increasing accuracy of 9mm round
- Thread starter DonP
- Start date
Steve C
Well-known member
5.3 to 5.5grs of Unique is pretty warm for lead bullets and the velocity is likely well over 1,100 fps with the low load. A load of 5.2grs behind a 115gr JHP chrono'd at 1,152 fps from Beretta 92. Add at least 50 fps for a lead bullet with the same load and you're probably slipping the barrel rifling.
Drop down to 4.5grs and see if your groups don't improve. If you want to burn that much Unique get a really hard bullet or jacketed.
ABOVE 9MM GROUPS ARE FROM A RANSOM REST AT 50YDS.
LEFT GROUP 10 RDS, RIGHT GROUP 24 RDS THESE WERE THE 115GR LOADS
HORNADY XTP BULLET,
VV330 POWDER
147 GR XTP BULLET, 4.2 GR VV330
115 GR XTP BULLET, 5.0 GR VV330
124 GR XTP BULLET, 4.8GR VV330
CHOOSE YOUR BULLET WEIGHT. JP
TSQUARED
Well-known member
I beieve your 9mm will shoot jacketed bullets more accurately than lead or plated. The premium bullets such as the Hornady XTP line seem to provide better accuracy than opthers.
One also has to consider the particular gun/barrel preference for bullet weight and shape. My S&W 952 and Dan Wesson PM-9 which will shoot 115 to 147 gr. plated and jacketed bullets into roughly 1 nch groups at 50 ft. My S&W M&P9PRo provides smaller sized groups with 124 gr. bullets than 147 gr. while my S&W 99's performance is consistent across all bullet weights. The S&W 5906 I own has a definite preference for 147 gr. plated bullets and shoots tighter groups with a 124 gr. JHP than a 125 gr. JSP.
One also has to consider the particular gun/barrel preference for bullet weight and shape. My S&W 952 and Dan Wesson PM-9 which will shoot 115 to 147 gr. plated and jacketed bullets into roughly 1 nch groups at 50 ft. My S&W M&P9PRo provides smaller sized groups with 124 gr. bullets than 147 gr. while my S&W 99's performance is consistent across all bullet weights. The S&W 5906 I own has a definite preference for 147 gr. plated bullets and shoots tighter groups with a 124 gr. JHP than a 125 gr. JSP.
Just to clarify Precision Delta bullets are FMJ open base bullets. I was wondering if I was seating too shallow or maybe they are not fast enough leaving the barrel. I seem to shoot high on all the powders I have tried. All the loads are midrange and I have not tried upper range loads yet.
OKFC05
Well-known member
To be candid, the Unique load is the problem in 9mm:
I shoot many thousand of this load each year in 9mm:
Precision Delta 124gr FMJ
4.1 gr Titegroup
OAL 1.14 (not critical)
Accuracy/stability tested to 100yd
Titegroup with the PD 115gr FMJ bullets is also pretty good.
Naturally, premium bullets tend to give better groups than bulk bullets.
I shoot many thousand of this load each year in 9mm:
Precision Delta 124gr FMJ
4.1 gr Titegroup
OAL 1.14 (not critical)
Accuracy/stability tested to 100yd
Titegroup with the PD 115gr FMJ bullets is also pretty good.
Naturally, premium bullets tend to give better groups than bulk bullets.
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SW CQB 45
Well-known member
ABOVE 9MM GROUPS ARE FROM A RANSOM REST AT 50YDS.
LEFT GROUP 10 RDS, RIGHT GROUP 24 RDS THESE WERE THE 115GR LOADS
HORNADY XTP BULLET,
VV330 POWDER
147 GR XTP BULLET, 4.2 GR VV330
115 GR XTP BULLET, 5.0 GR VV330
124 GR XTP BULLET, 4.8GR VV330
CHOOSE YOUR BULLET WEIGHT. JP
PPC, by chance do you have velocities that go with each grouping.
does your gun shoot better with 115s at 50 yds?
it would seem better to utilize the heavier slugs at the 50 yds but I am just getting into 9mil and gathering intell for my PPC 9mil 1911 5".
I need velocities as I dont have the VV powder, so I will try and get close to those FPS with what I got.
thanks in advance
Actually, per Speer 14 using their 115 FMJ bullet (similar to PDelta) the range for Unique is 5.6 to 6.3 so you are below the start rate based on their data.
Before trying other powders which also could help (Bullseye, Titegroup, W 231, power pistol), try a little higher charge and have you measure the fit of a dummy round in your barrels? Load up some dummy rds with no powder or primer at a little longer length and drop them in the barrel. keep adjusting until the round drops out freely and is flush. You may be a little to short or long depending on the barrel.
Are you using a taper crimp?
Before trying other powders which also could help (Bullseye, Titegroup, W 231, power pistol), try a little higher charge and have you measure the fit of a dummy round in your barrels? Load up some dummy rds with no powder or primer at a little longer length and drop them in the barrel. keep adjusting until the round drops out freely and is flush. You may be a little to short or long depending on the barrel.
Are you using a taper crimp?
Jeff423
US Veteran
As others have mentioned, your powder charge isn't sufficient, the low velocity allows your poor followthrough to adversely affect the groups. 5.8 gr of Unique should get you about 1100 fps.
If you're looking for target grade accuracy, you need the Horanaday 125 gr truncated cone bullet and possibly a different powder. You could try 4.7-5.0 gr of Unique under that bullet.
If you're looking for target grade accuracy, you need the Horanaday 125 gr truncated cone bullet and possibly a different powder. You could try 4.7-5.0 gr of Unique under that bullet.
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OKFC05
Well-known member
I use the Hodgdon data:
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
115 GR. SPR GDHP Hodgdon Titegroup .355" 1.125" 4.5 1135 29,500 CUP 4.8 1158 30,500 CUP
NEVER EXCEED MAXIMUM LOADS
