9mm brass and bullets

[SpecRacer]

I just bought my first 9mm pistol and want to start reloading for it. The reloads will be used solely for practice. Lighter loads, probably with Unique.

Do you folks have any recommendations for brass brands? We are looking for long life, reliability and economy.

Also the same question for 9mm bulk bullets?

Thanks

 

[moxie]

I've always used either range brass or brass from factory ammo I've shot. It's all good. Most reloadable dozens and dozens of times. If you have to buy some, just go with the best deal.

As far as bullets go, your most economical deal is cast lead. My favorite is the 124 gr. round nose lead bullet from Missouri bullets. It's called the "Small Ball." Great service and prices.

 

[scooter123]

If you want new brass the lowest cost is Starline and this brand is considered to have excellent quality. For range brass my favorite for reloading is Remington, so I'll shoot some Remington UMC just for the brass. I've also used a LOT of Federal brass from years of shooting the cheap Champion ammo prior to starting to reload.

I would also recommend that you find something other than Unique for loading your 9mm because it doesn't meter well at all. Based on my Statistical studies you can see a variation in charge weight of up to 1/2 grain and for the lighter charges in the 9mm 1/2 grain is a LOT. BTW, the standard deviation obtained for a 50 pc capability study was 0.17 grains, so you can see 10 straight throws within 1/10 grains but throw 200 and you'll see those extreme "flyers". I like the accuracy Unique can produce but when I use it I make sure to check the charge weight of every single charge and adjust as needed.

For your 9mm loads what I would recommend is Vihtavouri 3N37 or Accurate #5. The SD when I tested 3N37 was 0.05 and %3 has a SD of 0.03, so both meter superbly. For powder puff 9mm loads Accurate #2 will probably fill the bill however all my experience is with #5, #7, and #9, all of which meter superbly.

 

[SpecRacer]

If you want new brass the lowest cost is Starline and this brand is considered to have excellent quality. For range brass my favorite for reloading is Remington, so I'll shoot some Remington UMC just for the brass. I've also used a LOT of Federal brass from years of shooting the cheap Champion ammo prior to starting to reload.

I would also recommend that you find something other than Unique for loading your 9mm because it doesn't meter well at all. Based on my Statistical studies you can see a variation in charge weight of up to 1/2 grain and for the lighter charges in the 9mm 1/2 grain is a LOT. BTW, the standard deviation obtained for a 50 pc capability study was 0.17 grains, so you can see 10 straight throws within 1/10 grains but throw 200 and you'll see those extreme "flyers". I like the accuracy Unique can produce but when I use it I make sure to check the charge weight of every single charge and adjust as needed.

For your 9mm loads what I would recommend is Vihtavouri 3N37 or Accurate #5. The SD when I tested 3N37 was 0.05 and %3 has a SD of 0.03, so both meter superbly. For powder puff 9mm loads Accurate #2 will probably fill the bill however all my experience is with #5, #7, and #9, all of which meter superbly.

Thank you for your comments, especially about the Unique. My Speer Handbook shows a low charge of 4.1 for Unique and I was wondering how accurate that would measure as a few extra or less large disks of Unique would probably make a big difference in SD.

One quick question though, is Accurate #5 fypically named AA #5 in reloading manuals or is that completely different powder?

Thanks

 

[Peak53]

Accurate Arms #X = AA #x. Meters well in my experience

 

[BE Mike]

Starline is hard to beat for brass. Although I have carbide sizing dies, I lube the NEW cases. For bullets, as long as you have standard rifling in your barrel, any quality hard cast bullet is hard to beat for price and performance. Unique is a good all around powder, but the flakes are kinda big, but should meter fine, as long as you use a consistent technique and a quality powder measure. Bullseye usually meters very well.

 

[AzShooter]

I normally buy 500 - 1000 rounds of American Eagle 9 mm ammo and that's to break in the gun. Then I end up with once fired Federal Brass, good to go from there.

If I buy new brass I buy Starline. It's cheap but is very good.

Bullets I get from a variety of sources. If you like lead try the new Coated Bullets in different colors. Some sources are:

Acme Bullet Company - Wisconsin
SNS Bullets
Bayou Bullets
Blue Bullets

 

[old&slow]

I use mixed brass. Remington & Americ are my least favorite and quite often gets pitched.
I prefer 147 gr coated or plated bullets over cast.
I'm currently using Bullseye powder which fills the case about 40% so a double charge is easy to see.
I also like W231 powder but, have not found any for quite awhile.
Unique doesn't meter that great for me.

HS-6 is another powder that I like to use. And is good for several calibers I that I reload.

 

[SpecRacer]

Any thoughts on Winchester Brass. A local store has Winchester SZX ammo on sale at about $.23 a round where as Starline 9mm brass is about $.21 cents per round. Seems like buying the Winchester SZX is like buying the brass and getting the powder and bullet almost for free.

 

[OKFC05]

I just bought my first 9mm pistol and want to start reloading for it. The reloads will be used solely for practice. Lighter loads, probably with Unique.

Just my opinion based on loading 10-12000 9mm a year when competing with a 9mm, and having to worry about chrono and power factor.
Unique and light loads: No thanks, it is ridiculous to have to weigh 9mm pistol loads to get consistency. In general, minimum loads with Unique may not work the slide reliably, and will leave soot.
Lead bullets in 9mm: Coated or plated, OK, but for wax lubed lead, see Soot. Shoot maybe 200 rounds in a match and look at the gun.

9mm target loads work best with fast powder that meters smoothly.
I settled on Precision Delta 124gr FMJ over Titegroup for PF 135.
The only thing I worry about on brass is whether it is crimped (some just have light ring crimp around primer) and whether it is damaged or worn out. When you shoot matches, who knows which brass you get back?

If you need brass, the Brassman sells once fired for $30/500

 

[cardguy]

I buy once fired brass online. I'm not that good that I could ever tell the difference between once fired and new brass. I've had good luck loading Power Pistol from Alliant with 124 gr FMJ from Precision Delta.

 

[H Richard]

When you set up to reload, I highly recommend you use a separate crimp die. Seat bullet and crimp in two stages. I don't know what kind of a loader you use, but recommend a Dillon or Hornady as quality loaders that you won't have problems with. In 9mm I use 231 with 124 gr. powder coated bullets, not much more than cast lead bullets, and no smoke, no lube build up, cleaner shooting, no leading. With the 147 gr. powder coated I use Power Pistol. Both powders meter exceptionally well. When adjusting your dies, set the OAL to what the book recommends for that particular bullet, or what will easily work within your magazines reliably, error on the side of longer ,not shorter OAL.

 

[gaijin]

I use the same components OKFCO5 mentioned:
3.9 gr. Titegroup, 124 gr. Precision Delta JHP. Accurate load in my pistols.
This is for competitive shooting.
For general "range ammo" I frequently use 124 gr. coated RN from "Blue Bullets" with the same powder/charge.

 

[SpecRacer]

When you set up to reload, I highly recommend you use a separate crimp die. Seat bullet and crimp in two stages. I don't know what kind of a loader you use, but recommend a Dillon or Hornady as quality loaders that you won't have problems with. In 9mm I use 231 with 124 gr. powder coated bullets, not much more than cast lead bullets, and no smoke, no lube build up, cleaner shooting, no leading. With the 147 gr. powder coated I use Power Pistol. Both powders meter exceptionally well. When adjusting your dies, set the OAL to what the book recommends for that particular bullet, or what will easily work within your magazines reliably, error on the side of longer ,not shorter OAL.

Dillon 550.

 

[Steve C]

I've loaded 9mm for over 30 years and have mostly burned Unique. Unique will meter as well as any other powder including ball type like W231 in rotary drum meters like my Hornady on my LNLAP and a stand alone I use for my single stage RCBS Jr. as long as you use the pistol meter set up. If Dillon's slide meter won't drop Unique under 1/10 gr consistency then shame on Dillon.

If you want to produce top velocity in the 9 at standard pressure Unique is the best powder I've found for 115gr bullets.

For "practice" target level loads under 1,200 fps a faster powder is more economical. I'm currently burning a keg of Green Dot picked up at an estate sale with 124gr RNL and Plated but have also used Red Dot for target loads.

 

[rwsmith]

Starline has been the best....

Starline is generally the best, but they let QC slip during the shortage and I don't know whether they've gotten back or not. Winchester is good. Truthfully most any 9mm brass works, some just might not last as many reloadings. You can get some white box practice ammo and shoot them up and save the brass. Our range let's us save brass so I usually sweep up my area and pick up few extras in case some of mine bounced to far.

 

[SpecRacer]

Problem solved on the brass. I just bought 500 rnds of some Loaded Winchester 9mm. 50 rnds for $11.87. They were selling Winchester Brass for $26 per hundred. I basically got 500 rounds of loaded ammo for less than the cost of the brass alone. Got it at Bass Pro Shop.

Unfortunately they had none of the powders you guys recommended.

 

[scooter123]

SpecRacer, if you go to the Starline web site you'll find 9mm Luger (parabellum) cases sell for 130.50 per 1000 and 74.00 per 500. That is a much better price than buying it in the 100 count bags and Starline ships quickly for items that are in stock.

As for Winchester brass, my experience with 38 special Winchester cases hasn't been great. Problem was rim diameters that were over the SAAMI specification and that forced me to purchase an RCBS Shell holder because the Winchester cases would fit into my Lee shell holder. I've also found Winchester White box to less than impressive. About all I can say about the budget Winchester ammunition is that most of the time it will go bang and you'll get lots and lots of practice cleaning your handgun because it is distinctly dirty.

 

[max]

I have never had any luck with lead in the 9mm. Granted I did not spend a lot of time slugging barrels and such. I use a fast powder, 231 and buy jacketed or plated bullets. When 9mm is $10 or less, I shoot factory. I use mixed brass. I like military when I can get it, but no real preference.

 

[otisrush]

I shoot 124gr FMJs made by Zero Bullets. They seem to be a really good value - good price for how well they shoot.

I use Titegroup powder - although I can't say that I recommend it when starting out.....because of comments commonly found about how little it takes to get over spec. If you're not careful you can get into trouble with it. That being said - I just started loading pistol about 8 months ago and Titegroup is the only powder I've ever used for 9mm. I've had no problems with it. I just put in a lot of extra checks to help ensure I'm not making mistakes.