Lee Loader

I have some Berry's 125 grain .357 diameter plated flat point bullets. I have some fiocchi 9mm brass. I have some Bullseye powder. I would like to make some reloads with this combination.

I have read various posts on the internet that a lot of people seem to be using about 4 grains of Bullseye, plus or minus a few tenths, when using Berry's 9mm version of the same bullet. (The diameter of the 9mm bullet is listed as .356 and the weight is listed as 124 grain. The photos of the two bullets look identical.) In the discussions I have read this is presented as an everyday load, not a hot load.

Looking at what meager data I can find about somewhat similar jacketed bullets and cast bullets, together with the general advice that plated bullet loads should be either at the low to medium range of jacketed loads, or between jacketed loads and cast loads, I have concluded that 4 grains is probably about right.

Realizing that one needs to take advice on reloading gleaned from the internet with a grain of salt (or is it a grain of powder?), are there any comments about this combination of bullet and powder, including some thoughts on powder weight?

By the way, these will be fired in a Hi Point 9mm pistol. Hi Point is rated for +P loads. The loads considered above probably won't be approach +P pressures, so I think there is plenty of margin for error.

Thanks.

P.S. Based on Ranch Dogs info on SAAMI bore specifications for 9mm and .357 magnum, which specifies identical bore and grove diameter, I feel that if the .357 diameter bullets will work in a .357 magnum (0.355 grove diameter SAAMI spec) they should also work in a 9mm (0.355 grove diameter SAAMI spec.)

If you can give me a bullet length and overall length that you are going to use, I will run them through QuickLoad

My OAL is 28.35 using Berry 115 prn with 4.5gr Green-Dot

I also use 125 lead Lucky13 bullets with an OAL of 28.2 and 4gr Green Dot

Load Berry Pleated bullets as a medium jacketed load.

Ranch Dog wrote:If you can give me a bullet length and overall length that you are going to use, I will run them through QuickLoad

Let's try these parameters:

Bullet type: Copper plated lead (Berry)
Bullet form: Flat point
Bullet diameter: .357 inch
Bullet weight: 125 grains
Bullet length: 0.527 inch
Cartridge overall: 1.10 inch or maybe 1.075 inch
Powder: Bullseye
Load philosophy: light to medium power (possibly around 4 grains of Bullseye?)

I am, of course, open to other suggestions, such as different overall length. I would like to stick with Bullseye powder, since I have a can of it. I could consider Red Dot, because I have some of that too, for loading shot shells. However, I think Red Dot loads would likely be pretty similar to Bullseye loads, and beside, what would I do with my Bullseye powder if I use Red Dot for the 9mm loads?

Here is a photo of the bullet, downloaded from the manufacturer's site.

I'm out sitting in a deer blind with my Dad, will crunch the numies when I go back to the house.

@massmanute I reload a 160 gr lead bullet for the Hi-Point JHP 45 using 4.9 gr of bullseye. I tried 4 gr but would not work the slide reliably but think 4 gr should work fine in the C9.

massmanute wrote: Bullet type: Copper plated lead (Berry)
Bullet form: Flat point
Bullet diameter: .357 inch
Bullet weight: 125 grains
Bullet length: 0.527 inch
Cartridge overall: 1.10 inch or maybe 1.075 inch
Powder: Bullseye
Load philosophy: light to medium power (possibly around 4 grains of Bullseye?)

I used the shorter of the OAL as this would produce the greatest pressure in the range. These figures are generated for the C-9's 3.5" barrel.

4.3-grains of Bullseye would be considered max producing 30.3 KPSI and 1072 FPS.
3.6-grains of Red Dot produces 31.2 KPSI and 1005 FPS

Ranch Dog wrote:

massmanute wrote: Bullet type: Copper plated lead (Berry)
Bullet form: Flat point
Bullet diameter: .357 inch
Bullet weight: 125 grains
Bullet length: 0.527 inch
Cartridge overall: 1.10 inch or maybe 1.075 inch
Powder: Bullseye
Load philosophy: light to medium power (possibly around 4 grains of Bullseye?)

I used the shorter of the OAL as this would produce the greatest pressure in the range. These figures are generated for the C-9's 3.5" barrel.

4.3-grains of Bullseye would be considered max producing 30.3 KPSI and 1072 FPS.
3.6-grains of Red Dot produces 31.2 KPSI and 1005 FPS

Exellent info. Thanks.

massmanute wrote:Exellent info. Thanks.

You're welcome, let us know how it works out!

Ranch Dog wrote:If you can give me a bullet length and overall length that you are going to use, I will run them through QuickLoad

That looks like some nice software but at $153 I'll have to wait.