9mm COAL ?

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I think what some are saying is being a compressed load is not the issue. Any time you shorten oal to make a projo "fit" your gun you should reduce the charge of powder and work your way up beause you are creating less space in the case (compressed or not) and this can create a higher pressure situation.. Some seem to think at 6.6 your at the high end of the charge for that powder and you just kept pushing the projo in further to make it fit without reducing the charge.
Thanks whacko... I will fire one round under a towel to catch the brass and look at the primer and go from there... much obliged.
 

pastera

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Thanks whacko... I will fire one round under a towel to catch the brass and look at the primer and go from there... much obliged.
And your not listening
Start at the STARTING charge weight and work up until you hit max or see pressure signs (and then back off).

I'm working from my phone so I don't have access to the website I use that has thousands of bullet lengths
If I had that handy, I could calculate the correct seating depth (a little more complicated by the hollow base)
With that I could give you a 90% confidence but I'd still recommend starting closer to starting charge.
 
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I'm not saying it is compressed or even close to it.
The issue is that COAL is only a proxy for effective case volume.
For a shorter bullet with the same weight a shorter COAL would be used to maintain the same seating depth resulting in the same effective case volume.

Why does effective case volume matter?
Because powder burn rate is extremely effected by pressure (higher pressure = faster burn). This positive feedback is mitigated by bullet travel but if there isn't enough room in the case to limit pressure rise before the bullet inertia can be overcome then pressure can spike all the way to a kaboom.

If I was rude earlier, sorry but your response sounded like you were only looking for someone to confirm your loading and not for negative responses saying it didn't seem safe.
Thanks Pastera - I get the idea... heavier bullet taking nano-seconds longer to move into the rifling = higher pressure inside a case with less room to expand.

seems reasonable - this is why I went with 6.6 and (not 6.8 gr.) and the (4 gr. cut 121 gr. from the 125 gr. manual) and lead soft Berry's material...

I will capture one round under a towel and eval the primer and other case evidence before accepting this load as safe... and in the future start at starting loads with new untested bullets.

much obliged - 👍
 

240Geezer

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I'm using a Taurus 92 for test bed on this load and seein 6.8 gr. HS-6 as a maximum and Berry's is softer than XTP... no?
I've used Berrys Hollow base and solid base with zero issues. The 1.160 COAL is a compromise of advice on going as long as the gun liked and a " scientific" this is an average of commercial loaded ammo lengths with similar nose profiles.
 

pastera

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Thanks Pastera - I get the idea... heavier bullet taking nano-seconds longer to move into the rifling = higher pressure inside a case with less room to expand.

seems reasonable - this is why I went with 6.6 and (not 6.8 gr.) and the (4 gr. cut 121 gr. from the 125 gr. manual) and lead soft Berry's material...

I will capture one round under a towel and eval the primer and other case evidence before accepting this load as safe... and in the future start at starting loads with new untested bullets.

much obliged - 👍
Better to make a few ladder loads from the starting charge (3-5 each every 0.1gn)
Fire all of one weight and inspect before moving to the next charge weight
 
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I prefer to stop when the plunk and spin, but yours works too




You can run an ass ton of HS6 and not get primer issues.

Do other bullet profiles load to reasonable lengths? Or does your barrel have a short leade?

The berry does have a short OAL compared to FMJ, so that could be the difference. But I would start at a lower powder charge and work up.
I have two 9mms and both show this bullet Berrys 121 HPHB from Midway stick out beyond the hood to the same value - my first reaction is this bullet is touching the rifling - confirmed when shortening the COAL the case moved in incrementally to its proper position without touching the rifling.
 

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Screen Shot 2023-02-10 at 8.07.28 PM.png
Data from Hodgdon's site. No 121gr bullets listed, but this is for the nearest weight. Starting loads are likely almost a full grain LOWER than you are proposing, especially as you are estimating case volume, not working from known load data. I think most others here are simply advising caution. Your load may end up being safe, but it is never "OK" to assume that. You do you - hope it goes well.
 

pastera

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I have two 9mms and both show this bullet Berrys 121 HPHB from Midway stick out beyond the hood to the same value - my first reaction is this bullet is touching the rifling - confirmed when shortening the COAL the case moved in incrementally to its proper position without touching the rifling.
Fat nosed bullets smack the lands early but are also shorter for weight so can have a shorter COAL for same seating depth.
Problem is that without length measurements for the bullets it's hard to know the correct COAL for the shorter bullet
 
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id be looking for another bullet company.............but judging from your avatar, youre not in this commie state.........
View attachment 719917
I got these Berry' HPHB to try 121 gr. in 9mm at .13 cents each... the three reviews didn't reveal much - intent now on SQEAKY cleaning my seater die and adjusting everything to give me a minimum rifling clearence - .003" and eliminate the crimping portion of the seating die as this is range brass and appears different thicknesses of case material and manufacturers is producing a +/- 0.010 COAL range... and yes my taper crimp die is the last step.

Go Arizona Chiefs!
 
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RankAmateur

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I got these Berry' HPHB to try 121 gr. in 9mm at .13 cents each... the three reviews didn't reveal much - intent now on SQEAKY cleaning my seater die and adjusting everything to give me a minimum rifling clearence - .003" and eliminate the crimping portion of the seating die as this is range brass and appears different thicknesses of case mount is producing a +/- 0.010 COAL range... and yes my taper crimp die is the last step.
Precision Delta is offering 124 gr JHP bullets at just over 11¢ (as an example), and their 124 gr FMJs are about 10¢, all with free shipping. Again, just an example, but you can get better bullets for less... I know you already have the 121 Berry's and are looking to make those work as you already have a stock of them.
 
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Precision Delta is offering 124 gr JHP bullets at just over 11¢ (as an example), and their 124 gr FMJs are about 10¢, all with free shipping. Again, just an example, but you can get better bullets for less... I know you already have the 121 Berry's and are looking to make those work as you already have a stock of them.
Thanks - I'll keep those in my reload book - much appreciated information. 👍
 

paul73

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Thanks Pastera - I get the idea... heavier bullet taking nano-seconds longer to move into the rifling = higher pressure inside a case with less room to expand.

seems reasonable - this is why I went with 6.6 and (not 6.8 gr.) and the (4 gr. cut 121 gr. from the 125 gr. manual) and lead soft Berry's material...

I will capture one round under a towel and eval the primer and other case evidence before accepting this load as safe... and in the future start at starting loads with new untested bullets.

much obliged - 👍

just get it and do not guess.

it has to be the 11th edition also somewhere, but, i cannot find it. 10th is also just fine.
 
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I did not read the whole thread so I apologize if what I am about to share is useless.

I load powder coated 124 grain round nose bullets. I own five different 9mm handguns. One of them has a match barrel and it is picky. I have to load at 1.09 overall length.

I load with be86, but i don't go near max load. I have not chronoed it but I get good results and a clean burn. I have loaded at least 25k rounds of it. All of my guns use this round.
 
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