Anyone done 9mm penetration testing (WFN's)?

[Bigslug]

I don't shoot my 9mm's very much, so my intent is to buy one mold to cover all bases. I'm looking at rounded flat noses with meplats of roughly .25".

The main question I'm kicking around is "what weight?"

If you've done any gelatin, wet newsprint, or other semi-scientific testing, I'd be interested in learning of your results.

[runfiverun]

be aware nose shape will affect your oal and case capacity.
I use a 125 rnfp in my 9,s I end up with an oal of @ 0.95
this makes the round pretty sensitive to .1gr powder changes.

[treadwm]

125gn would seem to be a good allrounder. I've only shot round nose boolits so far. I've noticed that snappy factory jacketed 115's and target load LRN 124's make their way thru the 12-14" pine logs I use for my backstop. The 147gn LRN subsonics do not.

[Bigslug]

125gn would seem to be a good allrounder. I've only shot round nose boolits so far. I've noticed that snappy factory jacketed 115's and target load LRN 124's make their way thru the 12-14" pine logs I use for my backstop. The 147gn LRN subsonics do not.

Now that is some interesting data.

The thing I've noticed with Jell-O testing to the official FBI specs is that all of these top-end duty loads are engineered - regardless of weight - to meet the FBI's idea of good duty load. The end result of this is that penetration isn't all that different from one to the next. I've been wondering how taking the non-expanding route would alter things. It seems logical that if a 125 grain expanding slug can make sufficient penetration, then a 125 grain SWC at the same weight and speed would drive a little deeper. How they and the 147's perform in different media is my ongoing question.

[292]

I'd have to check/find my notes for specifics but I remember a fairly weak 358-125RF load going through 6 or 7 water filled milk jugs.

[GabbyM]

Problem I have with 147gr flat points. Magma mold. Is when loaded up over 1,100 fps using AA#7 or VV 3N38 they do not hit POI to the sights. To the point where I run out of adjustment. So natural point is out too. Never tried the 940 fps loads for the big boolits as I’ve zero interest in such a load.

I have the Lee 125gr rnfp revolver boolit. Saeco #377 TC in 122 grain and a Magma 124gr RN. All are about equal on paper. My lee mold drops those at around 129 gains and is slower over the chrony than the lighter 122’s.

The 124gr round nose is the only one that seats shallow enough that my Dillon powder through expander will reach to it’s seating depth. The other three boolits I use a Lyman M die or the 357 revolver Dillon expander. I do have some brands of brass that tapers open thus no need for a deeper expansion. You do need to sort all 9mm brass by head stamp as it varies widely.

I’m fairly fond of the 122 grain truncated cone flat nose. I use the Saeco but Lee also has one with conventional grease grove. I size them all to .357”.

[ironhead7544]

It has been my experience that the heavier cast slugs are more accurate. Was never looking for penetration as these were for practice. Are you looking for a hunting load for big game? You can get about 1000 fps from a 160 gr bullet. I would go with the 160 gr FN like Beartooth sells. Should probably try buying some first to test in your pistol before buying a mold. The 9mm can be fussy.

[Thompsoncustom]

Are you looking for max penetration? I run a 173gr SWC I cast from a lyman mold for a .357 I size down for 9mm. I haven't tested penetration but accuracy is amazing and very low recoil.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

The main question I'm kicking around is "what weight?"



my 92 fs loves a older Lyman mold 358-242 124gr and Bullseye
also works in my 357

[quilbilly]

In my usual "wet phone book" terminal test, I got 11 inches of penetration with the Lee 125 gr RNFP in my 9mm carbine with a light load for an mv of 1180 +-. The test was done at 40 yards and a sheet of plywood veneer was place 1" in among the soaked phone books.

[Bigslug]

The application would be primarily plinking, and probably not much of that - defense and hunting are both well covered by cartridges delivering larger payloads. . .

. . .HOWEVER. . .I have my feelers out for a 9mm Lightweight Commander for my small-handed better half (which would necessitate a target load at the very least), and I may decide to chase coyotes with a 9mm for sake of variety. I do not intend to hunt large, edible critters with one, but having a target boolit that would legitimately serve for defense is the main goal here.

Leading contenders at the moment seem to be the Accurate 35-125B, 35-130B, and 35-140A modified to be a plain base, which would probably run it pretty close to 147 grains.

[Shiloh]

My 125 gr. RF drops at 129. It shoots very well for me. Seated at 1.045

[treadwm]

I've been shooting SnS cast bullets, 125gr RN over 4gr WSF and 147gr FP over 3.8gr WSF. Both shot to point of aim and are more accurate than I am.
I just got a NOE 358 135gr mold. Just starting casting with it today and have no data for how well that might work yet. I went w/ the 135 to hedge my bets between the 125 and the 147. Plus it can throw 128gr HPs too. :) I'd vote for the 35-130B.

[Blammer]

I'd choose this one. :)
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/9MM/DSCN8860_zps33e8330f.jpg (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/blammer8mm/media/Cast%20boolits/9MM/DSCN8860_zps33e8330f.jpg.html)

NOE 358 135gr 9mm

[treadwm]

Blammer,
I cast w/ that for the first time today. Yours look much better than mine did!

:castmine:

[reloader28]

We shot the Lee 358 125 (drops at 130gr) into 10 milk jugs and lost the boolit as we should have had more jugs lined up.
That was a straight WW alloy with 4.4gr Bullseye. Shoots good in 4 different 9mm's.

Then we tried a 50/50/2% boolit HP'd with 5/32" drill bit 1/4" deep and it stopped in the 3'rd or 4th jug and mushroomed to about the size of a quarter.

I dont think we checked the speed.