Anyone here have any favorite cast bullet loads they use in 9mm? I got a cz-85 and a pile of brass but I'm too cheap to buy jacketed or plated bullets to run through it. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

I buy 9mm 125 grain lead cast bullets from bulletworks,
whatever primers I can get my hands on (Usually CCI as of late)
and use 5.9 grains of Accurate #5 for my loads

I load through a Dillon 550 press

This shoots great in my S&W 5906 TSW at the range

Thanks a lot man. I am saving my way up to a dillon, but a single stage redding is fine for me right now.

I still use the old load of 124gn cast RN over 3.5gns of Bullseye powder. As I've mentioned before, I use that powder charge a LOT. under a 158gn SWC for 38 Special and under a 96gn cast bullet for 9mm Makarov.

When I used cast lead bulets in the 9mm it was the 147 gr. with 3.3 to 3.5 gr. W-231 and WSP The 3.5 gr. was the max load in the W-W 14th Ed relaoding manual for ca 900+ fps.

I like that. I have a little less than a pound of bullseye I want to get rid of and this might must be the recipe since I have a zip lock bag of 158gn SWC my gunsmith gave me to use up.

+1 for the 3.5 gr. of Bullseye under a 125 gr. SWC. I like it a lot, especially since I don't have to change the powder measure when I switch over to 158 gr. 38 Special.

I have a good supply of Meister cast 124gr TCs. I load them over 3.8 grs 231.

They work great in my STI Trojan, a Glock, and several 3g S&W autos.

A friend gave me a 12# keg of Red Dot, so guess what I use???

The 125 grain cast bullet works well over 4 grains of it, for about 1050 fps.

I get my bullets from Missouri Bullets, the 125gr TCFP bullet works best for me, I use 3.5 grs 231 very mild load, but accurate in several pistols.
This bullet is listed for the 38 super, but works fine in 9mm. Look for bullet IDP#6 125gr TCFP.
I tried the 125RN bullets also, but the TCFP were more accurate for me.

Look them on the web, great prices, fast shipping via post office fixed rate boxes.

Edit to add info about magazines and cast bullets.
I was using Metalform plain magazines, Brownell stock # 620-009-081, and they worked fairly well for FMC jacketed reloads.
When I went to the cast bullets, these mag's were totally unreliable, so I replaced them with them Metalform " Springfield" mag's, Brownell's # 620-000-007, and they run 100% with the RN cast, or the TCFP cast. Wish someone would have told me this from the start, could have saved some money

I just finished working up 9mm cast loads, and settled on 3.8 Gr. 231 behind 125 Gr. RNL from Stonewall bullets. WSP primers and OAL 1.115". It chrono's at 906 fps and is comfortable to shoot and accurate. It is not a defense load.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

These are just going to be plinking loads. Shooting plates or snapping turtles on my buddies ponds etc. I don't want to be the test case for handloaded defense ammo.

I dont have 9mm load data. can you tell me whats bottom and top end for 231 using 125 lead?

I just bought some 125 and 147 lead and have plenty of 231.

I am looking to make a universal load accurate out to 50 yds for PPC and service matches but have enough epmhhh to knock over steel better than 115 ball.

thanks in advance

The book lists 4.0 gr. as top load, but I think it could be higher. Different books list different combination's max and min. I wouldn't go lighter than about 3.2, as with a semi auto it may not reliably function the action. With a revolver, possibly 3.0. I work up a load starting at minimum, and stop when I get the best accuracy. The load I chronograph'd at 906, was through a 2" barreled 940, and functions my 469 fine. Changing anything, such as the OAL, primer, or crimp can affect the velocity, pressure, and accuracy. Load small batch's of say 10 rounds, and test each .2 gr. change of load.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

One of my favorite loads is the same as Tsquared. 147gr bullet over 3.4 grains of WW231. The only problem with that load, is lots of smoke. I am currently switching to 4.0 grains of WSF under that same 147 grain bullet. There is a noticeable reduction in smoke. I am also trying out some of Donnie Mickluk's 135 grain Bayou Bullets. The coating also helps to reduce the smoke and they are still cheaper than plated or jacketed.

thanks HR. I will be shooting out a two 1911 5inchers. one is a plain janer and the other is a match PPC gun.

I should get more FPS out of a 5".

I always start in the middle and back off when I start to lead for easier cleaning.

thanks again

I use a 120 gr. home cast bullet over 3.1-3.2 gr. of Clays. It has worked pretty well for me so far.

I confess I haven't reloaded 9MM in a long time, Unique always worked best for me. Also a hard cast bullet worked best.

dont mean to steal this thread,

HRICHARD,

I am going to duplicate your load to try out of my SA 1911 5" 9mm.

I am going to load about 25 rounds

125 TC lead, 3.8gr 231, 1.115" OAL, with once fired brass.

since this is my first attempt with 9mil, what kind of crimp do you use?

just close with a light nudge, or something stiffer?

I am using a Dillon 550 and have been loading 45acp since the late 80s and go by feel with my 200 grain LSWC loads. I feel for a definite stick when crimping and have never had any issues with setback, etc.

Since a 1911 5" 9mil is very soft shooting with a 10-11lbs recoil spring, I wonder if it needs a softer crimp than the 45acp or still enough or equal to get a good powder burn.

your or anyone elses opinion on crimping 9mil.

thanks in advance

ADDED....
I made a test round (no primer or powder) to test feed in my 1911. the round looks short in the magazine. I fed this round 5 times letting the spring take the round into battery. No loss of OAL, so the light recoil spring will have no affect with setback on this very light crimp.

Now comes another issue in OAL in my gun. Correct me if I am wrong, if the bullet is further out of the case, the sooner it comes in contact with the rifling. of course then one could have feed issues. I may want to increase my OAL for better accuracy. I just measured a factory PMC 115 FMJ with an OAL of 1.154" which I have not had any feed issues.

I will probably increase my OAL to 1.150" and increase my crimp just a tad since there will be less bullet in the case.

opinions still welcomed

Like Scattershot, I find 4 grains of Red Dot under a 125 grain cast bullet to be a happy combo in the 9x19.

I've always had good luck with green dot and unique powders using lead cast bullets sized to .357. I also improved my groups by going from a roll crimp seating die to a taper crimp seating die on lead reloads.

I've been having a lot of trouble with the 122 gr. TC and 231. I'm not sure how much 231 I used, but I think it was 4.0 grs. It is very unpredictable in my 2" 940 in that sometimes the bullets will keyhole and sometimes not. Cleanliness of the bore seems to have nothing to do with it. My brother tried them out of his Kel-Tec and Hi Point carbines and the bullets were hitting sideways at close range. Funny thing is I used the exact same powder charge with the 124 gr. LRN and they cut nice round holes out to 100 yards in my 940. All these bullets are sized .356".

Dave Sinko

That almost sounds like the 122 gr your using are undersized. It may not be your load at all.

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Dave

Could you tell me what AOL you are using, and what gun please?

I am using a 122 grain TCBB from Magnus that I set to 1.015 OAL with 4.1 grains W231, M&P9

The problem I have is that any bullet that angles from the tail to the head without an ogive/curve has to be seated with almost all of the tail in the case. I have this problem with the lead FP and some Sierra hollow points as well.

I just made up a nice batch of 3.4 gr of Bullseye under the 124 LRN. I chrono'd 3.4 and 3.5 gr, and the 3.4 gr had a lower ES and SD. I ran 50 of them, so the difference should be statistically significant.

With my pistol, the brass were dropping at my feet, or hitting my body and then dropping straight down. I plan on using this as my target load. It feels like a big 22lr!

If thats the case it should barely move the muzzle in mine! Lol. I am using it in a CZ-85 and with full power factory ammo the recoil is negligble and with that light of a load it should shoot like a target load.