9mm with Unique powder

[Model19man]

I purchased a new Shield Plus and decided to load up
Some new rounds. All I could find was 115 grain Hornady
Xtp bullets. I found some load data starting at 4.2 grains and all the way
To 6.1 grains starting charges. I’m a little nervous with such a
spread in starting charges. Anyone have a good formula that I can start with?

Both my 2nd and third Edition Lyman manuals state that with 9mm Luger caliber and a 115 grain JHP you use from 4.4 - 5.8 grains of Unique. I would go around 5 grains and try that. Autoloading guns generally don't cycle and chamber well with minimum loads from my experience.

 

[Rock185]

Black69, I used a lot of Unique in 9mm back in the day; 6.1 grains is definitely not a starting load. Why not start with something around 5 grains. This may or may not reliably cycle your pistol, but then you'll have a starting point. I used 6 grains as a top load with 115-124/125 grain jacketed bullets. This gave ~1250 FPS in 4" barrels, but I preferred the slightly slower Herco for top loads. Back then, I used 7 grains of Herco with the same bullets. Herco with the 115 gave 1300+ FPS depending on which gun, barrel length, etc. I've not seen any Herco for sale in a LGS for the last several years though, so perhaps not much of a consideration for loading now days..

Disclaimer: I am not a scientist, am not a ballistic testing laboratory, did not pressure test these loads. These loads caused no issues in my guns, but that was with my guns, using the Unique and Herco of that time...YMMV

 

[max503]

Unique is my go-to powder for 9mm.

 

[Black69]

Appreciate all the input from all of you. I’ll be trying some of your recommendations. I may also try some polymer and see how that works out.

 

[Model19man]

[I've not seen any Herco for sale in a LGS for the last several years though, so perhaps not much of a consideration for loading now days..[/QUOTE]

I bought a pound each of Herco and Green Dot last week from Midway USA. All of the Alliant powders have been around here so I am pretty sure your issue is regional.

Link: Alliant Herco Smokeless Gun Powder 1 lb

 

[JoeDice]

It's not directly relevant, but 4.5 gr Unique under 125 gr Speer LRN was the unmatched accuracy king in my issue 5906 back in the day. I could ring (but not topple) 200 meter IMSHA rams with boring regularity.

My current load is 4.5 grains of UNIQUE with 124 grain FP or 135 grain RNFP X-tream platted bullets. Accurate loads , low recoil.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Appreciate all the input from all of you. I’ll be trying some of your recommendations. I may also try some polymer and see how that works out.

Just to give you a hand, the newest Hornady manual lists the charge range for Unique with a 115gr XTP bullet as 4.3gr to 5.4gr. They list the OAL as 1.075" who h is probably where the crimp groove sits.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I have learned that no matter what manual I buy, there will be a new edition within two weeks.

LOL, Sierra took 16 years to come out with a new manual.

.