9mm "service" load suggestions

Gutpile Charlie

Gutpile Charlie

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I've reloaded for nearly thirty years now. Loaded thousands of rounds for rifles and hangunds....however....I've never loaded 9mm.

My son came in tonight and asked what bullet/primer/propellant combinations are a best choice.

I've worked up loads in the past, however, I want some suggestions as to what are "standard" loads that can always be counted on to deliver acceptable results.

I know that there are "standard" loads for nearly every cartridge. I can tell you what to load for an M1 or and AR or .38 target wadcutters.

What's a good combination to use for 9mm?

Obviously don't have any 9mm dies. I've used Hornaday, Lyman and RCBS in the past.

Got in suggestions?
 
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For range work I would suggest a 124gr FMJ bullet over 4.6gr to 4.8gr W231. For light target loads I like a 124gr LRN bullet over 4.0gr to 4.2gr W231.

For a "service load" I would use a 124gr JHP bullet over 5.7gr Longshot. (Max load, work up to it)

Always double check load data that's given on the Internet because mistakes can and will be made when typing.

I use Lee dies because they don't cost a lot and they make good ammo. Any brand dies will do a good job so pick the company you are most comfortable with as long as they are Carbide.
 
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. ;)
 
As Hawgleg stated, so many variables/choices.

I would use any load data in Speer or Hodgdon.

The 115 gr I believe was a "standard" but I think more 124gr are being used now. "Game Playing" shooters like the 147 for powder factor stuff.

I shoot 124 and was using (still do) Win 231/HP 38 but have been using a lot of Power Pistol now. I like it but it is a "loud" report powder.
 
Ok, I'm starting to see some "treands" here. Seems like WW231 might be favortie propellant? I'm very famaliar with it and it is my go to powder for .38.

I've used Lee, Hornaday, RCBS, and Lyman dies. On another forum I heard some discussion about bullet seating? Is that an issue. Never had any problems in other cartridges.

What about regualar seating....taper crimp....etc? Any suggestions. I seat my .45 ACP just regular, no squeeze on the neck.

Also, in 45ACP I have used 230 gr RN lead with great success since the velocity is not high. What about 9mm. I had a friend (now deceased) that used to cast and load his own 9mm round nose lead. He swore by them. Do cast lead bullets work ok too?
 
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As you're familar with the ww231 it should be fine. The 9mm's can be pickey with the C-Z and other European guns seem to have shorter leads. I load at a COL of 1.12 and that works for my C-Z and S&W's. I use a very light taper crimp. My loads are 4.5 Universal Clays with a 124 gr Berry's Plated bullet. Very accurate round, but with price of plated and jacketed I may be moving to lead. I see most lead bullets have a higher BHN and that should help out for leading issues.
 
I'm using 115gr lead, Space Coast Bullets. Because of a 'short throat' and the shape of the bullets, on my Kel Tec PF9, I had to load at an OAL of 1.095". Between Lee and Alliant books, I planned on 6.1 gr of Power Pistol @ 1.125", once I realized I had to shorten the OAL, I got a recipe out of Lyman for lead round nose of 5.0gr Power Pistol, 1.06" MIN. Loading at 1.095" I'm using 5.2gr Power Pistol, so far so good in the PF9, Sigma and my Sub 2000 carbine.
 
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Cast bullets work just fine as long as you do not have polygon rifling (yes I know all those out there that shoot lead with no problem from your Glocks:rolleyes:)

With a 3 die set just has loading 45 acp set your seating die to taper crimp a bit.
 
Gutpile Charlie said:
Ok, I'm starting to see some "treands" here. Seems like WW231 might be favortie propellant? I'm very famaliar with it and it is my go to powder for .38.

I've used Lee, Hornaday, RCBS, and Lyman dies. On another forum I heard some discussion about bullet seating? Is that an issue. Never had any problems in other cartridges.

What about regualar seating....taper crimp....etc? Any suggestions. I seat my .45 ACP just regular, no squeeze on the neck.

Also, in 45ACP I have used 230 gr RN lead with great success since the velocity is not high. What about 9mm. I had a friend (now deceased) that used to cast and load his own 9mm round nose lead. He swore by them. Do cast lead bullets work ok too?
Click to expand...
LRN bullets always work well in semi-auto pistols with a feed-ramp. They feed very well and usually shoot just fine. For range work I shoot almost nothing other than hard cast ball ammo in both the .45 Auto and 9mm.

I seat the bullet and taper crimp in a separate operation. I find that works best for me.
 
I' ve been using Titegroup for my SR9c with lead & also with plated 115 & 124. Very accurate & inexpensive for target shooting since the charge is small! Also tried 700x & that works fine! Let me check my book!
 
Many of the old RNL bullets have itty bitty lube grooves. If you're going lead, go with a more modern design with a wide lube groove-the 122 FNTC is a good one, with lube it generally runs 124 gr. Berry Bullets eliminate this issue.

You need to be careful adjusting the size die so cases aren't excessively sized since they're tapered. [If you're looking at mini-belted magnums, you're way overdoing it!] DO NOT over expand the case mouth, you want good bullet grip and taper crimping is a good idea. A case gauge is a really good idea. Loading for the 9 requires a bit more care in initial setup, but is a snap after you get that squared away.

I tend to use a lot of Unique, it's real handy in the 9mm cause it's flat impossible to double charge a case. A 115 gr Berry & 5.8 gr Unique makes 1150-1160 in all my 9mm guns with no muss, fuss or bother. Real jacketed bullets need an extra 0.4 gr to equal it.

5.2 gr 231 & 115 gr JHP generally gets into +P velocities over 1200 fps.
 
Charlie Sorry for coming to the party late, so I hope you see this. My experience with 9 mm shows some of them to be picky over loads. i have a Kahr that likes 115 Nosler JHP loads of 7625 at max levels, a Browning HP that likes 124 gr Hornady XTP HPs with 4.8 grains of Unique, and a Glock 19 that likes most anything that is jacketed at standard velocities from any book. All of these loads have a moderate taper CRIMP. I do not use lead bullets due to the Glock, but the Berry bullets mentioned work, though I do favor Nosler and Hornady JHPs.
 
3.4grs of Titegroup under a 147gr Berry's RN works great in my M&P.
I am one of those "game players" though (IDPA) and the 147's make power factor easily.

I use Lee dies for reloading 9mm, .40 and .45 with no complaints.
In .40 and .45 I have the crimp separate from the seating die, but in 9mm I do both in the same step. This was only because I could not find the 4 die set for almost two months but was able to get the 3 piece one locally. That said, after loading my 2000th round tonight on it... I have no issues with seating/crimping in the same step.
You just have to set it up properly from the start.
The Berry's bullet has a slight bevel on the base and requires only the smallest amount of flare on the case prior to seating to work effectively.
 
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I recommend using a Hornady seating die to avoid canted bullets.
my favorite loading of 9mm was WSF powder and 115gr or 124/125 FMJ bullets.
5.7gr for 115gr with 1.169" col and 5.3gr for 124/125gr with 1.169" col
some chambers found in CZ's and Steyr's have tight throat and ogive bullet may need to be
loaded shorter to avoid running into rifling.
 
I use mostly W231 in the .38 Special, 9mm, .45 Auto and .45 colt. that's why I buy it in 8lb jugs. It's the only handgun powder I buy in bulk.
 
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