Help with 124 gr CMJ load

[Dacsoft]

I just purchased some Montana Gold 9mm 124 Gr CMJ bullets. I should have checked my load data before ordering. I can't find any official load data for the 9mm 124 gr CMJ with Hodgdon Titegroup power.

Hodgdon shows a range of 4.1 to 4.4 for the 125 Gr SIE FMJ.

Speer lists 4.1 to 4.4 for Speer TMJ RN, UCSP or GDHP

I loaded up 10 at 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3. Now I am second guessing myself. How does the CMJ compare to FMJ bullets? Is it safe to use the same range or should I be starting with a different load.

Does anybody have a tested load for this combination?

Thank you in advance.

Dacsoft

[jgedmond]

I recently chrono'ed 4.0 and 4.2 TG with MG 124 CMJ using WIN brass and CCI #500 SPP loaded to 1.150". Shot 5 round groups from an HK P30 (3.85" barrel).

4.0 TG: 1043 fps 12 SD 29 ES 1053 HI 1024 LO

4.2 TG: 1065 fps 3 SD 10 ES 1070 HI 1060 LO

[G-ManBart]

I just purchased some Montana Gold 9mm 124 Gr CMJ bullets. I should have checked my load data before ordering. I can't find any official load data for the 9mm 124 gr CMJ with Hodgdon Titegroup power.

Hodgdon shows a range of 4.1 to 4.4 for the 125 Gr SIE FMJ.

Speer lists 4.1 to 4.4 for Speer TMJ RN, UCSP or GDHP

I loaded up 10 at 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3. Now I am second guessing myself. How does the CMJ compare to FMJ bullets? Is it safe to use the same range or should I be starting with a different load.

Does anybody have a tested load for this combination?

Thank you in advance.

Dacsoft

I don't have any of those Sierra FMJs to compare, but it's the same basic style, shape and weight, so you're in the right ballpark. If two bullets of the same (or very close) bullet weights take up the same amount of case volume (where the bottom of the bullet is in the case), they're going to give you similar pressures. It won't be exact because one will seal better than the other and they'll likely have slightly different jacket material, but it's not going to be the amount of difference you'd need to hurt anything or push a safe load into the danger zone. R,

[Sarge]

All those 4.1-4.3 numbers are fine with the 124 CMJ's you have. They will probably be a little slow cause thats just how MG's roll.

[Dacsoft]

Thanks guys. I will get to the range tomorrow and check these out and see how they perform in my XDm. I guess it is time to start looking around for chronograph.

[Dacsoft]

I took some loads and chronograph to the range for some testing. Here are my results when using 124gr Montana Gold CMJ RN bullets:

4.15 grains Titegroup:

Hi: 1105

Low: 1049

Ave: 1069

Velocity	Power Factor	Ft/Lbs
1105		127.075	        311.763
1072		123.28		293.42
1049		120.635		280.964
1084		124.66		300.025
1050		120.75		281.5
1070		123.05		292.326
1059		121.785		286.346
1065		122.475		289.6
1063		122.245		288.513
1081		124.315		298.367

4.3 grains Titegroup:

Hi: 1173

Low: 1140

Ave: 1152

Velocity	Power Factor	Ft/Lbs
1142		141.608		359.05
1155		143.22		367.272
1153		142.972		366.001
1164		144.336		373.018
1173		145.452		378.808
1156		143.344		367.908
1140		141.36		357.794
1148		142.352		362.833
1141		141.484		358.422

Edited to remove mis-statement

Edited May 31, 2010 by Dacsoft

[G-ManBart]

I was surprised to see the average velocity actually go down for the higher load.

Unless you had a typo in there, it actually went up quite a bit

[Paul Burtchell]

4.0 grains of Titegroup with a 124 MG CMJ seated at 1.120, Federal Small Pistol Primers chrono'd at a 132 PF in my STI Spartan 9.

Several of my shooting friends have had almost the exact same PF with M&P Pro's with the same load with slightly different OAL's.

[Dacsoft]

Unless you had a typo in there, it actually went up quite a bit

Like duh

I was looking at the last 2 numbers and not the entire number. Thanks for the correction. Now it makes more sense.

[CZinSC]

Ironic timing on this post. I was going to ask a similar question. I'm just starting to reload, and purchased Titegroup, and have 1K of MG 124 JHP on the way. I don't see any official data on this combo. I see a lot of posts where people say what their recipe is, but my question is, when you come upon a lack of "official" data, how do you proceed? I gather trusting someone else's data is not 100% smart, so where do you start?

[G-ManBart]

Ironic timing on this post. I was going to ask a similar question. I'm just starting to reload, and purchased Titegroup, and have 1K of MG 124 JHP on the way. I don't see any official data on this combo. I see a lot of posts where people say what their recipe is, but my question is, when you come upon a lack of "official" data, how do you proceed? I gather trusting someone else's data is not 100% smart, so where do you start?

Use data for the bullet that's closest in shape/size/style that you can find. For 9mm MG JHPs, Hornady XTP data is normally very close. R,

[Dacsoft]

Ironic timing on this post. I was going to ask a similar question. I'm just starting to reload, and purchased Titegroup, and have 1K of MG 124 JHP on the way. I don't see any official data on this combo. I see a lot of posts where people say what their recipe is, but my question is, when you come upon a lack of "official" data, how do you proceed? I gather trusting someone else's data is not 100% smart, so where do you start?

I had the same problem. I started by finding a lot of recommendations on the web and comparing that to the different data load sources available. I had the standard books, but find that many of the manufacturers give information on their web site and sometimes on the containers. For the 124 grain FMJ and CMJ I found everything from 4.0 to 4.5 recommendations. I started with 4.0 and worked up to 4.3.

[njl]

I took some loads and chronograph to the range for some testing. Here are my results when using 124gr Montana Gold CMJ RN bullets:

4.15 grains Titegroup:

Hi: 1105

Low: 1049

Ave: 1069

Velocity	Power Factor	Ft/Lbs
1105		127.075	        311.763
1072		123.28		293.42
1049		120.635		280.964
1084		124.66		300.025
1050		120.75		281.5
1070		123.05		292.326
1059		121.785		286.346
1065		122.475		289.6
1063		122.245		288.513
1081		124.315		298.367

This data is messed up. The power factor column indicates 115gr bullets, but you said it was 124gr. I didn't bother checking the energy numbers.

[Dacsoft]

This data is messed up. The power factor column indicates 115gr bullets, but you said it was 124gr. I didn't bother checking the energy numbers.

Good catch. I made a cut and paste error when I posted. The numbers were from my test of the 115 gr ammunition and taken directly from the chronograph. But I incorrectly posted it as 124 gr results. The second chart (marked as 4.3 grains Titegroup) is actually correct for 124 grain CMJ.

Thanks for catching my mistake.

Edited June 1, 2010 by Dacsoft

[njl]

This data is messed up. The power factor column indicates 115gr bullets, but you said it was 124gr. I didn't bother checking the energy numbers.

Good catch. I made a cut and paste error when I posted. The numbers were from my test of the 115 gr ammunition and taken directly from the chronograph. But I incorrectly posted it as 124 gr results. The second chart (marked as 4.3 grains Titegroup) is actually correct for 124 grain CMJ.

Thanks for catching my mistake.

It was actually an easy catch. I've loaded and chrono'd MG 124gr CMJ to the 1050-1080 fps range, so I know that 124gr at those velocities is a PF of 130-134.

[470nitro]

I run 4.3gr TG behind a 124 CMJ also and my PF in a M&P Pro is about 138. However, my OAL is long at about 1.150".

Edited August 10, 2010 by 470nitro