357 SIG AA#9 Load Data Discrepancies?

[jtduncan]

Shot a couple hundred rounds of .357 SIG with some 125 grain Speer Gold Dots and some 124 grain Rainier copper plated bullets and 8.3 grains of Longshot.

The recoil from LS was moderate in my Glock 32 and G20 with a 357SIG barrel. Was getting some 2-3 inch groups at 25 yards offhand with the load as well. Rounds were doing about 1300-1350 fps. Just like the self defense ammo.

BUT I just bought a couple pounds of AA#9 based upon our local 357 SIG expert's recommendation on his website. Thanks Pete!

What Are Your Favorite 357 SIG AA#9 Loads?

Now the question is what loads have you found to be accurate and reliable with AA9?

With shots producing under 3 inch groups at 25 yards with AA#9 and a copper plated bullet like a Rainier, Berry's, or a West Coast 124 grain FP?

Looking for load data here. For practice. Maybe we don't need to run these rounds past 1250 fps. And the brass would last longer too. And its not like you see 357SIG brass all over the place as you do 9mm or 45 ACP.

What are your ideas on that?

Load Data Discrepancies

And then, I've noticed that the Speer manual lists the top end load for AA#9 up to about 14.6 grains for a 124/125 grainer. Accurate Arms and the Modern Metallic Reloading Manual both top AA#90 out at 13.0 grains max.

I know people have stated different components. But what's the skinny on that?

 

[sricciardelli]

AA-9 From 12.0 grains to 14.6 grains and Federal 100 Primer for 124's...

 

[jtduncan]

A favorite load? Not the range.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

90 grn Seirra JHP with 12.6 grns of AA7, cci500 primers, Starline brass to 1.140 col from 5/6/01. 1599+, 1504-, 95e, 1563m, 26s .4286 to .4289. This is a mild load but seems to work pretty good, very accurate.

For best accuracy: 147 grn Hornady, XTP with 10.0 grns of AA9, cci500 primers, Starline Brass, to 1.140 COL from 5/3/01. 1138+, 1099-, 39e, 1124m, 8s. .4282, to .4284.

For darn good accuracy: 125 grn Rem TMJ with 13.1 grns of AA9, cci500 primers, Starline brass to 1.140 from 4/13/01. 1403+, 1339-, 64e, 1361m, 15s. .4275 to .4278

By the way, my choro is an oehler, so #+ is the fast, #- slowest, #e is the extreme spread, #m is mean, #s is stand. dev. and the last two numbers are the pressure ring range. All numbers are based upon 20 shot strings.

 

[jtduncan]

Pete:

I'm talking about using some Rainier 124 grain flatpoints.

Was thinking about 12.6 grains of AA9 at 1.14" OAL as a practice round. What do you think?

That TMJ recipe is at 13.1 grains of AA9. If I'm interpreting the data right, the TMJ recipe expanded the brass less thus working it less. Correct? If I used that with the Rainier, would I get good accuracy?

I just feel uncomfortable surpassing AA's 13.0 grain max. How did Speer get to 14.6 grains?

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I think 12.6 seems about right. Mild if anything.

Yes you are correct about the expansion it would be less. I have just really started experimenting with Ranier (Berry in my case) type plated bullets. I really have not formulated an opinion.

Sorry I cannot type more my 19 month old daughter wants to help to much!

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Sorry about not putting more detail in my prior post. When the daughter wants to type, you sort of have to let her have the keyboard. Needless to say, I could not keep up with the edits.

Here are my last shooting notes, berry data is right in the middle:
Shot 50 (2981) rnds of 125 grn Winchester Factory White box FMJ.1385+, 1332-, 53e, 1350m, 12s, Good load, med recoil, shot 1” high.
Shot 50 (3031) rnds of 124 grn Hornady XTP with 12.4 grns of AA9, cci500 primers, Starline brass, 1.140 from 9/6/01. Accurate, repeat.
Shot 50 (3081) rnds of 124 grn Hornady XTP with 12.4 grns of AA9, cci500 primers, Starline brass, 1.140 from 10/8/01. 1342+, 1295-, 47e, 1317m, 13s. Good load, about right, repeat.
Shot 50 (3131) rnds of 115 grn Hornady xtp with 12.4 grns of AA9, cci500 primers, Starline brass, 1.140 from 10/6/01. 1362+,1313-, 49e, 1336m, 12s, .4278 to .4279.
Shot 50 (3181) rnds of 124 grn Berry HP with 12.4 grns of AA9, cci500 primers, Starline brass, 1.140 COL, from 10/10/01. .4281 to .4279. Shot 2” high.
Shot 50 (3231) rnds of 125 grn Rem TMJ with 13.1 grns of AA9, cci500 primers, Starline brass?? to 1.140 from 4/13/01. 1403+, 1339-, 64e, 1361m, 15s. .4275 to .4278.
Shot 50 (3281) rnds of 125 grn Speer FMJ with 12.0 grns of AA9, Starline brass, CCI500 primers, 1.140 col from 4/29/01. 1267+, 1219-, 48e, 1240m, 12s. .4278 to .4280.
Shot 50 (3331) rnds of 90 grn Seirra JHP with 12.6 grns of AA7, cci500 primers, Starline brass to 1.140 col from 5/6/01. 1599+, 1504-, 95e, 1563m, 26s .4286 to .4289.
Shot 50 (3381) rnds of 147 grn Hornady, XTP with 10.0 grns of AA9, cci500 primers, Starline Brass, to 1.140 COL from 5/3/01. 1138+, 1099-, 39e, 1124m, 8s. .4282, to .4284.
Shot 50 (3431) rnds of 125 grn Speer FMJ with 12.0 grns of AA9, Starline brass, CCI500 primers, 1.140 col from 4/29/01. 1268+, 1212-, 56e, 1244m, 14s. .4279 to .4280.
Quickly cleaned and put together, not a thorough cleaning.



Sorry I do not have more detailed data. I am just post the "post chrono" data. By the way, the (####) is rounds fired in the 229 sport.

Hope this helps.

 

[C.R.Sam]

Best load for your gun should be worked up using your gun.

Great differences in performance using identical guns and same load. No two guns are alike.

Sam

 

[jtduncan]

That is true CR Sam.

I'm just looking for a general area to start around.

Maybe do some in 12.4 and 12.7 to get a feeling for whether this plated bullet and AA9 combo gets me the accuracy I'm looking for.