My 124 grain 9mm Load Development

[Warren Sear]

My task was to develop a full-powered 9mm defense load using 124 grain Hornady XTP hollow point bullets that would function perfectly in four different pistols. Accuracy was not a consideration, but turned out to be excellent in all pistols.

I had decided to use Unique powder based on my very satisfactory 38 years' worth of experience with it. I initially wanted to use the Speer 124 grain Gold Dot hollow point bullets based on their excellent reputation, but was unable to locate any (everyone seems to be out of stock). My second choice was to go with the Hornady bullets, which seem to enjoy a similarly excellent reputation for reliability and performance, and I am happy with that decision.

When it came time to determine a starting and maximum load, I encountered grossly conflicting loading data. I have the following manuals for reference: Hornady #3 and #9; Lyman #47 and 50; NRA loading manual from the early 80s; LEE; Metallic Cartridge Reloading from the 80s; and Speer #10, 12, and 14. From these manuals, the lowest starting load was 3.7 grains @ 900 fps. The lowest maximum load was 4.5 grains @ 1062 fps, well below the highest listed starting load of 5.7 grains (no listed velocity for this load). The highest maximum load was 6.2 grains (!!!) @ 1170 fps. I can't imagine how they got that much powder in there!

After doing some preliminary "load development" (AKA rolling the dice), I decided on a maximum load of 5.2 grains of Unique in cases of every different manufacturer I could find. I did not want a special load developed for each pistol and case manufacturer, but a full powered load that would work in the following four pistols (from longest to shortest barrel length) with any case that met SAAMI specs:

Beretta 92 FS, 125mm (4.9") barrel; 1179 fps
CZ 75, 117mm (4.6") barrel; 1181 fps
SIG Sauer P226, 112mm (4.4") barrel; 1158 fps
Golan, 100mm (3.95") barrel; 1131 fps

Interesting was how velocity tracked barrel length.

I am hoping this information might be useful to others.

(edit to add): I used the C.O.L. length of 1.060" as given in the Hornady manual for that bullet.


Now for the pictures;

 

[Redford]

Thanks I well have to get my 9's out and play I haven't done that in a few years.

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

 

[serger]

My go to load for 124gr 9mm loads is 6 grains of Herco.
Kinda follows the Unique base load you generated.

 

[Rogeronimo]

Excellent work! I never tried Unique. My VP9 4.25" likes 800X ... 124gn Nosler JHP averages 1225fps ... cold barrel is over 1250fps. 1.090" OAL is rather universal.

 

[Collo Rosso]

I lucked out years ago and purchased a bunch of Speer 124gr. gold dots that had been pulled by Speer from Georgia arms at a gun show. $12 a bag of 100. I'm down to 2 bags.
HS-6 has been my favorite powder with them.

 

[Warren Sear]

Excellent work! I never tried Unique. My VP9 4.25" likes 800X ... 124gn Nosler JHP averages 1225fps ... cold barrel is over 1250fps. 1.090" OAL is rather universal.

1250 is moving for a 124 grain in 9mm!

I edited my post to include the C.O.L., which is 1.060", as recommended by Hornady. They must know what they are talking about, as the ammo feeds through my pistols like oil through a funnel.

 

[Warren Sear]

I lucked out years ago and purchased a bunch of Speer 124gr. gold dots that had been pulled by Speer from Georgia arms at a gun show. $12 a bag of 100. I'm down to 2 bags.
HS-6 has been my favorite powder with them.

Are the Gold Dot 9mm bullets out of production? I kept getting messages that they were out of stock from every place I tried.

 

[Rogeronimo]

1250 is moving for a 124 grain in 9mm!

I edited my post to include the C.O.L., which is 1.060", as recommended by Hornady. They must know what they are talking about, as the ammo feeds through my pistols like oil through a funnel.

It's my own concoction, not a published load. Some folks call 'em cornflakes (800X), I prefer the moniker Wheaties, 'cause they really get things moving!

 

[mikronis98]

Have you checked online for WesSage'sReloadingsupplies.com ?
He also has a forum here on Tapatalk.
Great prices, unheard of super fast shipping, his packing is legendary!!!
Super knowledgeable and geat to talk to if anyone has questions.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[rg1]

In case you do find some 124gr. Speer Gold Dots for 9MM this is my results with Unique powder in a 4.1" Glock 19.
Win cases
CCI 500 primers
124 gr. Speer Gold Dot
oal 1.120-1.125" same as factory
5.4 grains of Unique
1134-1140 fps with a 50 degree outside temp.

 

[Nevada Ed]

W. Sear;

My 3.5 & 5" fps are within 7fps of your readings using a 124 G Dot bullet at 1.12" oal.

I got it up to 1257fps with Blue Dot that matched the ME of a full
loaded 115gr GD, also out of my 5".

There is a LOT of difference from a HP at 1.12" and one set at a oal of 1.06".

I tested plated "HAP" type bullets in my 5" with a oal of 1.075"
No way are you getting a Ball/FMJ or GD 124gr amount of powder in this loading.

At a OAL of 1.075" with the HP design, a compressed load of Unique powder
only put out 1083fps across my chrony.
BE-86 put out 1220fps.

Have fun.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

...9mm defense load using 124 grain Hornady XTP hollow point bullets
I used the C.O.L. length of 1.060" as given in the Hornady manual.

I use that same bullet but seat mine out to 1.115" COAL, which still passes the plunk test in my 3914s. That gains you ~10.5% more usable volume in the 9mm case.

.

 

[Collo Rosso]

Are the Gold Dot 9mm bullets out of production? I kept getting messages that they were out of stock from every place I tried.

They're still produced. I checked Midway quick and they had most calibers in stock except .356 for 9mm. I just think they're that popular.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Most companies do not want to put their quality, top #1 SD bullet
on the market for sale...........
since they will loose a lot of sales on their loaded ammo.

Until Federal puts out their HST or Winchester and the rest put
their bullets out there,
Speer will be the main quality bullet that LE, the FBI and test show
that this is where it is at, for those that load ammo.

The Hornady bullet will work, if you want to try the other contender.

 

[H Richard]

I settled on 4.5 gr. 231 with the 124 gr. JHP. Just about 1100 fps and good accuracy.

 

[andyo5]

I used to load 5.3g of Unique. Which means that I was loading 5.0 to 5.5 grains. Unique does not meter well through my Dillon powder die.
I switched recently to BE86 and settled on 5.4 grains. It burns much cleaner than Unique, meters very consistantly, and accuracy is better than with my Unique load.
My current BE86 load is not near maximum. It is an accuracy load. I have not measured velocity, although I do have a chronograph.

 

[fredj338]

I've made 1200fps+ with a couple powders & the 124gr XTP in a G17. Didn't bend anything, yes I am sure they are over std pressure loads. More of an experiment, I just carry factory ammo.

 

[Warren Sear]

I shot some 124 grain round nose FMJ ammo that I had loaded about 6 years ago with 5.0 grains of Unique. I know, totally different bullet than the HP bullets I used in my opening post (other than weight). The ejection was sluggish in two of my pistols, whereas the 5.2 grains of Unique and the Hornady HP bullet loading was nice and snappy in all of my pistols.

Unique has always measured well through my RCBS powder measure.

I hear complaints about Unique being a dirty powder, but when it is used at higher pressures it seems to burn about as clean as the others, in my experience. Low pressure loads of Unique is not a good idea.

BTW, the maximum load in the new Hornady manual was 5.0 grains of Unique with their 124 grain XTP bullet.

 

[Warren Sear]

W. Sear;

My 3.5 & 5" fps are within 7fps of your readings using a 124 G Dot bullet at 1.12" oal.

I got it up to 1257fps with Blue Dot that matched the ME of a full
loaded 115gr GD, also out of my 5".

There is a LOT of difference from a HP at 1.12" and one set at a oal of 1.06".

I tested plated "HAP" type bullets in my 5" with a oal of 1.075"
No way are you getting a Ball/FMJ or GD 124gr amount of powder in this loading.

At a OAL of 1.075" with the HP design, a compressed load of Unique powder
only put out 1083fps across my chrony.
BE-86 put out 1220fps.

Have fun.

Nevada Ed wrote, "There is a LOT of difference from a HP at 1.12" and one set at a oal of 1.06"." What is that difference? You state that the velocity is almost identical to what I got.

Nevada Ed wrote, "I tested plated "HAP" type bullets in my 5" with a oal of 1.075"" What is a "HAP" bullet?

Nevada Ed wrote, "No way are you getting a Ball/FMJ or GD 124gr amount of powder in this loading." I do not understand this statement. Can you re-phrase it, please?

Nevada Ed wrote, "At a OAL of 1.075" with the HP design, a compressed load of Unique powder only put out 1083fps across my chrony. BE-86 put out 1220fps." How many grains was that load?

 

[Nevada Ed]

I seldom give out my loading data........ with all the data out there
that has been tested and proven safe by the powder companies.

Here is a picture of the style bullet that I have been testing in my 9mm pistols.
It is plated and not high quality like the Hornady bullet but it should
give me an idea of what the Hornady HP bullet might do, if I buy their big box of bullets.