Stock II 147gr N320?

[Hammbone]

I'm the proud owner of a new Stock II.  Joe at Patriot Defense hooked me up with all the goody aftermarket parts too.  So basically I have an Xtreme in standard Stock II cloak.

Nonetheless, I'm new to this polygonal barrel.  I use Hi-Tech coated bullets. I have a few 135gr laying around, but a lot of 147gr.  These are similar to Bayou's, but they're made locally to me. The biggest difference is that these do NOT have a lube groove.

 

I'm also sitting on 4lbs of Vihtavuori N320.  I loaded up some experimental loads over the weekend and tested them out. A few at 3.5gr and a few at 3.7gr.  COL was 1.142" (length to ogive was 0.838").  Then I chronographed 10 of each load.  I can tell you they move a LOT faster than the Vihtavuori manual suggests.

 

Here's the deal: I thought I had a game plan going into this, but now I'm second guessing myself. So the question is; what works well in Stock II's with 147gr hi-tech coated bullets and N320?

Edited August 14, 2017 by Hammbone
typo

[MemphisMechanic]

4.75" polygonal Stock 3 was about 20 fps faster than a 4.25" conventionally rifled M&P this weekend.

 

I honestly didn't see much difference. 

[Ck867]

I'm kinda curious if anyone has a decent group at 25 yards with their stock 2 and similar load data? I'm currently using Acme 147gr FP with 3.4gr of N320 and find my groups open up a lot pass 15 yards. I've tried experimenting with different oal, crimp, and powder charges but results all similar.

[Hammbone]

25 minutes ago, MemphisMechanic said:

4.75" polygonal Stock 3 was about 20 fps faster than a 4.25" conventionally rifled M&P this weekend.

 

I honestly didn't see much difference. 

 

Here's my comparison between the manual vs what I actually measured (upper table). The lower table linearly interpolates a velocity based on the user entering a charge weight. These numbers are linearly interpolated from the upper table.

[12glocks]

FWIW with VV N320 3.5 gr and a Precision Delta 147 COL 1.145 I get 920 FPS out of a Glock 34 5' in factory barrel and 880 FPS out of a 6" Nowlin barrel in  my STI.

[nomore606]

My favorite load is coated lead 147 with 3.6 vv320. Right now my most accurate bullets out of my stock 3 are the blue bullet 147 RN

[perttime]

15 hours ago, Hammbone said:

 

Here's my comparison between the manual vs what I actually measured (upper table). The lower table linearly interpolates a velocity based on the user entering a charge weight. These numbers are linearly interpolated from the upper table.

 

Current Vihtavuori manual does NOT LIST N320 with Rainier 147gr RN. Your figures are from the row for N330.

http://www.vihtavuori.com/en/reloading-data/handgun-reloading/9-mm-luger.html

 

Bullet construction and coatings do affect friction and pressures, and therefore velocities, though.

[SoCalShooter69]

18 hours ago, Ck867 said:

I'm kinda curious if anyone has a decent group at 25 yards with their stock 2 and similar load data? I'm currently using Acme 147gr FP with 3.4gr of N320 and find my groups open up a lot pass 15 yards. I've tried experimenting with different oal, crimp, and powder charges but results all similar.

 

Jump down to 124RN and it'll close up.

[MemphisMechanic]

43 minutes ago, SoCalShooter69 said:

 

Jump down to 124RN and it'll close up.

 

No kidding:

 

150gr SWC bayou (actually weigh 147gr) versus a 124gr ACME RN through a Stock 3 this weekend.  

 

Also note that 124s shot higher than the 147s, contrary to what I expected. I had to drop the rear sight 4 clicks to put the group in the center of the plate.

 

 

The gun is probably more accurate than this, though. I did this test in a hurry after an 8hr long match in 95 degree temps. Patience was in short supply.

[Ck867]

48 minutes ago, MemphisMechanic said:

 

No kidding:

 

150gr SWC bayou (actually weigh 147gr) versus a 124gr ACME RN through a Stock 3 this weekend.  

 

Also note that 124s shot higher than the 147s, contrary to what I expected. I had to drop the rear sight 4 clicks to put the group in the center of the plate.

 

 

The gun is probably more accurate than this, though. I did this test in a hurry after an 8hr long match in 95 degree temps. Patience was in short supply.

 

Do you mind sharing your load data?

[MemphisMechanic]

I'm slightly obsessive over catalogging it.

 

I still havent done a full load development on the 125 BBI (chose it over the 124 Acme because you can load it long as hell) with various powder charges and OALs to find the most accurate load. But I will.

 

Look for the 124gr Acme and 150gr Bayou lines:

Edited August 15, 2017 by MemphisMechanic

[MemphisMechanic]

You might also find you prefer the way the 124 feels when shot at speed. I do. There's no real difference in felt recoil - the weight of my gun masks that, unlike with G34 and M&P platforms.

 

It just seems ... crisper or brisker.

[Ck867]

Thanks for sharing!

[MemphisMechanic]

You're welcome.

 

The only reason for the 1.130" OAL was because the ammo needed to fit into an M&P (their chambers are really short too) and I could get a 125gr BBI bullet to plunk at 1.150" ... so I backed off to 1.135-1.140" to know my very first batch would definitely feed in both guns.

 

I plan to load some more 125s up to 1.110" and 1.150" and see if there's any gain in accuracy to be found in either direction.

[srrch]

This is from a Lim Pro 9mm 

Powder = 3.1 N320

Bullet = Bayou 147 gr truncated cone (they run heaver than 147gr)

COL =1.110 (My Tanfos have the short chamber issue)

Primer= Federal SP Gold Match Magnum (these were the only federals I could get)

Power factor = 126.x  - It is too close for many, but this load made the same power factor for two major IDPA matches.  IDPA doesn't weigh bullets.  PF is calculated on stated bullet weight

Accuracy = very accurate but I don't have exact numbers

 

[MemphisMechanic]

Intersring that Bayou 147s run heavy.

 

All my Bayou "150gr SWC" bullets weighed 147.0-148.3 grains!

Edited August 25, 2017 by MemphisMechanic

[srrch]

Intersring that Bayou 147s run heavy.
 
All my Bayou "150gr SWC" bullets weighed 147.0-148.3 grains!

I just checked my batch of bullets. You are correct. The bayou bullets aren't running heavy. Out of a batch of 10 the average was 146.6. I still made power factor with that load, but just barely. I will move back to 3.2 or 3.3 gr

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[Gviz]

On 8/14/2017 at 2:29 PM, Ck867 said:

I'm kinda curious if anyone has a decent group at 25 yards with their stock 2 and similar load data? I'm currently using Acme 147gr FP with 3.4gr of N320 and find my groups open up a lot pass 15 yards. I've tried experimenting with different oal, crimp, and powder charges but results all similar.

 

Just zeroed my stock 2 this weekend at 25 yards using blue bullets 147gr RN, N320 3.4gr, mixed brass, win spp, chrono average of 136pf at 45deg weather running a bit hot might might drop the charge to 3.3gr of n320

[chaserracer]

On 8/14/2017 at 2:29 PM, Ck867 said:

I'm kinda curious if anyone has a decent group at 25 yards with their stock 2 and similar load data? I'm currently using Acme 147gr FP with 3.4gr of N320 and find my groups open up a lot pass 15 yards. I've tried experimenting with different oal, crimp, and powder charges but results all similar.

 

(My $.02)

In both of my Stock 2's I'm currently running 147g flat nose Blue Bullets,1.130 OAL, 3.6g Nobel Sport BA 9.5 powder, mixed brass, federal/CCI/Winchester primers, making 130 PF with this load.

For (my) accuracy standards, I verify i can keep it inside 2" at 7 yards and inside a 3x5" label at 20-25yds, freestyle, repeatedly.

(Shooting USPSA) I don't really see a need for more accuracy than that and at that point I'm just verifying the bullets will feed reliably and feels comfortable in the hands both shooting fast targets up close and hard partials at distance.

I have experimented only with Blue Bullets, so my testing is pretty limited. However, having tried the 125g RN, 135g TC, 147 RN, 147 FN the 147g flat nose is what im most happy with at the moment.

Edited November 19, 2018 by chaserracer

[oddjob]

I went with the 124 Bayou Bullets in 38 Super and 4.3 gn of Vectan 9.5.  I actually stayed with this load for all of 2018!!  That's amazing for me! 

[IHAVEGAS]

147 SNS RN, at 20 yards I can get 1.5" 5 shot groups off the bench with my Stock 2, to get more scientific I would need to replace the old fart with trifocals with a ransom rest or at least a better shooter. I ran their (SNS) 125 RN vs 147 RN and did better with the 147 but that was constraining myself to only testing with one powder and at about 130 PF. 

 

Off topic a bit but interesting I thought, for Les Baers 9mm 1.5" 50 yard guarantee guns they use 124gr Federal American Eagle. Think I will buy a box and run it through my Stock 2 just out of curiosity. 

[Avenida]

New loading data published today on vihta’s website.

[emjei]

I keep seing Load Data of 3.2 for a 147gr Bullet

Either my two Stock 2 are lazy or 3.2 means 3.29 ........ both guns were in the 860 FPS with 3.20

3.30 tests coming soon

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[Hammbone]

1 hour ago, emjei said:

I keep seing Load Data of 3.2 for a 147gr Bullet

Either my two Stock 2 are lazy or 3.2 means 3.29 ........ both guns were in the 860 FPS with 3.20

3.30 tests coming soon

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
 

My Stock 2 (with reamed throat) does the following with 147gr and N320 @ 1.142" COL:

3.3gr - 893fps

3.5gr - 949fps

3.7gr - 970fps

 

3.3gr is most accurate of the three.

[emjei]

My Stock 2 (with reamed throat) does the following with 147gr and N320 @ 1.142" COL:
3.3gr - 893fps
3.5gr - 949fps
3.7gr - 970fps
 
3.3gr is most accurate of the three.

Is that 3.3 a 3.3ish ???

I always do the 10 pull test and load to exacts

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk