Remington 147 grain Match FMC

[D. Manley]

I'm getting ready to load a few 147 grain Remington 147 "Match" FMJ bullets I picked up a while back. I've looked high & low trying to find some recommended OAL data in all my manuals as well as on-line resources...nada. The bullet has a bit of an unusual profile, sort of a round nosed flat point and seems similar (just looking at the pictures) to Speer's TMJ of the same weight.

Unless I can scare up some OAL data or load experience I think I'm gonna' go with 1.12/1.125 based on nothing more than when seated at this length it "looks right". Any comment...?

[MakeMineaP99]

What are you loading under it? Fast powders and short OAL scare me.

[D. Manley]

What are you loading under it? Fast powders and short OAL scare me.

Fast powder to minor PF, Dan.

Keep in mind this is a FP bullet. I don't *think* an OAL of 1.120/1.125 is really "short" with this bullet...the flat meplat make a difference much like a JHP. When seated longer it seems to me to be really sticking that big flat point a long ways out. I had originally intended to go around 1.14 or so but when I looked at it seated that long I had 2nd thoughts...

[MakeMineaP99]

If it were me, I'd load some up with a known safe starting load under a 147 gr FMJ, say Solo 1000 for example, and play with the OAL. Once you ascertain there are no pressure signs, I would pick OAL based on feeding, gun preference, then work up my load as usual.

[D. Manley]

If it were me, I'd load some up with a known safe starting load under a 147 gr FMJ, say Solo 1000 for example, and play with the OAL. Once you ascertain there are no pressure signs, I would pick OAL based on feeding, gun preference, then work up my load as usual.

Speer's TMJ is a fairly similar profile and their last 2 books recommended 1.130 so I guess I'll try them there and see if they feed. 1st 6 trial loads are all pretty much tame and should be +/- 125/130 PF. I'm just gonna' run through 20 each and see what feels good & groups OK:

3.5 N-320
3.8 N-330
3.9 N-340
3.3 Titegroup
3.4 S-1000
3.3 American Select

Lots of folks like the 3.3 gr. TG and 3.5 N-320 loads. I know 3.2 grains of S-1000 is really good with 147 lead so I bumped it up .2 grain and we'll see on that one. The others are just some stuff I want to see how it does under the heavier bullets.

[MakeMineaP99]

Sounds like a plan. The only powder on that list I have on hand is Solo 1000, and I know you know about Solo.

[D. Manley]

Sounds like a plan. The only powder on that list I have on hand is Solo 1000, and I know you know about Solo.

I'm pretty sure the TG and N-320 loads will work OK. American Select is very similar to Solo...clean, fast, single-based powder and fills the case nicely even at very low charge weights. As much as I like WSF and Silhouette in 9MM and, if I could get it all the time, N-330 would be my "go-to" powder with 115 grainers so I figure it's worth a shot with 147's. I added N-340 to the list only because Lyman list that (their "starting" load) as their "potentially most accurate" with 147 grainers.

[mbradst]

What is the longest that you have loaded any other bullet profile in your gun? If you load a regular HP round nose projectile to those lengths, the FN profile should behave the same, as long as the length of the bullet is the same. I load FMJ round nose to 1.125 and 1.130 with TG at target levels and they feed just fine in my Ruger P-89. I load them at the same length with max and a little over max loads of Power Pistol and have no problems either.

Maybe load up a few rounds at a longer OAL to load a mag with and cycle them through to see if they will feed that way. If they load fine, then shoot a few. Work up and in from there.

[BigSlick]

I shoot the Speer with a light charge of TG @ 1.125 and it works out fine in my 9mm offerings.

But, I load just about all my 9mm in a TC or HP to 1.125 outta habit cause all the guns feed it well and accuracy seems unaffected by going any longer

[D. Manley]

What is the longest that you have loaded any other bullet profile in your gun? If you load a regular HP round nose projectile to those lengths, the FN profile should behave the same, as long as the length of the bullet is the same. I load FMJ round nose to 1.125 and 1.130 with TG at target levels and they feed just fine in my Ruger P-89. I load them at the same length with max and a little over max loads of Power Pistol and have no problems either.

Maybe load up a few rounds at a longer OAL to load a mag with and cycle them through to see if they will feed that way. If they load fine, then shoot a few. Work up and in from there.

I load conventionally shaped RN bullets to 1.15/1.16. On a few with more rounded nose profiles (such as Montana Golds), I run at 1.135. The only HP's I've loaded were 115 grain and I generally run 1.10 on MG, 1.08 on XTP's and even shorter (1.06 IIRC) on Sierra's as per their load data. Glocks have fairly deep throats and I have no feed or function issues running regular FMJ at maximum OAL although, I normally stay a bit below.

Problem is, if you run at normal FMJ OAL with large, flat-tipped bullets it will put the ogive much closer to the lands so, they need to be loaded a bit shorter. How much, is the question.

[D. Manley]

I shoot the Speer with a light charge of TG @ 1.125 and it works out fine in my 9mm offerings.

But, I load just about all my 9mm in a TC or HP to 1.125 outta habit cause all the guns feed it well and accuracy seems unaffected by going any longer

Excellent Slick, good to know. I dug out some Federal OEM 147 grain HST's last night and although it's a HP bullet, the profile is strikingly similar. These were loaded at 1.130 so I'm comfortable loading these up initially at 1.125/1.130 now. First range trip should tell, thanks.

[ept000]

I just started shooting a lead 9mm. Until now I have loaded at 1.160" but the lead profile is a bit diferent. I took a spent case and polished down a bullet util it would just slide in. See where I'm going? Gently pushed it in the chamber, pulled it out and measuered the COL. No matter what you know you need to be shorter than that.

[D. Manley]

I just started shooting a lead 9mm. Until now I have loaded at 1.160" but the lead profile is a bit diferent. I took a spent case and polished down a bullet util it would just slide in. See where I'm going? Gently pushed it in the chamber, pulled it out and measuered the COL. No matter what you know you need to be shorter than that.

Yep, seating to the lands is pretty much a sure thing. In a Glock, you'll likely run out of magazine first though, pretty deep throats. On the Remington Match bullets, finally ran into someone that shooting them and he uses 1.130 in his plastic guns so I feel pretty good about it there. I cycled a few of the 1st ones and they run through like butter so, we'll see. Thanks.