Low recoil loads for 940 9mm

[bobbyd]

I have a Model 940 and love the quick reloads and the ability to carry a couple of moonclips of spare ammo, all in a very small package.
What I do not love is the "snappy" recoil!
As I don't have to be concerned with having enough oomph to operate a slide, it would seem I could load down some and create a decent J-frame load to make it more manageable and enjoyable to shoot.
I already have HP38 and Bullseye on hand and there should be a wider latitude in bullet selection and shape than an automatic where feeding is always a primary concern.
Anybody have any experience/thoughts on creating a revolver specific load?

 

[Qc Pistolero]

Used to have a Ruger revolver in 9mm.The problem is while you don't have to worry about overcoming the strenght of the recoil spring of an auto,you can't get velocity much lower than what you need for an auto;the bullet won't stabilize for lack of rotational speed.
And keyholing does not help accuracy!
Qc

 

[reddog81]

You can use any profile bullet of course all the 9mm bullets will be for auto's. If the throats and chambers are large enough you can use .357 / .38 bullets. For load development you can start at the minimum charges and probably have some wiggle room before you run into problems with accuracy.

I don't have any 9mm revolvers but have been shooting my 45 ACP revolvers regularly lately. One problem I've run into is that light loads shoot high and heavy bullets shoot high. Light loads with heavy bullets shoot real high.

 

[colt_saa]

940s are great. I opened mine up for 38SUPER and love that cartridge in them

You can use the projectiles and load data intended for the 380ACP cartridge as your starting point

Velocity will be lower than published 380ACP data because you are using the larger 9MM Parabellum casing

The lower velocity and lighter projectiles will yield less recoil in your revolver

Everglades Reloading offers .355" pre-scored JHP projectiles in 88, 90 & 95 grain that work well at lower velocities.

I use the 90 grain projectile in my 356TSW loadings for my Performance Center 940 Specials. I love how flat these projectiles shoot at high velocity

As already stated the major issue will be that POA and POI may not match

If you are using laser grips, they can be sighted to whatever combination of projectile and powder that you choose.

 

[Nevada Ed]

In a 3" 9mm auto that weighed in at 16 oz. , using Bullseye and w231........

I got a 115gr down to 890fps and a 124gr down to 869fps.

Being a revolver the lighter bullets might be your way to go,
if you don't want the standard 115 or 124gr bullets.

Good luck on your quest.

 

[H Richard]

I agree with you that the standard velocity 9mm in the 940 is "snappy". It hurts my hand after about 2 cylinder fulls. I downloaded a 124 gr to just over 1000 fps, I used 3.8 gr 231 (same as HP38) which yielded 1003 fps, and made it much more comfortable to shoot. But for when I carry it I carry 147 gr JHP which has a lower velocity and has less recoil.

 

[TomkinsSP]

You did not say why you were making ammo.
If you are shooting paper plates off your back porch, 2.0 grains of BE under a 75 grain wadcutter dropped from a #358101 ( I buy mine from Mattsbullets.com) is .22 soft.
If you are hanging out with Simon Pegg At the Winchester, I have used and been happy with 2.8, 3.0 grains BE under 150 grain, 3.0 and 3.2 under 125 grain and 3.2, 3.4 under 115's, all in cast lead. My experience with plated is more propellant is needed to stabilize. I keyholed 100% of some 150's loaded at 2.0, and most of those loaded at 2.2 and 2.4. Lead always accepted lower velocities than plated. Great thing about revolver though is you can make 5 of each and keep going down till you find that sweet spot ( no worry about having enough recoil to cycle slide.) You can also try .380 bullets if so inclined 95s 100s. Or try published .380 loads going up until you find one you like.