9mm minor with Zero 115 gr FMJ Load Data

[Hi-Power Jack]

I have a few boxes of Zero 115 gr FMJ left over, and

want to use them for light loads for Steel (not knocking

them over, but ringing them).

I have some WW231 (HP38) and wondering if anyone has

a starting point for grains of WW231 to get about 800 - 900

fps; and at what OAL. My reloading manual doesn't even list

115 grain bullets:(( (Time for a new manual?)

(I searched the topic back to April, and didn't see anything

about this specific item).

If I don't get any help, I will probably start with 3.5 grains

WW231 seated to about 1.125" for my Browning Hi-Power. (I've

been shooting 147 grains with 3.8 gr WW231 for a 130 pf), but

want a lighter load for steel competition next Saturday.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jack

Jack

[Jman]

If I don't get any help, I will probably start with 3.5 grains

WW231 seated to about 1.125" for my Browning Hi-Power.

Any help will be appreciated.

That "should" work fine but watch to make sure your slide is cycling fully.

That's well inside the mouse fart area.

[DougCarden]

Jack, 3.8gr W231 or HP 38 with a 115jhp OAL 1.120 gets me 106pf out of my Steel guns......It is accurate and recoil is none existant.

Having said that, I don't know what will cycle your gun.....

Good luck,

DougC

[G-ManBart]

Nosler shows 115gr FMJ with 4.2gr of HP 38 at 832fps, 4.7gr at 937fps and 5.2gr at 1042fs (max), but they don't list COAL.

Sierra shows a 115gr FMJ at 1.100 COAL and 3.8gr of 231 at 1000fps, up to 5.3gr at 1150fps.

Winchester data is for a 115gr JHP, no specified OAL, but they list 1.169" as max. They have 4.3gr of 231 at 1010fps up to 4.8gr at 1120fps.

I can't imagine why there's such a spread in velocities....I really wish powder and bullet manufacturers would all use the same testing protocols and list things like OAL and pressure.

[Hi-Power Jack]

Thanks for the help - made me feel better about

my starting point.

I loaded some 115 gr Zero fmj behind 3.5grains of WW231

and they just barely ejected (one didn't) - so back to

the drawing board, and tried 3.66 grains (don't ask,

but that's what ten charges averaged) of ww231.

About thirty of them ejected fine, shot very nicely,

and averaged 910 fps for a pf of 105, BUT they didn't

group at all at 25 yards from a rest - in my gun.

But, to be fair, since I've had the BHP rebarreled,

it hasn't shot any 115 grains accurately (based on

limited experimentation so far) but is accurate with

the 147 grain bullets - both Zero and MG.

Tomorrow, I'll try the same load with 3.8 grains WW231

and with both the Zero 115 gr fmj and the MG 115 gr

JHP's, and report back. The quest goes on...

[GlennRasch]

I have a few boxes of Zero 115 gr FMJ left over, and

want to use them for light loads for Steel (not knocking

them over, but ringing them).

I have some WW231 (HP38) and wondering if anyone has

a starting point for grains of WW231 to get about 800 - 900

fps; and at what OAL. My reloading manual doesn't even list

115 grain bullets:(( (Time for a new manual?)

(I searched the topic back to April, and didn't see anything

about this specific item).

If I don't get any help, I will probably start with 3.5 grains

WW231 seated to about 1.125" for my Browning Hi-Power. (I've

been shooting 147 grains with 3.8 gr WW231 for a 130 pf), but

want a lighter load for steel competition next Saturday.

Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jack

Jack

I use 4.5 of H-38 with a 115 FMJ , that works good in my sons XDM. I put 5.5 of H-38 with a 115 FMJ in my 38 super with a 12 lbs. spring, little to NO recoil. Hope this HELPs........... Glenn

[Hi-Power Jack]

I use 4.5 of H-38 with a 115 FMJ , that works good in my sons XDM. I put 5.5 of H-38 with a 115 FMJ in my 38 super with a 12 lbs. spring, little to NO recoil. Hope this HELPs........... Glenn

Thanks, Glenn, but I'm looking for a "really soft" load -

3.7 gr W231 works real well in my BHP, but it's not

accurate - so I'm going to keep bumping it up little

by little - hope I don't have to go as high as 4.5 grains

to get it accurate. But, we'll see....

Jack