So I'm looking into getting into reloading. And as with most large purchases I do quite a bit of research before I commit. I have been looking and with not too much luck online. Question: I want to load Hornady 9mm 115gr fmj-rn with Hodgdon CFE pistol. But there is not a whole lot of information for the specific powder that I can find. So I was wondering if someone could help me out with the load data. Any advice would be good really since I've yet to make any kind of purchase. Just a basic shopping list.

Currently about the only data using CFE Pistol will be from Hodgdon. You can get the data online or from their magazine-like annual manual. The 2016 issue can be bought online from the Hodgdon online store. I ordered mine last week and received it Monday.

Hodgdon uses the GDHP, not a rn-fmj. Just back off 10% and work your way up as recommended in all the manuals.

Since when loaded to the same OAL the FMJ will have a reduced seating depth compared too the Speer GDHP there is no reason to reduce the published load for the Gold Dot! Seating depth is the critical criteria, not OAL or bullet length. Seat to the SAAMI maximum OAL of 1.169" with the GDHP data and there will be no problems.

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Gunsmithing since 1961

Whenever there is a change in any component, whether it be bullet, primer, case manufacturer, or powder lot, it is always recommended to start low and work your way back up. That is the only safe way to do it, although experienced reloaders violate that rule all the time and usually get away with it.

MichiganScott: I'll probably do what you said and order the hodgdon powder catalog. I've done quite a bit of research so far and knew to start at the beginning of the powder charge and to work your way up. I'm in the market right now for a relaoding book to read before I commit to anything. What would you suggest for that? I don't know if it matters but most of the equipment I'm investing in will more then likely be hornady. Just a basic singe stage press.

The best books on reloading happen to be the manuals published by the bullet and powder manufacturers/distributors. The "how to" section in front of the data is more important for newcomers than the actual data.

They aren't cheap. If you plan on buying Hornady equipment, start with a Hornady manual. I have every manual that I've ever purchased dating back to the early '70s. Both the data and "how to" sections change between editions. It's interesting to see the evolution of the sport.

You can find other helpful books on Amazon. I'm fond of the "ABC's of Reloading", and Ken Waters, "Pet Loads".

Most importantly is to find a mentor if possible. Hopefully you will find one that has never blown a primer and doesn't believe that the loads printed in the manuals are artificially low to keep the lawyers happy. The loads in the newest manuals have been extensively tested with expensive and highly accurate equipment so they are both safe and functional.

Actually there IS a difference in over all length from the Hornady 115 ball and the 115gr Gold Dot but....................

most loads will be safe with a 1.125" OAL for a 115gr style bullet for a 9mm loading unless you have a pistol with a very short throat.

Hodgdon and Speer do have different OAL for their types of 115gr bullets but you will not know this until you see "Their" data.

As stated above, the Hodgdon site has CFE pistol powder data but not for the Hornady Ball ammo but there is a Ball bullet listing that will work with a very safe LONG OAL setting.

Good loading.

The canonical manuals seem to be the Speer and Lyman publications.
this, supplemented by data gleaned from the powder manufacturers site fills out most needs.

CFE pistol is one of the new kids on the block.
It seems to be in the sweet spot for most auto pistols.
it meters well and seems to make some fine numbers.
The only downside I can see is that it is more dense than most, sorta like the hotly debated titegroup.
It won't be quite as easy to visually spot a case fill discrepancy as it would be with Unique, thus I'm slightly hesitant to award it the VBPOH (VenomBallistics Powder of Honor).

It has everything else though, and should provide you with glorious service.

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it just needs more voltage

I bought the Hornady 9th edition for relaoding. And looking at the powders they have listed I'm thinking about the Alliant power pistol. I've been shooting 115gr winchester white box rounds from my s&w m&p vtac. And the fps on those rounds is 1190. And the power pistol has the greatest range of velocities. I want to try and match the velocities and see what the groupings are like. But per the advice I've been given I'll start at 4.8gr which should give about 1000fps and work my way up to 6.4gr which should give me about 1200 fps. And which ever load between the two that gives me the results I'm looking for I'll go with.

So far I am very pleased with CFE pistol. Everything Venom said is true. I solved the visually discrepancy problem with a RCBS powder check die on my turret press. (See Pic)

As far as a Load for the 115 gr fmj rn , I am loading the 9mm - 115 gr RN HPCB from X-treme with 5.6gr of CFE pistol. It shoots quit well . (See Pic) In that group is 22 rounds of 9mm at 30 yards

Attached Images

	1216pcdie.jpg (109.6 KB, 95 views)
	9mm30yards.jpg (66.6 KB, 157 views)

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Not so Free in the Free State

I'll probably end up getting some cfe pistol and power pistol and see which I like the best. But I like how tight that group is. What pistol did you shoot it with?

I can not disclose my choice of weaponry Just kidding. I put together a 9mm carbine and was testing it out. The load shoots good groups out of my other toys too.

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Not so Free in the Free State

+1;
on the case volume with CFE Pistol powder and other type "Ball" powders.
My middle of the road loading is about 50% of the case and with the 115gr plated, it is some where near 72-76% of case volume. Same with the slower HS-6 powder.

In some ways this is a good thing..........
mostly if you ever try to load the large 147 gr bullet.
Flake powder will fill the case up in a hurry.

Load no more than five rounds at each charge weight as you work your way up. There is always a good chance that the lighter loads may not work the action properly.

When you get the results you want for both accuracy and velocity, load up a larger batch and verify your results. If your first accurate group was an anomaly but still functions the pistol, you can still shoot them. There are few things more frustrating in life than having to break down 50 rds. that don't function in your pistol.

I mean, I NEVER have the same components used in the test, neither brass, bullets nor primers.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I think I had the specified bullet and primer once
But there is something to be said for getting a rookie as close to some kind of a standard as is possible for the sake of establishing a baseline for future observations

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it just needs more voltage

I have a full sized 9mm 5943 that eats ANYTHING without a burp. However, I'm new to compact pistols (a Shield and Kel tec P11) and tried lead semi wadcutters and had one lousy range session. The cartridges came out of the mag, but never made it to the feed ramp and got closed up in the mechanism long wise. I had to drop the mags and pull back on the slide to get it to drop out, either through the port or the mag well. Also there seem to be a bit of forward assist needed some times in the Shield. The Kel Tec P-11 was the pickiest.

The next range session I took reloaded JHPs and FMJs (both factory and home made) and not only did they work great, but I had good for me session accuracy wise and was I was able to realistically evaluate the guns when they worked better. (No kidding, if I were in a fight with these I'd do better throwing it at the perp)

I've got three semis now that I need to get proficient with. I need to 'play' with the loads to see what the main problem is since I'd really like to shoot lead for economy.

The OALs that were used were:

1.08" 147 SWC (light load) 3.6 gr Acc #7

1.12" 124 gr. SWC (medium load) 3.4 gr Red Dot

1.137" 124 gr SWC (light load) 5 - 5.3 gr Acc #7

1.105" 124 gr. SWC 3.8 gr. Bullseye

Since 9mm max OAL is 1.169, I'd say these were a tad short and should probably be hotter. What bugs me is needing the forward assist. I plunk test my rounds, at least in one of the barrels. Maybe the chambers vary. Next time I'll try plunking in all three barrels

I'm not going to spend a great deal of time on this, though I want to satisfy my curiosity about the poor results. If I can't get them to work well, I'll try some lead round nose bullets.

Can anybody see anything obviously wrong here.

Another observation is that practicing with three semis I'm going to go through a LOT of ammo.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Geeeeze...Louweeeze..............

You guys sound like every new kid on the block is shooting pistols made out of paper.

Safe is GOOD...... but most of the 9's out there will hold up to normal ammo and reloads that are in the manuals today.

Ah;
I feel better now.

Ed, you are correct, but the new kids need to develop safe practices that work for them. Starting at the max load given for one charge/bullet combination with a different bullet/case/primer is not a practice generally viewed as safe.If you start low and work your way back up, you can get away with a lot of sins.

Per #9 & 14 post.......
"... and work my way up to 6.4gr which should give me about 1200 fps..."

I hope that is with Unique powder?

A max of CFE with a 115gr in my data calls for only 5.9 grs.
Stay safe.