9mm "service" load suggestions
- Thread starter Gutpile Charlie
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Ksan
Member
How much Titegroup are you using with the 124 bullets?
If you like 231 in the 9mm you will love WST. Works great for 124-147 grain bullets. Softer recoil
If you are looking for best velocity-Power Pistol delivers but at the cost of being louder than other powders at the same velocity.
Old school-Unique works as well as it did 25 years ago.
If you are looking for best velocity-Power Pistol delivers but at the cost of being louder than other powders at the same velocity.
Old school-Unique works as well as it did 25 years ago.
firecracker6
Member
If by service load you mean something that might be good to hunt pigs with I recommend n340. I've just started using an M&P but I've got 1166 fps using 124gr XTP's w/ 5 fps e.s. and 2 fps s.d. out of my cz75's. If you have trouble finding n340 you might try longshot, AA5, AA7, 4756 or many others depending on bullet weight. If 9mm had an official powder it would probably be win 231 followed by unique; both are good for plinking and you can get some pretty good performance out of them as well. Faster burners like n320 and titegroup are popular amongst cometition shooters largely because a reduction in perceived reoil and muzzle flip. I've been reloading 9mm for quite awhile and I've never had any problems seating the bullets; COL is another matter. Some pistols are more picky about length than others when it comes to feeding, some (such as CZ's) have little lead which can limit length --especially w/ conical bullets. The main issue w/ seating bullets in 9mm is that one must be careful to match COL w/ that listed in the manual. Seating depth can have a dramatic impact on pressure and 9mm doesn't have all that much room to play w/ in that regard --sometimes even a few thousandths of an in. can make a dramatic difference. As far as crimp goes.....I've never had much luck crimping this round. I've gotten my best results using very little crimp. I use a Lee dies. I also seat and crimp at separate stations using a FCD. By no means is the FCD necessary; seating and crimping at the same station will work just fine it's just that I like the nice extra little bit of love the FCD puts on my rounds. I've read that all 9mm seating dies taper crimp; I don't know whether that's true or not but I do know for a fact the Lee seating die does. If you really want to learn all you can about reloading this cartridge I can't recommend the reloading section of the cz forum highly enough. There's a sticky there that was written by some guys who probably now everything there is to know about his round. Hope this helps some. Did I mention that I escaped from a state mental facility only yesterday and that I've recently discovered a proclivity for self administered electroshock therapy?
ldhunter1959
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firecracker - which cz forum has the reference on 9mm reloading? I spend some time at czfirearms.usa (the so-called original cz forum) but under reloading there I did not see any stickies regarding the 9mm.
By the way my standard target load for the 9mm is 115 grain LRN (regionally made hard cast bullet) with about 4.6 grs. of HP-38. Shoots reliably in my only two current nines (PPS and CZ75). I did have to shorten the bullet length by .002 or so to get reliable feeding the cz.
By the way my standard target load for the 9mm is 115 grain LRN (regionally made hard cast bullet) with about 4.6 grs. of HP-38. Shoots reliably in my only two current nines (PPS and CZ75). I did have to shorten the bullet length by .002 or so to get reliable feeding the cz.
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firecracker6
Member
czfirearms.us is the one. They no longer have a 2 part sticky entitled "handloading 9mm;" they've redone it into several stickies that are less 9mm specific. The stickies are all entitled "reloading tips" and a there's a sticky for each component. I haven't read it in its entirety in a long time but I just skimmed it and it looks as though they've made it a little more generic though t still looks excellent. I highly recommend it. I'm not surprised at your pet load. I understand hp38 and win 231 are the same powder. I love win 231 for 9mm though I've never used lead bullets.
I only shoot cast through my 9x19s and my standard load is 3.5 gns of Bullseye under a Lyman 124gn RN sized .358 and lubed with White Label Lube Carnauba Red. Other than the lube I expect this particular load has been around longer than either of us.
I think like the 158 gr is the standard for the 38 spl I believe the 124 gr is the standard for 9mm. As your not new to reloading you know the routine on powder primers and bullets. Everyone has a favorite and they're all different.
I would agree with this
Engieman
Member
I spent a lot of time researching 9mm loads via load manuals, articles, blogs, etc. Tried numerous combinations of bullets and powders all shot in my four 9's (BHP, Armalite AR-24, Walther P99 & PPS). Did not fool with cases and primers, used Winchester for both. Conclusion - 124 grain Montana Gold HP, and Power Pistol powder. This based on performance, price, consistency, accuracy and cleanliness....and just plan feel. Very nice combination. Frankly, I don't understand the comments on the powder being excessively loud or a flamethrower. I keep my loads in the medium ranges, avoid excessive pressures and look for accuracy, reliability and clean burning efficiency. I won't be changing anytime soon.
124gr bullets (hornady HP or PD) with WSF powder.
BR,
Guy -
BR,
Guy -
arizona98tj
US Veteran
I started using Unique in the '70s and still use it today.
My 9mm range practice load is 5.0 gr Unique over a Berry's 115gr TMJ with a COAL @ 1.150". Out of my XD's 4" barrel, it shows 1140 FPS on my PACT chronograph. The same load out of my PM9 3" barrel slows to 1017 FPS.
For reference purposes, Winchester White Box 115 gr loads run 1202 FPS from the XD and 1067 FPS out of the PM9.
My 9mm range practice load is 5.0 gr Unique over a Berry's 115gr TMJ with a COAL @ 1.150". Out of my XD's 4" barrel, it shows 1140 FPS on my PACT chronograph. The same load out of my PM9 3" barrel slows to 1017 FPS.
For reference purposes, Winchester White Box 115 gr loads run 1202 FPS from the XD and 1067 FPS out of the PM9.
arizona98tj
US Veteran
I started using Unique in the '70s and still use it today.
My 9mm range practice load is 5.0 gr Unique over a Berry's 115gr TMJ with a COAL @ 1.150". Out of my XD's 4" barrel, it shows 1140 FPS on my PACT chronograph. The same load out of my PM9 3" barrel slows to 1017 FPS.
For reference, Winchester White Box 115 gr loads run 1202 FPS from the XD and 1067 FPS out of the PM9. All of these velocities were acquired during the same range session.
My 9mm range practice load is 5.0 gr Unique over a Berry's 115gr TMJ with a COAL @ 1.150". Out of my XD's 4" barrel, it shows 1140 FPS on my PACT chronograph. The same load out of my PM9 3" barrel slows to 1017 FPS.
For reference, Winchester White Box 115 gr loads run 1202 FPS from the XD and 1067 FPS out of the PM9. All of these velocities were acquired during the same range session.
Fuego
Member
I only load for practice and plinking. I use commercial ammo for anything serious, including carry.
I load 125gr LRN bullets with a taper crimp, but I load them light, just enough to cycle the action reliable plus a pinch more.
I like Unique, and use if for all my pistol loads, just to keep the inventory down. Bullets and primers: Whatever is on sale.
I load 125gr LRN bullets with a taper crimp, but I load them light, just enough to cycle the action reliable plus a pinch more.
I like Unique, and use if for all my pistol loads, just to keep the inventory down. Bullets and primers: Whatever is on sale.
Both the 115 or 124gr plated will work fine for target work in a 9mm, unless you want to shoot lead bullets.
If you are lucky enough to have w231 on hand........
a 4" 9mm will get close to the following:
4.4gr w231........115gr @ 1111fps. (1.12")
4.5gr w231........124gr @ 1097fps. (1.14")
a 3" 9mm pistol (Kahr)
4.8gr w231........115gr @ 1062fps.
4.2gr w231........124gr @ 913fps ( very accurate )
Best to find some powder then see what is available........
in the primer, bullet and case departments.
Good luck.
If you are lucky enough to have w231 on hand........
a 4" 9mm will get close to the following:
4.4gr w231........115gr @ 1111fps. (1.12")
4.5gr w231........124gr @ 1097fps. (1.14")
a 3" 9mm pistol (Kahr)
4.8gr w231........115gr @ 1062fps.
4.2gr w231........124gr @ 913fps ( very accurate )
Best to find some powder then see what is available........
in the primer, bullet and case departments.
Good luck.
Vortec MAX
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To start with, here is some data from factory loads fired from a 3.9" barrel. I chronographed these with an Oehler 35P with the start screen placed 8 feet from the muzzle. Each velocity shown is the average of 10 rounds.
Federal American Eagle 124 Gr FMJ (AE9AP) - 1,014 FPS
Remington UMC 115 Gr MC (L9MM3A) - 1,077 FPS
Winchester "NATO" 124 Gr FMJ (Q4318) - 1,129 FPS (+P)
Federal Premium 124 Gr Hydra-Shok (P9HS1G1) - 1,047 FPS
Federal Premium 124 Gr HST (P9HST1) - 1,098 FPS
My two favorite loads for practicing in the 9mm are:
5.0 grains of CFE Pistol under a Berry's 124 Gr FP or THP - 1,050 FPS. This load is soft shooting and accurate.
4.0 grains of Bullseye under the same bullet - 1,010 FPS. 4.2 grains will get you to 1,040 if you are trying to duplicate the velocities of factory ammo. Both loads had small spreads and good accuracy.
Mike
Federal American Eagle 124 Gr FMJ (AE9AP) - 1,014 FPS
Remington UMC 115 Gr MC (L9MM3A) - 1,077 FPS
Winchester "NATO" 124 Gr FMJ (Q4318) - 1,129 FPS (+P)
Federal Premium 124 Gr Hydra-Shok (P9HS1G1) - 1,047 FPS
Federal Premium 124 Gr HST (P9HST1) - 1,098 FPS
My two favorite loads for practicing in the 9mm are:
5.0 grains of CFE Pistol under a Berry's 124 Gr FP or THP - 1,050 FPS. This load is soft shooting and accurate.
4.0 grains of Bullseye under the same bullet - 1,010 FPS. 4.2 grains will get you to 1,040 if you are trying to duplicate the velocities of factory ammo. Both loads had small spreads and good accuracy.
Mike
