recipe for 124 grain copper jacketed 9mm (for a M&P9)

B

basicbill

Regular
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Location
Interior BC
I'm getting some rounds put together for my first handgun.
It is a S&W M&P9. Should be here next week.

I am using once fired brass, Titegroup and 124 grain copper jacketed Berry's.

Does anyone here reload for this gun....perhaps with these components? Some recipe that 'just works'.

Just wondering what a good 'get started' recipe would be.

Hodgdons says 4.1 min ..... 4.4 max
 
Wait for the pistol to arrive so that you can use the barrel and magazine to check the OAL.

Those are copper plated projectiles, correct?
 
Cmiller82 said:
I use 125gr Zero jacketed hollow point, with 4.1gr of titegroup.

Works great for me.
Click to expand...

Where were you about 2-3 weeks ago, lol. I was looking for someone, anyone, who was using Zero 125gr JHP-C. I'm using HP-38 with that projectile.

To the OP...

Start with 4.1gr and work your way up, testing along the way. The OAL that Hodgdon lists (1.090") is the minimum safe OAL, therefore you could always go longer because it will only reduce pressure. In this case you can use anything between 1.090" and 1.169" (the SAAMI max length for 9x19) but I'd still wait for the pistol. You want to use the longest OAL that will work with the magazine and feed reliably. A load "window" of 0.4gr isn't a whole lot so make sure to check your powder weight frequently.
 
I load 124gr Berry RNs with 5gr of Unique at 1.11" works great in my Glock, a little softer than Factory but accurate and cheap and easy to remember.

I use Unique for all my pistol loading 5gr for 9mm and .38 and 6gr for .45. Don't even have to write it down LOL.
 
XHS....yes I meant plated.....still getting used to the terminology.

Thanks everyone.

Would it be wise to start at 4 gns? or would that make the action too unreliable?
 
basicbill said:
XHS....yes I meant plated.....still getting used to the terminology.

Thanks everyone.

Would it be wise to start at 4 gns? or would that make the action too unreliable?
Click to expand...

Start with the suggested minimum of 4.1gr. You still don't know how accurate or reliable that load will be, so there's no point going "off the board" so to speak.

Try to remain patient. Doing anything before receiving the pistol is a little foolish and might result in a projectile pulling party. Find the OAL for YOUR gun. Just because an OAL works for someone else doesn't mean it will work, be accurate, or reliable in your M&P.

I'm pretty new to reloading myself but this is the first suggestion that many experienced loaders gave me. Once you have the correct OAL make a SMALL batch of test rounds, using the suggested minimum powder weight, and see how they group. After testing and recording the performance increase the powder by 0.1gr increments until you reach the suggested maximum or your groups start to spread. Pick the powder weight that works best and you should be ready to rock.

P.S. If you ever get another 9mm pistol you might have to find a OAL that accommodates both/multiple pistols. It won't be perfect for one or the other but at least it should be reliable.
 
For Berry's - you need to use lead bullets' data, you can use 125gr bullets' data for plated 124gr Berry's.
If you load with OAL 1.12"-1.13", your load with TiteGroup should be at 3.8gr.
 
Just from my experience and my chrono results.

Bullet is almost as soft as lead, regular 124gr RNDS Berry's bullet has very thin plating (as opposed to their 124gr tripple plated Hollow Base ones).

Also, don't crimp them too much or you will cut jacket. Ideally, if you disassemble loaded round, you should not see much if any marks left by case/crimping.
Case flaring has to be taken away thou.
 
CeeZer said:
For Berry's - you need to use lead bullets' data, you can use 125gr bullets' data for plated 124gr Berry's.
If you load with OAL 1.12"-1.13", your load with TiteGroup should be at 3.8gr.
Click to expand...

Below I've quoted subneural who is using the exact same projectile and powder. AIM and Berry's are both copper plated.

subneural said:
I load AIM 124gr plated, 4.1-4.2gr Titegroup, 1.100" OAL.

This loads shoots very nicely from my M&P9 and my JR9.
Click to expand...

I don't think 3.8gr will get consistent performance will it? Doesn't 4.2 with an OAL of 1.130 chronograph around 1070 fps? If I remember correctly plated projectiles are good to go as long as they stay under 1200 fps right?

This will all change when the OP settles on a OAL.

OP: Here's another thread to keep an eye on.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=749486
 
Last edited:
I have loaded about 3000 berry 124gr rounds with tightgroup, 4 - 4.2 with OAL set at 1.135 work extremely well in my XD-m and the wifes SR9. You have to remember the bullet diameter when comparing data. The Berry's are .356 like most lead bullets whereas most FML and JHP bullets are .355, and that .001 makes a little difference. I've loaded just as many with unique from 5 - 5.4 gr and settled on 5 as a nice enjoyable round that I can shoot all day, much like 4 gr Tightgroup load. Any less than 4gr of TG will seem weak but usually works fine. Don't worry too much about playing with the OAL until you have gotten proficient with your stating loads so you have a baseline to judge yourself by. And above all, have fun :)

Oh and if you start trying to load for velocity, look at the hollow botton triple plated berry's, they are good to 1400 fps
 
basicbill said:
Hey ceezer, why should the plated bullets be treated the same as the lead?
I would have thought that they would be the same as FMJ.
Click to expand...

Because the bullet is .356" like lead and almost as soft. Berry's website recommends using mid range lead load data and up to low end FMJ loads for their regular bullets
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom