SWC loads for 9mm?

Wee Hooker · Jul 2, 2016

I've been shooting more 9 mm lately. To be specific, I'm shooting my M&P pro and 1911 Pro more for accuracy on paper. Given that I have some "go to" loads in 38 and 45 acp that use Semi Wadcutter bullets, I figured I'd try some in my 9's. ( To be honest, those crisp cut holes are a welcome sight for my ageing eyes these days.)
The problem is that I've tried two brands of 125 gr SWCs, lead and plated and am loosing (not gaining) accuracy over my go to round nosed loads.
Can anyone here share their experience/ best loads with semi wadcutters in the 9mm to save me a bit of experimenting?

p.s. I've got Bullseye, Unique, Tightgroup, Hp38, Clays, Solo1000, Red Dot and a few others in the locker but am willing to try something new if that's what it takes.

824tsv · Jul 2, 2016

I don't recall ever seeing a SWC 9mm bullet before. You have piqued my interest. Will your pistol feed SWC's?

rockquarry · Jul 2, 2016

I've tried cast SWCs (Hensley & Gibbs #12B mould, about 140 grs. using wheelweight alloy) years ago. These were fired in several guns as I recall, but mostly in a Beretta. Functioning was about 98% reliable with good accuracy.

I did this mostly as an experiment. I have some old notes on my work that I have not looked up, but I believe that for best accuracy, I sized bullets to .358" or .359", diameters that may not work in every 9mm gun. I wouldn't try this with a Glock or H&K.

My experience with plated bullets has been very limited and unsuccessful. I've never used them in a 9mm pistol.

Bulldawg Dad · Jul 2, 2016

Bayou Bullets Coated 150 Grain Semi Wadcutters. I shoot them in my Springfield Armory Range Officer, G-17, G-19, and G-34.

I use just enough WSF Powder to get about 2 feet of ejection for a soft shooting load.

You may have to play around with the seating depth a little for maximum dependability on feeding.

Murdock · Jul 2, 2016

There has to be a reasonable solution to this. Jeff Cooper used SWC bullets in his "Super 9" (aka "Super Cooper") in the 1970's.

Wee Hooker · Jul 2, 2016

824tsv said:
I don't recall ever seeing a SWC 9mm bullet before. You have piqued my interest. Will your pistol feed SWC's?

Yes, feeding has not been a problem (to date) in any of the guns mentioned above but admittedly I have only shot a hundred or so of them so far. Need that load first.

Keep your thoughts coming folks, I'm listening!

Nevada Ed · Jul 2, 2016

In the 9mm, try the 125gr bullet with 3.8grs of Bullseye and Red Dot at the maximum OAL that your magazine will feed without problems and if it is ok in the chambering plunk test.

These loads should cycle 100% if you don't have a heavy spring.

You can always shorten the OAL to gain fps......
I got a 125gr coated RN down to 1.06", so you have a lot of lee way in your tests to come.

Good luck.

noylj · Jul 2, 2016

115 and 124gn SWCs feed well in all my 9x19 guns and are right up there with JHP for accuracy.
I find that powders slower than AA5 give the best accuracy, with Power Pistol and Silhouette being the best I've tried so far.
I use 0.357" commercial cast or I shoot my own cast bullets "as-cast" without sizing.
Plated anything has been a waste of money in terms of accuracy and when I tried jacketed SWCs in .45 Auto, they were a real waste of time and money.

SW CQB 45 · Jul 2, 2016

I have used Penn 115 SWC and Bayou 150 SWC with success.

Had some leading issues with 115 Penn and it was discovered my Nowlin barreled Springer was .356" as was the slug. My other two 9s are slugged at .355".

I recently ordered some Missouri 125 SWC and will have those to play with.

I have not tested them much but got good results (accuracy) on the first try...

Bayou 150 using 3.8 WSF CCI primer COAL 1.142"
Penn 115 using 4.0 WSL CCI primer COAL 1.092"
Penn 115 using 3.9 N320 CCI primer COAL 1.090"

calmex · Jul 2, 2016

If you cast, the Saeco 140 grain SWC mould in 9 mm is just excellent. It is incredibly accurate and in any decent barrel length getting it up to 1,100 fps is no problem. Out of a 4 inch Glock with a lead-friendly barrel, 1050 is more like it.

Fantastic bullet. If you cast.

Qc Pistolero · Jul 2, 2016

4.0 gr.HP 38 under a 125gr works well for me.Shoots softly in my old S&W 539 and groups better than any other loads I've tried in it.
Qc

rwsmith · Jul 2, 2016

I have.....

824tsv said:
I don't recall ever seeing a SWC 9mm bullet before. You have piqued my interest. Will your pistol feed SWC's?

I have some really good blood red and green ones from Bayou, 125 and 147 grains. And IF SEATED right, they feed fine in my 5943, my Shield and my Kel Tec P 11.

Some guns can take the SWCs seated out a tad. But my compacts ONLY like a thumbnail of the shank showing.

Penn sells a 115 gr 9mm swc
Missouri makes a 125 gr 9mm SWC

I like all of these brands.

I feel that an SWC (as long as it feeds) does everything a RN can, AND leave a nicely cut hole.

PS I had a terrible time getting 125 gr coated RN bullets to work in my guns until I realized that though not described as such, they had a nearly 'small ball' profile. I thought I was going to go nuts until I got all of the bullets below 1.07", more like 1.06" and got much more reliable performance. I've been so busy trying to get the bugs out that I'm just now about to evaluate them for accuracy.

I wonder if the coating can cause fast bore fouling? It should be easy to clean out with a few swipes of a dry brush, but I've been suspicious of that. Anybody have a feeling on this???

fredj338 · Jul 2, 2016

I cast my own 130gr, shoots great in my 1911 springer. The Bayou 150gr also shoot great.

slickracer · Jul 2, 2016

Dardas Cast Bullets make a real nice 126 grain SWC with a flat base and your choice of size.

wrangler5 · Jul 3, 2016

Concerning the implication in calmex's post - it's my understanding that all Glock barrels actually are lead friendly as long as you don't engage in the widely popular Glock-sport of seeing how many thousands of rounds you can fire without cleaning 'em.

I've seen reports of active competitors putting tens of thousands of lead bullets down their stock Glock barrels with nary a hiccup, but they clean the barrels regularly, like we were all taught to do when we were young.

StakeOut · Jul 3, 2016

Took ownership of my 1st 9mm ever.

Shot many but never owned until I bought a very nice condition 39-2 with 2 original mags at a show a few weeks ago.It's very accurate between 10yds and 50 feet.

With 115gr 9mm selling for about $9.75 a box of 50 at Walmart I decided not to reload the caliber.

If I did reload the caliber I would surely load SWCs unless I ran into feeding issues.

I had possession of a Sig P938 a while back for a carry trial but never bought it.It's a very nice pocket carry that I had no issues with except a wee small for my paws.

SWC loads for 9mm?

Wee Hooker

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824tsv

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rockquarry

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Bulldawg Dad

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Murdock

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Wee Hooker

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Nevada Ed

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noylj

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SW CQB 45

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calmex

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rwsmith

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