9mm Target load - Beretta 92 specific

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tharkad1

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Hi There!
I've been playing around with some loads for my Beretta 92, and well I'm at a loss.

I've been using titegroup mainly, using loads from 3.8-4.4g with a
FMJ (BDX) 124gr RN bullet.
CCI SP (500) primers
OAL at 1.125-1.135
Win brass

Shooting at 25 yards, ive been getting 6+ inch groupings. It looks like shotgun patterning. In all actuality, most shots fall OFF the black ring. I was at the point of wanting to sell the pistol.

But then I shot a box of Remington UMC 124gr bullets...and My groups shrunk to about 3", all in the black.

So its obviously my reloads.

I'm about to start testing imr Hi Skor 700x but I've read data all over the place. Lee Reloading stats min-max in the 4.2-4.8 range, where the hodgson website lists it from 3.2-3.8.


Regardless, I'm looking for some help from other Beretta reloaders...some pet loads that have worked for you!

Thanks for your help!
 
You have to work up the load. The firearm doesn't make any difference.
An FMJRN isn't a target bullet. The 9mm tends to like velocity for a jacketed bullet. However, try a different powder and bullet.
You may want to think about using a cast bullet. Shooting jacketed bullets gets expensive quickly.
3.8 of Titegroup is below minimum for a 125 grain jacketed bullet. 4.1 of Titegroup is the starting load. One grain of weight won't matter.
"...Hodgdon's website lists it..." You're reading something incorrectly. Hodgdon gives 3.0 to 3.6 of 700X for a 125 grain jacketed bullet.
Been using Bullseye with a 121 grain cast bullet out of my Inglis BHP. Never bothered getting too serious about a really accurate load though. Sights and barrel aren't up to it.
 
I've used same formula for my Beretta 92 except that my OAL was 1.090. I also used HS6 and got roughly same results.

Because the Beretta has such a stiff DA, your probualy pulling the front of the gun down, try bringing the hammer back first and shooting SA. Doing this will give you a better idea of how the firearm is working.
 
tharkad1 said:
Hi There!
I've been playing around with some loads for my Beretta 92, and well I'm at a loss.

I've been using titegroup mainly, using loads from 3.8-4.4g with a
FMJ (BDX) 124gr RN bullet.
CCI SP (500) primers
OAL at 1.125-1.135
Win brass

Shooting at 25 yards, ive been getting 6+ inch groupings. It looks like shotgun patterning. In all actuality, most shots fall OFF the black ring. I was at the point of wanting to sell the pistol.

But then I shot a box of Remington UMC 124gr bullets...and My groups shrunk to about 3", all in the black.

So its obviously my reloads.

I'm about to start testing imr Hi Skor 700x but I've read data all over the place. Lee Reloading stats min-max in the 4.2-4.8 range, where the hodgson website lists it from 3.2-3.8.


Regardless, I'm looking for some help from other Beretta reloaders...some pet loads that have worked for you!

Thanks for your help!
Click to expand...

Hi There

For my Beretta 92Fs

124g BDX FMJ
Win 231
Win primers
Win casings
4.6g powder
oal 1.100

Gar
 
Sunray: the hodgson site lists a max load that's 1/2 a grain lower then the min load in my lee manual.
Imaparky: I thought the same re bad firing habits. I've used a rest and while my groups did shrink , they did not by that much. Also, freehand shooting with factory ammo reduces my groupings by half. So I don't think it's all due to my lack of shooting experience.
Tieoneon: 231 is on my list of powders to buy. Though I hear a lot if complaints about it being dirty.

Thanks for your responses so far!
 
I run 5.0gr of Ramshot Silhouette behind a BDX 124gr and can get a 30yd 1" group from my PPC 9 using a ransom rest. Bullet seated 20 thou off the lands. Same load in a CZ 85 groups a little bigger.. 1.5 - 1.75. for the most part velocity plays a big role in 9mm accuracy, especially in the lighter bullets. .
 
I shoot the following in my Beretta.. Seems pretty accurate to me. When I use a rest, I can get some pretty tight groups (1 inch maybe).

124gr FMJ (campro and off brand)
4.2gr titegroup
CCI primers
OAL 1.135
 
"...my Lee manual..." Hi. Lee gets their data from other sources. Usually the powder maker. Lee does no testing themselves. Hodgdon is the maker of Titegroup.
 
For my Beretta 92fs I've loaded exclusively 125 gr cast RN bullets, using
3.3 - 3.7 gr Win231, and
3.5-3.9 gr Titegroup.

Good enough for putting holes in paper at 25 yds. Also, lighter loads are easier on the nerves in a narrow indoor all-concrete range where the sound level gets very loud.. Grouping seems OK, although I've not tested the gun with a rest.
 
So its obviously my reloads.

I'm about to start testing imr Hi Skor 700x but I've read data all over the place. Lee Reloading stats min-max in the 4.2-4.8 range, where the hodgson website lists it from 3.2-3.8.


Regardless, I'm looking for some help from other Beretta reloaders...some pet loads that have worked for you!

Thanks for your help![/QUOTE]

I've tried the 700x at hodgson's 3.2 gr. recommendation with a 124gr bullet. It's way below the charge needed to eject my brass. I've also used the lee start load of 4.2 gr. and it worked for me. The Lee info here seems to me to be more accurate in this case.
 
So I posted what I shoot in my Beretta..

I have also heard from some IPSC guys that they shoot (Berettas and other guns)

124gr Berry's Bullets
4.4gr Titegroup
1.13 OAL

Although I have never heard anything wrong with BDX bullets, I think you should try another brand. Another thing to try is to use matched brass and then weigh each completed round. That should rule out your powder drop.

Based on what you posted, its right in the sweet spot of rounds people shoot with that gun (including me). I'm thinking its something technical (like a faulty powder drop).
 
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