Light 9mm Load For Revolver

[sjs]

With components hard to find I want to save the small amount of powders I have on hand that I have experience with and load some light practice loads for my 9mm snubby using Ram Zip.

I found 4 lbs of it and have never used it. My manuals give me data but I imagine it is for use with autoloaders as the velocities with starting loads is close to or over 1,000 fps. I don't need to operate the slide so I should be able to go substantially under the listed minimum loads.

I don't want a squib, and definitely don't want a kaboom. If anyone knows:

1. is Ram Zip the kind of powder that can be dangerous if the load is too low?
2. I can experiment with progressively lower charge amounts, and I will, but does anyone have a light Ram Zip load they have tried?

I don't need any particular power level, just safe ammo for plinking.

Thanks

 

[Nevada Ed]

On the burn rate R/Zip is close to w231 powder.

The company list Ram Zip with the following data. (2nd hand)
115gr FMJ
4.0grs..... 1016
4.4 ........ 1102
4.7 +P ... 1161

124 Gold Dot
4.5 ....... 1050

As for as how slow in your revolver, my C9 has a 3.5" barrel.
My lighest target load with w231 is 945 fps and it clears the barrel.

Your barrel length and bullet weight and type will deceide on how slow you can go but 950 is below the sound barrier and has a very low recoil and I don't think any slower will prove any thing and still stay above water.

Have fun.

 

[mtgianni]

9 mm is a high pressure round and is at it's best when used so. I would use start loads or load up a 38 special.

 

[Nevada Ed]

As a note;

you don't want to go too far below the starting 9mm pistol loads, even out of a revolver...........

since the friction and resistance in a metal barrel with a plated or copper bullet is much more than a lead bullet and will cause a "Squib" if you get too low in the speed dept.

A Chrony is a great way to prevent a Squib from happening, if you have one but otherwise you need to be very careful using x-lite loads in any weapon.

 

[ddixie884]

The 9mm rim is almost exactly the same length as the .38 S&W and you could use that data as a good place to start.......

 

[rwsmith]

When I did this sort of thing....

I started a half grain under the starting data and check for reliable firing with no chance of squibs. Reduce as long as you feel comfortable with the results. Don't get foolishl.

This is not as much of a problem before because half-jackets and similar bullet construction often left jackets in barrels.

With today's bonded bullets the chances are far less for this to happen, so as long as you are getting the bullet out of the barrel reliably with no chance of a squib, you are ok. A fast powder is a good thing to use because they light easily.

So STILL you have to be wary of a primer not lighting the powder. Don't play around that point.

 

[H Richard]

If it's close to 231 burn rate, I load 3.7 gr 231 behind a 124 powder coat. Haven't chrono'd it, but functions fine in both a Mod 39 and a Sig 365. Very comfortable and accurate.

 

[mikld]

I don't think I'd bother trying to develop "practice" loads for 9mm. Are you wanting to conserve your powder? Or are you bothered by recoil? Some things just "are", like a lightweight snubby not really fun for 200 round range sessions. I believe I'd start with a 115 gr bullet at starting loads and go from there...

I don't own a 9mm revolver, but I'm on the hunt for a Ruger LCR in 9mm and I plan on using my 9mm "Just In Case" handloads in it (124 gr. JHP with mid loads of Universal). The same load I use successfully in all my 9mm pistols...

 

[sjs]

To answer the last question, I'm a snubby fan and they are my toy of choice for range fun and my usual edc for protection. If components were available I would shoot enough stout loads to keep in practice but mostly shoot mild loads for fun. Despite being 2" barrels I shoot my snubbies at everywhere from 3 yards for instinctive shooting, to 25 yards for slow precise shooting; and yes, a snubby can do that even with a short barrel.

I bought the 9mm revolver precisely because I had a lot of primed brass for 9mm and the normal 9mm loads, factory and reload, are OK but I would like some milder loads for fun. I am currently doing OK with mild 9mm loads (850-950 fps) using Bullseye and HP38 but that supply of powder is getting low so I am trying to get a load like that using Zip and have not been able to find one.

 

[Nevada Ed]

My lightest accuracy loads out of a 3" 9mm pistol was with Bullseye powder;

115 fmj at 868 fps
124 fmj at 869 fps

w231 started around 890 fps for accuracy out of the 3" barrel.

 

[mikld]

Just checked the Western Powder site for 9mm, Zip data. Many loads (24). Several sub-1,000 fps loads for 115 gr bullets.

Pg 27; https://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WesternPowdersHandloadingGuide8.0_WEB.pdf

 

[Nevada Ed]

Just checked the Western Powder site for 9mm, Zip data. Many loads (24). Several sub-1,000 fps loads for 115 gr bullets.

Pg 27; https://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/WesternPowdersHandloadingGuide8.0_WEB.pdf

Data is nice to have but..............
I do not agree with this company's OAL on some of their loads and
please double check the OAL with the Gold Dot HP bullets if you load them with Zip.

Speer calls for a OAL of 1.12" with the 115 and 124 GD bullet.
I tested a 115 GDHP in my 9mm with a OAL of 1.08" and it lost accuracy and one round failed to feed/eject.

Use the correct OAL for the bullet, if you can.

 

[sjs]

I have handloaded for many years but do not consider myself especially gifted in that regard and I stick to basics and usually ask here first before trying something new. I am very grateful for all the help I have received here, in this thread and in others.

Armed with the comments and references here I tried several loads and settled with:

115gr MBCPRN 3.5g Zip 1.100
124gr Berry's PRN 3.5g Zip 1.110
145gr Acme RN 3.4g Zip 1.130 (very accurate)

All are very soft and function fine in my 2.25" snubby. I am not sure they would be good in a long barrel, or to actually cycle the slide in a snobby.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

That's a new term, for me...

I know what a snub-nosed dog looks like, and heve encountered many a snot-nosed brat: but, what's a snob-nosed firearm look like...?

Maybe that Desert Eagle Micro that was recently SOLD?

Cheers!

P.S. I am interested in why those loads wouldn't work just as well in a longer revolver barrel: were they so light that instead of generating a greater velocity (out of the longer barrel) there's concern they wouldn't make it all the way out?

 

[sjs]

A snobby is a snub nose revolver owned by an illiterate.

Yes, they are very light and might produce a squib in a long barrel.

 

[Thomas15]

Look at what the ISR and OSR class Steel Challenge shooters are using, I think you will find 850 fps is about average. I'm waiting for a nice day with 70 degree ambient and will chrono mine I expect them to be around 900 fps. I have about as much recoil as a rimfire pistol.

The minimum pf for ICORE is 120. This means a 124g bullet needs to travel 975 fps to meet power factor. You can be assured that there are more than a few right at the minimum.

 

[Nevada Ed]

I never use any of my "X-Lite" J frame snub nose loads in any of my 6" barrels !!

As a note, it must be nice to shot the 9mm and be able to dump the brass into your hand.

Have fun.

 

[NJM15]

I load my 986 ----

With components hard to find I want to save the small amount of powders I have on hand that I have experience with and load some light practice loads for my 9mm snubby using Ram Zip.

I found 4 lbs of it and have never used it. My manuals give me data but I imagine it is for use with autoloaders as the velocities with starting loads is close to or over 1,000 fps. I don't need to operate the slide so I should be able to go substantially under the listed minimum loads.

I don't want a squib, and definitely don't want a kaboom. If anyone knows:

1. is Ram Zip the kind of powder that can be dangerous if the load is too low?
2. I can experiment with progressively lower charge amounts, and I will, but does anyone have a light Ram Zip load they have tried?

I don't need any particular power level, just safe ammo for plinking.

Thanks

I load to max using extreme 115 gr bullets and several powders last used was Winchester auto comp at 5.6 grains
i dont think it too much, easily controllable in my 986 and Sig 226