9mm paper punching load

[elpac3]

Just acquired a smith model 39 - now I need to start reloading 9 mm.

Looking for a good mild 25 yard paper target load. I currently load .38 / .45 with Bullseye and red dot. Would like to use the new gun for a summer PPC league.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Bkreutz]

Load your "paper punching" ammo exactly the same as you are going to use for your PPC league. I've always felt that if I loaded practice ammo different than competition ammo, it would no longer be valid practice ammo.

[loc n load]

Congrat's on your 39.....bought a 59 back in the 70's and later carried a 659 and a 5904 as a duty weapon.....if you are shooting 124-125 gr lead or jacketed I would start with 4.0 of Bullseye, I have shot thousands of these over the years with cast bullets.....they are accurate - enjoy your 39.

[elpac3]

Thanks LNL.

been kicking myself for about 35 years now. Our chief used to carry a m-39. could not hit a barn wall standing inside the barn. Everyone else carried a m19 so he finally decided the gun was the problem - not the shooter. He sold his m39 with holster and mags and mag carriers for $100. Since I was not an auto fan I passed - big mistake.

Flash forward - I have come around some and have taken to shooting my fathers old m-52 and a Clark .45. Love the m52, not big on the 45 auto though.

Our gun club runs a PC league with a revolver and auto division. Would like to shoot in both - hence the m-39.

Lots of loads out there - just looking for a cast bullet load for putting holes in a b27 at 25 yards. Seriously thinking about using a bayou bullet as they shoot very clean in my m-29 and shoot more like a jacketed round - no lube smoke!

[ironhead7544]

For your uses, a jacketed bullet would be best. They will give the best accuracy. Your pistol will tell you what it likes best. I used WW231 and a 115 gr fmj for my M39. Never really got competition type accuracy out of it.

The best lead bullet accuracy with any 9mm was with a 160 gr RN meant for the 38 Super.

Check your bore diameter. Some are much larger than .355. For lead, you want about .001 larger than the bore.

I had several M39s and M59s over the years. They make nice carry pistols.

Always carry it with the safety on.

[ArchAngelCD]

Nice gun!

125gr LRN bullet - 4.0gr W231 - 1.125" OAL
124gr FMJ bullet - 4.4gr W231 - 1.100" OAL
124gr XTP/HP bullet - 5.7gr Longshot 1.090" OAL
Sorry, I don't remember the HS-6 load.
Always verify load data for yourself. Mistakes can and will happen when writing numbers!

[MyDads38]

Lead bullets would be less expensive, but plated bullets would be the way to go. Here are 2 websites I use for my plated bullets:

Everglades Ammunition and Reloading Free shipping USPS Priority 2-3 days

X-Treme BULLETS $5 flat rate shipping right now, just placed my first order with them and got 5% off my 45 cal. bullets.

I have always been a cast bullet shooter, and still have/shoot some; but plated bullets are not much more and so much easier to load and cleaner shooting too!

[Moe Mentum]

Hold out for xtreme's free shipping deals, they have them a few times a year, then order mass quantities.

[Nevada Ed]

If you have a 4" 9mm and some 115gr plated RN bullets......

1060-1090fps with Bullseye and Red Dot have been accurate for a nice light target load with a 1.14" OAL.

You can save powder if you drop to 1.12" OAL and use just 4.2grs of Bullseye, that hits around 1037 fps.

[gaijin]

!24 gr. JHP/FMJ/Lead RN with 3.6 to 4 gr. Titegroup has been accurate in my 9mm's.

[MyDads38]

4.1 grs. TiteGroup and 115 gr. Everglades plated RN works in all my 9's and a buddy uses the same load in his Springfield XDs sub compact.

3.5 grs. Red Dot and 125 gr. Cast Lead RN worked well in my Ruger P89DC. Need to try this in my other 9's, now that I'm typing this!

[GBertolet]

I agree with post #3. 4.0 gr of Bullseye with a 125 gr cast bullet would be a good place to start. It gives around 1100 fps, and is very close ballisticly to standard 124 gr factory jacketed ammo.

[Nevada Ed]

I have had good luck with a 3" 9mm with both the 115gr (1.12") and the 124gr plated RN bullet (1.14")
for a light target load that will work the action and get good groups near or at POA.

Both loading are with 3.5 grs of Red Dot.