147grn in 9mm with VV 3N38

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So i was doing a little research for my 9mm and 147 gn for major power factor (PF)
major is 165. (bullet weight(grains) x speed (fps) / 1000)

here is what i found:
powder is VV 3N38

grains / bullet / bullet weight/ primer/ case make/ OAL/ FPS/ power factor.
6.4 mg cmj 147 cci500 mix 1.125 1131 166
6.6 mg cmj 147 cci500 mix 1.13 1141 © 168
6.8 mg cmj 147 cci500 mix 1.13 1140 © 168
7 mg cmj 147 cci500 mix 1.13 1160 © primers starting to flatten 171

the (c) means compressed load
The chronograph was not reading prefectly as the sky was clear.
All were only 3 shot groups and felt nice to shoot
All were fired in a sig P320 x5 stock gun on a 35 degree day. at 45 feet above sea level.
the bullets were Montana gold CMJ

the cases were full in all but the first load. the bullet i am sure would not compress the powder any more and so the OAL grew a little without adjusting the die!

I might try a 1.140" OAL next time and Im going to load a bunch of 6.7grain and re try.

G
 
I don’t reload pistol rounds but I’m surprised at the FPS of a 147 grain load. I shoot factory 147s suppressed from a four inch barrel and they are subsonic. You have loaded some really hot 147 loads, which I assume was your goal.
 
yes, i was looking to get some in major PF. the primers and cases look fine until the last load which were a little flattened.

I was also looking to get some hot 147's for HD. I will change out the bullet to xtp 147's or speer HP's

G
 
Major pf for what

Those who shoot USPSA open division with 9mm use 115g, less commonly 124g, typically over hs6 or autocomp, at col of 1.2"+

Smaller bullet allows more case volume, more powder, and more gass to work the compensator.
 
I personally would not shoot any of my "open ammo" though my production guns.... I load 9mm major (too long to fit in any of my production guns - 1.160 OAL) - 7.5 gr auto comp pushing 115gr projectile or 8.5 gr of HS6 with same length and projectile...

Shoot carry optics or PCC??!!!
 
I personally would not shoot any of my "open ammo" though my production guns.... I load 9mm major (too long to fit in any of my production guns - 1.160 OAL) - 7.5 gr auto comp pushing 115gr projectile or 8.5 gr of HS6 with same length and projectile...

Shoot carry optics or PCC??!!!
i believe that some also use 147G for major:
9MM MAJOR 147GR JHP ELITE
C8AA464B-C942-4D19-B932-EFF9FF6132A6.png
No experience with open guns but it seems like a bad idea to use major PF ammo (especially with that warning from Atlanta Arms^^) in a production gun?
 
The 3N38 loads were right out of the Vihtavuori book with the exception of the 7.0 load. The book lists 6.9 as max.
It meeters real nice also. Grains are half the size of N320 which is what I have been loading in 9 mm
 
gordfraser - All I am saying is just be careful using a USPSA major load in a factory pistol... I know of one competitor in USPSA that is using 3N38 and 147 projectiles and he is using 2011 open pistol with comp (Bedell pistol)....

Even the Glock open folks running major 9mm loads are using comps with KKM or lone wolf barrels due to the pressures....
 
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