COL question

[Dentoro]

I’m using Berry’s 124 gr. hollow points, standard 500 primer and 3,7 grains titegroup powder. I’m worried about pressure spiking from sinking the bullet too far but I can’t find a published case overall length. The plunk test tells me I need to go a bit further but it seems short and set deep already.

Thank you for the help!

 

[cavallo]

Looking at the Hodgdon website, I see the following load:



This is for a 124 grain XTP, which is also a hollow point. I don't readily see any length data that tells me how long your bullet is vs an XTP but the difference in length is key. (Maybe you should buy a small pack of XTPs for reference.) Think in terms of keeping the volume inside the case the same. If both bullets are the same length then you should be able to seat both to the same depth. If the XTP is 0.010 longer than the Berry's then you could theoretically seat the Berry's 0.010 deeper than the XTP to retain the same volume. The reverse is also true: if the XTP is 0.010 shorter than the Berry's then you would need to increase the COAL of Berry's by 0.010 in order to not have lower volume inside the case.

All that being said, standard disclaimer applies: work your load up and watch for signs of overpressure, etc.

 

[Dentoro]

Looking at the Hodgdon website, I see the following load:

View attachment 317799

This is for a 124 grain XTP, which is also a hollow point. I don't readily see any length data that tells me how long your bullet is vs an XTP but the difference in length is key. (Maybe you should buy a small pack of XTPs for reference.) Think in terms of keeping the volume inside the case the same. If both bullets are the same length then you should be able to seat both to the same depth. If the XTP is 0.010 longer than the Berry's then you could theoretically seat the Berry's 0.010 deeper than the XTP to retain the same volume. The reverse is also true: if the XTP is 0.010 shorter than the Berry's then you would need to increase the COAL of Berry's by 0.010 in order to not have lower volume inside the case.

All that being said, standard disclaimer applies: work your load up and watch for signs of overpressure, etc.

Thank you. I buy bullets one sale and can never find load data on these Berry’s. I checked the two I have made and one is 1.076 the other is 1.075. I might sink them to 1.070 and try one if it passes plunk test.

 

[Aszerigan]

124gn Load Data used to be 3.6-4.1gns of Titegroup so safely under the max to begin with.

I remember my OAL on Berrys 9mm RN was around 1.090” or so.

 

[indyblue]

Did you check the Berrys website? Go down to the bottom of the page for the bullets you purchased and click the "loading tips" link. There you will find OAL & COAL info.

You didn't say which bullet you are referring to, but I assume ( I know, I know...) you mean the 9mm 124gr hybrid HP.

 

[Dentoro]

I might go down to 3.5 gr. It looks like I might have some over pressure on that first one.

 

[Dentoro]

They are the 124 grain hollow point. Not the hybrid ones. I’m trying to find a medium plinking round.

 

[Dentoro]

Did you check the Berrys website? Go down to the bottom of the page for the bullets you purchased and click the "loading tips" link. There you will find OAL & COAL info.

You didn't say which bullet you are referring to, but I assume ( I know, I know...) you mean the 9mm 124gr hybrid HP.

View attachment 317814

I missed that loading tips tab!

 

[indyblue]

I didn't see that they have anything not hybrid until I looked at target hollow point.

 

[Creedmoor]

I might go down to 3.5 gr. It looks like I might have some over pressure on that first one.

I see nothing that would concern me.
Do you see anything Andy?

 

[indyblue]

I see nothing that would concern me.
Do you see anything Andy?

Yeah, agreed, I've seen factory rounds looking worse. The primers still looked fully seated and not flattened to me.

 

[Creedmoor]

Yeah, agreed, I've seen factory rounds looking worse. The primers still looked fully seated and not flattened to me.

Its like seating bullets shallower than the book calls for, I look at it as I can load a 357 mag with a 148 grain DEWC along with a 38 Special flush with the end of the case or hanging halfway out like a 158 grain SWC. Using the same bullet with 3.5 grains of Bulleye and both shoot fine. One has huge air space and the other has almost none.
I have never had any issues loading, with pushing a bullet farther back in the case as needed.
The internet keeps bringing things to the masses that really aren't a problem for the most part.

 

[Aszerigan]

I see nothing that would concern me.
Do you see anything Andy?

I see no problem with those primers. They’re not even starting to flatten or flow.

 

[Dentoro]

Thank you all for the help. It seems the more I reload the more I question myself and the more I seem to need to learn. Your guidance on this board has been incredibly valuable to me on that learning curve. And with reloading….. I’d rather not learn the hard way!

 

[indyblue]

Thank you all for the help. It seems the more I reload the more I question myself and the more I seem to need to learn. Your guidance on this board has been incredibly valuable to me on that learning curve. And with reloading….. I’d rather not learn the hard way!

As a relative newbie myself (I have been reloading for three or four years now.) @Creedmoor has been quite helpful.

 

[Dentoro]

As a relative newbie myself (I have been reloading for three or four years now.) @Creedmoor has been quite helpful.

I’ve been reloading off and on for about 10 years, but sometime I feel the need to ask rather than FAFO. It’s just one of those skills I like to keep in the very safe zone!

 

[cavallo]

Yeah, agreed, I've seen factory rounds looking worse. The primers still looked fully seated and not flattened to me.

Glad to hear that. I was thinking the same but reading primers for overpressure seems like an art form which I can't claim to be skilled in.

While I look at the primers for "the signs" I also chronograph my loads. If I see velocities that are close to what I would expect for the load (interpolated for the powder charge) then that tells me that I can't bee TOO far off of what was intended.

 

[Dentoro]

A lot of my reloading time is spent on calibers that may not be readily available all the time. I usually spend time with 32-20, 44-40, 30-30, 32 WS, some 300 WM and recently 6.5 Carcano. On occasion I do get around to a few 9mm and .45 if I can gather enough components cheap enough.

 

[DadSmith]

I’m using Berry’s 124 gr. hollow points, standard 500 primer and 3,7 grains titegroup powder. I’m worried about pressure spiking from sinking the bullet too far but I can’t find a published case overall length. The plunk test tells me I need to go a bit further but it seems short and set deep already.

Thank you for the help!

Can i suggest a plunk test?
It will help you load at the longest COL possible for your chamber. That would help with pressure if you are worried about it.

Those primers look okay to me. So you should be gtg with 3.7gr. If you plunk test and it has a longer COL that should drop pressure even more


This is when you need to really worry about your load.




The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

 

[STFU]

Can i suggest a plunk test?
It will help you load at the longest COL possible for your chamber. That would help with pressure if you are worried about it.

Those primers look okay to me. So you should be gtg with 3.7gr. If you plunk test and it has a longer COL that should drop pressure even more


This is when you need to really worry about your load.
View attachment 318134

^^^ THAT one is scary.^^^