

Plated bullets and Unique work well, no need to ditch them. Most component combinations are not provided by reloading manuals, so picking things that are close and starting low (at least 10% less than max) is a safe practice. Most plated bullet manufacturers recommend, lead or mid range jacketed data in general but nothing for any specific component combination.

As with working up any load, just start low and work up looking for pressure signs. A chronograph helps as well, if you are pushing a load faster than you expect, it can also be a good indicator of over pressure.

Loading cartridges to as long as the magazine will hold and your gun(s) will feed helps to keep pressure down as well.

Reloading is part science and part art. Load data in general is a reference source and is not definitive. You will need to be comfortable with your loading techniques and your component selection. At the end of the day, if getting FMJ bullets will make you more comfortable in reloading 9mm, I say get some. I would hang onto the plated bullets for when you get more comfortable with reloading, you will use them.

When I started reloading my father-in-law gave me about a dozen different weights and profiles of 9mm bullets of FMJ, plated and lead bullets. Most of them were not in any manual that I had so they sat in a cabinet for years. It was not until I started reloading and shooting a lot, that I decided to work up loads for all of them. I gained a good deal of experience and confidence in my reloading methods from doing this and saved several hundred dollars to boot using free bullets.

[JagerDog]

Plated bullets are for range fodder. Kinda counter-productive to "work up" once you've found a reliable and accurate recipe. Note that lead bullets typically give faster velocity that jacketed bullets with the same powder charge (go down barrel easier).

9mm is on the fast side for plated bullet recommendations...so stay toward the slow side. If you've lead data, just stick to that. I have older data listing 6gr w/125gr lead. By Alliant's protocol "starting loads" are reduced 10%. If I were tackling this, I'd start at 5 gr moving up in 0.2 gr increments up to 6 gr. Since the data was for 125gr, you have a built-in margin. You're establishing 2 things. Minimum charge to reliably cycle action and where the accuracy meets your requirement. If the 5gr reliably cycles, you might even consider reducing the charge.

[09cs]

Plated bullets are for range fodder. Kinda counter-productive to "work up" once you've found a reliable and accurate recipe. Note that lead bullets typically give faster velocity that jacketed bullets with the same powder charge (go down barrel easier).

9mm is on the fast side for plated bullet recommendations...so stay toward the slow side. If you've lead data, just stick to that. I have older data listing 6gr w/125gr lead. By Alliant's protocol "starting loads" are reduced 10%. If I were tackling this, I'd start at 5 gr moving up in 0.2 gr increments up to 6 gr. Since the data was for 125gr, you have a built-in margin. You're establishing 2 things. Minimum charge to reliably cycle action and where the accuracy meets your requirement. If the 5gr reliably cycles, you might even consider reducing the charge.

The lead data I found for 115 and unique has 5 grains as a MAX! and a jacketed 115 as 5.5 max. That is straight from Alliant, so that's why I'm confused

[09cs]

Plated bullets and Unique work well, no need to ditch them. Most component combinations are not provided by reloading manuals, so picking things that are close and starting low (at least 10% less than max) is a safe practice. Most plated bullet manufacturers recommend, lead or mid range jacketed data in general but nothing for any specific component combination.

As with working up any load, just start low and work up looking for pressure signs. A chronograph helps as well, if you are pushing a load faster than you expect, it can also be a good indicator of over pressure.

Loading cartridges to as long as the magazine will hold and your gun(s) will feed helps to keep pressure down as well.

Reloading is part science and part art. Load data in general is a reference source and is not definitive. You will need to be comfortable with your loading techniques and your component selection. At the end of the day, if getting FMJ bullets will make you more comfortable in reloading 9mm, I say get some. I would hang onto the plated bullets for when you get more comfortable with reloading, you will use them.

When I started reloading my father-in-law gave me about a dozen different weights and profiles of 9mm bullets of FMJ, plated and lead bullets. Most of them were not in any manual that I had so they sat in a cabinet for years. It was not until I started reloading and shooting a lot, that I decided to work up loads for all of them. I gained a good deal of experience and confidence in my reloading methods from doing this and saved several hundred dollars to boot using free bullets.

I'm still very new to reloading, only have loaded 223 and 308 before with FMJ
So I may buy some FMJ till I can get more comfortable or definite load data.

I've emailed Rainer (it's their bullets) so seeing what they say.

[09cs]

I found this listing from Rainer stating the load data for unique, but not sure how old it is/ still reliable.

I also heard that Rainer recommends using lead data for their plated bullets, but on their website it says:

Rainier recommends using commercially published jacketed bullet load data when loading our bullets. There is no need for adjustment when using jacketed bullet load data. Our bullets are jacketed using an electroplating process and are softer than traditionally jacketed bullets. Be sure to use only load data that is published in a reputable reloading manual.

We recommend a starting powder charge directly between the listed minimum and maximum load.

Not sure if they meant lead or ????

[JagerDog]

I notice in the screenshot (from Midway) it leaves 8kpsi off the table. Not untypical when a load is listed as a "target" load, but I don't see them specifying "target". What it does tell me though is that at 5.3 there's still significant headroom. It also indicates 4.3g works. So maybe start even lower than I suggested then work up looking for minimum firearm reliability and accuracy node.

Alliant's website is no help (seem to be pushing the new BE86). Obviously they had different web data a year ago before BE86 was introduced. I have some quite recent data around here somewhere, but the older data showed as I indicated above (6gr max for 125 cast). This rather aligns with your screenshot.

[09cs]

I notice in the screenshot (from Midway) it leaves 8kpsi off the table. Not untypical when a load is listed as a "target" load, but I don't see them specifying "target". What it does tell me though is that at 5.3 there's still significant headroom. It also indicates 4.3g works. So maybe start even lower than I suggested then work up looking for minimum firearm reliability and accuracy node.

Alliant's website is no help (seem to be pushing the new BE86). Obviously they had different web data a year ago before BE86 was introduced. I have some quite recent data around here somewhere, but the older data showed as I indicated above (6gr max for 125 cast). This rather aligns with your screenshot.

I too noticed that Alliants websit sucks

I emailed Rainer so waiting to see what they say, but for now I'll follow that page, and start around 4.2 (.1 grains below min per screen shot) and work up to around 4.5 ish for now (because of limited cases)

[JagerDog]

I too noticed that Alliants websit sucks

I emailed Rainer so waiting to see what they say, but for now I'll follow that page, and start around 4.2 (.1 grains below min per screen shot) and work up to around 4.5 ish for now (because of limited cases)

I'd use 0.2g increments. Your ladder is conservative already. 1/10ths just aren't likely to reveal any additional information.

I'd look at 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5.0.........Everything I have shows you safe up to 6'ish.

[Mot Mi]

If you're concerned about the fmj data 09cs, start at 4.5 per your findings and use the 5.0 max. Do not shoot fast if you may end up with a squib (highly doubt it). You can do .2 or .1 increments, but personally I'd go .2.

[09cs]

I'd use 0.2g increments. Your ladder is conservative already. 1/10ths just aren't likely to reveal any additional information.

I'd look at 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5.0.........Everything I have shows you safe up to 6'ish.

Ok, .2 it is. But 6ish? Everything I've found is showing between a 5-5.3 as a max

If you're concerned about the fmj data 09cs, start at 4.5 per your findings and use the 5.0 max. Do not shoot fast if you may end up with a squib (highly doubt it). You can do .2 or .1 increments, but personally I'd go .2.

Don't plan on shooting fast! lol My dies should be here wednesday, and only have about 50 pieces of brass. I'm always concerned about approaching max, and try to stay at least .1-.2 grains below to stay safe

[JagerDog]

Ok, .2 it is. But 6ish? Everything I've found is showing between a 5-5.3 as a max



Don't plan on shooting fast! lol My dies should be here wednesday, and only have about 50 pieces of brass. I'm always concerned about approaching max, and try to stay at least .1-.2 grains below to stay safe

That "max" (your screenshot) was 8kpsi under max.

My older data from alliant max's at 6. Several loadings at handloader.com are in the 6'ish.

But I suspect you'll find something the pistol likes well before that.

[09cs]

That "max" (your screenshot) was 8kpsi under max.

My older data from alliant max's at 6. Several loadings at handloader.com are in the 6'ish.

But I suspect you'll find something the pistol likes well before that.

Ok thanks so much for all the help!