Powder Question

T

Tanzer

New member
I recently got a good deal on 1000 bullets. 9mm 125gr lead round nose. I reload with Win 231. My Lyman's catalogue does not list this bullet specifically. The closest I can find is 125gr RN FMJ. Starting load 3.9gr and maxing @ 4.4.
Does anyone have the actual stats on this bullet?
Thanks in advance.
 
U

Unclenick

Staff
Don't know. You didn't say whose bullet it is? Most will be about the same in the same weight class, but exceptions occur for shapes that seat more deeply into the case. Usually powders a little slower than 231 are used because they produce more velocity for the same peak pressure. Go to Hodgdon.com and use the first link to enter the load data sight. After you get into the metalic cartridge data portion of the site, select 231 from the list and 125 gr for the bullet weight and 9 mm Luger for the cartridge then hit the Get Data button. You get a couple of loads for different shapes and lengths. I believe your data is in the ballpark. 3.9 grains seems to be a starting load.

Nick
 
U

Unclenick

Staff
It's a little perplexing, but despite lower start pressures, some lead bullets have been observed to cause higher chamber pressures, in revolvers, in particular, than equal weight jacketed bullets. Seating depth difference due to shape difference may play a role, though some chambers are probably just filled more solidly by a bullet that bumps up. The limit of 4.0 grains strikes me as low, but should be tested. Certainly with jacketed bullets it doesn't contain as much energy as a military ball load. That would take slightly over 5.0 grains with this bullet.
 
M

matt9052

New member
You should never use the data for jacketed bullets for lead bullets. fmj bullets can travel at a higher speed which is what the load is made for, although a pistolround isn't really fast enough to be to big of a difference. What kind of powder are you using? I looked on the alliant wbsite and powder was different for each.
 
L

lgsracer

New member
The Lyman Pistol & Revolver Handbook 3rd edition

lists a 125 grain cast Lyman 358093 with a load of 3.2 to 4.2 using 231.
 
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