Range Test with 116gr 9X18Mak bullet

[fknipfer1]

Fired 50rds today at range I was not interested in accuracy as I was looking for a shooting round. The following data goes from 3.0 to 3.8grs of Unique. I forgot to add the bullet was a 116gr Cast LFN from Rimrock.

3.0 grs 803 high----- 3.2grs 840 high----- 3.4grs 855 high
686 low--------------- 689 low-------------- 779 low
728 avg--------------- 771 avg-------------- 817 avg
38 sd------------------ 40 sd----------------- 34 sd
117 es------------- 151 es------------- 105 es


3.6grs 876 high-------- 3.8grs 930 high
848 low----------------- 869 low
860 avg----------------- 895 avg
4 sd--------------------- 25 sd
28 es----------------- 60 es
As you can see as the powder increases grs the pistol settles down and starts shooting better. I will try 3.9grs and 4.0grs with next loads. The brass has no stretching so far, the primers are staying firm and not protruding. The 3.8grs avg 895fps with a high of 930fps. I will try 3.9grs first as I don't want to get to excited and go too fast. The pistol I used was a German Makarov which is a pretty solid pistol and I wouldn't recommend these loads for anything else. If I can get to 950 fps I will stay there. The 3.6gr load seem to be very steady and the pistol liked this load.

fknipfer1

[fish]

I'm glad to see some load development happening around the 116 grain Rim Rock bullet. There is little if any data on this bullet right now and I think it has some interesting possibilities.

How is the Unique powder working under this bullet? I know it burns pretty dirty in the lighter Mak loads.

[fknipfer1]

It doesn't burn that dirty, what I am trying to do is get 950fps with the 116gr bullet and if I do it with Unique and it shoots well I will start with another pistol powder and start over to see what shoots the best and is the cleanest. The lower loads of Unique were kinda unstable but not bad, the higher loads the were more precise.. If I get to the 950fps that will be about 225lbs ME and thats not bad for the old Mak. I going to have to make sure the powder loads are measure closer for the 3.9 and 4.0grs.

fknipfer1

[gunneyrabbit]

+1 with fknipfer1, been using it for .38/357, 9mm and 45ACP loads and it is as clean as anything else I'm using.
G.R.

[daveinsvaz]

After unsucessfully attempting to get Lee to make me a 9mm Mak gang mold, I made one myself. I bought the Lee .358, 115 grain, 6 cavity aluminum mold. Then I took a drill bit (I think it was a new 3/8") and turned the first 1/2" or so down to .365. I then used the newly shaped drill bit to open the base of the 115 grain to the second grease grove.
The back 2/3 of the cast bullet is now .365 and the very front 1/3 is .358. Cast weight of wheel weights is 118 grains.
Load is 2.9 grains of Unique, loaded to the same length as Wolf brand cartridges. Load is slightly dirty, but cycles all firearms it's been tried in.
Shooting at 15', from my P-64's and CZ 82's, the rounds make one large ragged hole, where Wolf Brown Bear and Silver Bear seldom touch each other. Modified Lee 95 grain Makarov roundnose (swaged in my homemade swage die to an old 45 Long Colt profile, and described in another thread) will frequently cut each other.
Next load will step up to 3.1 and 3.3 of Unique. I'm using Unique because I happen to have a quantity on hand.
Randy
Sierra Vista, AZ

[gunneyrabbit]

I have a question regarding what pistoles are suitable to shoot the the new round through, my understanding is that the PA63 is a titanium alloy frame and can take a pretty good beating and still hold up better than steel. I have several titanium alloy revolvers and all are +P rated when none of my steel frame pistoles are rated for +P rounds. My guess is that a PA63 with maxed out recoil and firing pin springs would hold up just fine. I'm open to comments pro or con and would be interested in all thoughts.
G.R.

[normsutton]

you guys want test witch powder is the dirtiest you need to shoot with jacketed bullets , lead bullets have a lube on them and that has a lot to do with the dirtiness , also what kind of lube you use the softer the lube the dirtiest it will be

NORM

[fknipfer1]

Thanks for the suggestion, I was using Unique and didn't think it was too bad. I was looking at using Power Pistol next but just haven't gotten around to it yet. Been playing with a 1874 Sharps and IMR4198. Too many guns that need shot and recorded isn't life fun.

fknipfer1

[normsutton]

fknipfer1

know the feeling , right now I'm working on the 41 Swiss

NORM

[fknipfer1]

Fired 16rds of 4.0 grs of Unique today and the results were very disappointing, bullet was very accurate at 25yds and brass was in good shape started to see a little flatning of the primers but not to much. The real disapointment was the fps was slower than the 3.8 and 3.9grs. 3.8 avg's 895fps and the 3.9 avg'd 900fps but the 4.0 avg's 885fps. So off to something else. The accuracy of the 4.0 was 14 out of 16 rds offhand at 25yds were in a 8" circle which wasn't bad for just casual shooting. If accuracy is what you are looking for the Unique may be what you are looking for, but I was looking to match BB for the horsepower of the round. When full I couldn't get the round past 900fps.

fknipfer1