9mm 124gr GDHP? Handload

[Edubya]

A friend and I went to the range today, he got himself a new chronograph. We tried out about 40 of my hand-loads, some in my gun and some in his.

In accordance with my "Speer Reloading Manual #14" the 9mm 124gr GDHP should be loaded with COAL 1.120" and a minimum of 4.5 Hodgdon Universal and a maximum of 5.0. Those loads should produce velocities of 993 and 1089, respectively.

My loads were doing an average of 1105 with the 3.9gr. and 1188 with the hotter load (which I measured at 4.6gr), out of my 4" 9mm. His 5" XD got about 100fps more and they were more consistent. None of the cases, on post firing inspection, displayed any signs of "over charge". All rounds maintained a group of 3", with a flier or two. We did not use a rest of any sort.

I guess that the next thing that I've got to do is the "water jugs test" to test the expansion.

These bullets are not Gold Dots, but are very similar looking and the manufacturer did not provide any load information, nor is "Montana Gold" a listed manufacturer in any of my books or web searches. Should I continue with my present loads?

[fredj338]

The vel. you got seem abit high. Did you weigh the charges or vol. throw w/o weighing? Mag primers or std? Shooting indoors or out? How far was the chronograph & were the screens the exact spacing required?
The other thing to remember is all bullets are not the same. The GDHP is a heavy plated bullet. The MG is a bronze jacket, they are abit harder & will raise pressure abit. The RemGS is also bronze jacket, but has a short driving band so pressures are abit lower. For Universal, I have taken 124grGS to 1200fps safely. You are probably fine w/ your load.

[Raptor1956]

FWIW, I chrono'd some factory and handloads in my CD Tactical 357 sig with bullets rannging from 115gr to 147gr and here's about what I got.

Hornady 124gr factory ammo --> 1390fps

Winchester white box 124gr --> 1450fps

Handload 125gr Speer SM JHP --> upwards of 1470fps

Now this is with a 357 sig and a 5" barrel but I'd think a 9mm firing the same 124/125gr bullets should get within about 250fps of the 357 sig.


Brian

[Edubya]

Originally Posted by fredj338

The vel. you got seem abit high. Did you weigh the charges or vol. throw w/o weighing? Mag primers or std? Shooting indoors or out? How far was the chronograph & were the screens the exact spacing required?
The other thing to remember is all bullets are not the same. The GDHP is a heavy plated bullet. The MG is a bronze jacket, they are abit harder & will raise pressure abit. The RemGS is also bronze jacket, but has a short driving band so pressures are abit lower. For Universal, I have taken 124grGS to 1200fps safely. You are probably fine w/ your load.

I measure the powder 3 or 4 times before I start the loading process. I'll re-measure afterwards. I have a RCBS 10-10, everything seems to be perfect on the weight.

I use Federal SP, bought 5000 for my .38 and 9mm.

Outdoor range was used, on a very hot day. The chrono was approx. 8ft away.

I loaded up fifty of the same bullets with 4.8gr. today and went to the range with the same SHOOTING CHRONY (temp. was 85 degrees). Ten rounds measured 1135 to 1150 (that's right, variation of 15!). The post inspection showed no signs of overload. Accuracy seemed to be as good, or better, than the lighter load.

The Hodgdon book shows a load of 4.9gr. pushing a 125gr. @1118fps. I have measured factory loads @1180.

[fredj338]

The variation in vel. is probably you using MG bullets & your seating depth. Deeper seating raises pressure & higher pressures usually mean higher vel. The MG is a "harder" bullet than the Speer GD. I only said your vel. seems high because of your choice of powder & the pretty low charge wt. FWIW, back your screens off to at least 10ft, 15ft is better. Muzzle blast can cause problems, but your SD is very low so I doubt it's the chrony.

[sourpatch45]

i dont know anything about the bullet your useing but is it a plated HP or is it a jacketed bullet

[Edubya]

Originally Posted by sourpatch45

i dont know anything about the bullet your useing but is it a plated HP or is it a jacketed bullet

9MM .355 DIA 124GRAIN BRONZE JACKETED HOLLOW POINT

[Jack the Toad]

I don't have a chrono , but I get great groups (around 1"@ 15 yrds. ) using actual Gold Dot 124gr. , 1,120, WSP standard primers ,6.1 grs. of Alliant Power pistol and a Winchester case. It expands well in water or wet pack.