I settled on Herco over Unique (mainly because I had a bunch if it at the time) and found I got much higher velocities. Out of a 4" 5906, I have a few loads that get me 1250 fps with a 124gr JHP and up to 1357 with 115gr JHP. They are a tad warm though...
My 124 grain 9mm Load Development
- Thread starter Warren Sear
- Start date
OP
^^^ I have some Herco on hand, and thought about using it. I also have Power Pistol, and considered that, too, and I have read a lot of good reports on Power Pistol with 147 grain bullets. In the end I decided to go with 5.2 grains of Unique, and am in the process of loading 900 rounds.
I will shoot these up, a bit at a time, and as I do I can decide to stay with Unique, or go with something else, even a different bullet (manufacturer, weight, etc). I am pleased with how things are now, and especially with the 100% reliability this ammo is providing.
I will shoot these up, a bit at a time, and as I do I can decide to stay with Unique, or go with something else, even a different bullet (manufacturer, weight, etc). I am pleased with how things are now, and especially with the 100% reliability this ammo is providing.
In a 3.5" C9 9mm pistol, Unique will match the federal 147gr HST +p in fps.................with a full load.
In a longer barrel BE-86 or other "Ball type" slow powders will
do much better in the fps department, than Unique............
if shorter than 1.13" OAL, with a 124gr JHP.
I love the 9mm.....
lots of powders work for you to enjoy shooting.
In a longer barrel BE-86 or other "Ball type" slow powders will
do much better in the fps department, than Unique............
if shorter than 1.13" OAL, with a 124gr JHP.
I love the 9mm.....
lots of powders work for you to enjoy shooting.
In the 9x19 I have tried:
Bullseye = good for reduced velocity loads.
W-231/HP-38 = good for reduced velocity and full power with bullet weights up to 124 grains.
Unique = good for full power loads with bullets of 115-124 grains, but I found it to be difficult to meter well in my RCBS Uniflow.
Accurate Arms #5 = for full power loads with 115-147 grain bullets, suitable for +P in 115-124 grain loads.
Accurate Arms #7 = for full power 147 grain loads and +P loads with 124-147 grain bullets.
Just my experience.
Bullseye = good for reduced velocity loads.
W-231/HP-38 = good for reduced velocity and full power with bullet weights up to 124 grains.
Unique = good for full power loads with bullets of 115-124 grains, but I found it to be difficult to meter well in my RCBS Uniflow.
Accurate Arms #5 = for full power loads with 115-147 grain bullets, suitable for +P in 115-124 grain loads.
Accurate Arms #7 = for full power 147 grain loads and +P loads with 124-147 grain bullets.
Just my experience.
Last edited:
Ole Joe Clark
Absent Comrade
I use Unique to feed 3 S&W Shields in 9 mm. I have settled on a load that moves the 124 grain RMR bullets right along. We have lots of fun shooting cardboard and some steel targets at 25 yards.
Merry Christmas!
Leon
Merry Christmas!
Leon
I like unique in the 9mm for general range fodder, good performance & accuracy with +/- 5.0gr loads that are easy on the wallet. At the end of the day it's hard to beat power pistol in the 9mm's. Did these test loads a couple days ago.
The test pistol had a 3.2" bbl.
The 110gr load was near max and did 1300fps+.
The 125gr load was .9gr under max and did 1130fps+
The 140gr bullet was .9gr under max and did 970fps+
Those are pretty respectable #'s for a short bbl'd 9mm. Full house loads of those 125gr bullets/pp combo will do 1200fps+ in that 3.2" bbl'd 9mm. 1300fps is nothing to sneeze at with the short bbl/110gr bullet combo. I really had no desire to make hot loads with the 140gr himmelwright copy, never liked heavy bullets in short bbl'd 9mm's.
Anyway power pistol is worth taking a look at in the 9mm, extreme performance that few powders can equal.
The test pistol had a 3.2" bbl.
The 110gr load was near max and did 1300fps+.
The 125gr load was .9gr under max and did 1130fps+
The 140gr bullet was .9gr under max and did 970fps+
Those are pretty respectable #'s for a short bbl'd 9mm. Full house loads of those 125gr bullets/pp combo will do 1200fps+ in that 3.2" bbl'd 9mm. 1300fps is nothing to sneeze at with the short bbl/110gr bullet combo. I really had no desire to make hot loads with the 140gr himmelwright copy, never liked heavy bullets in short bbl'd 9mm's.
Anyway power pistol is worth taking a look at in the 9mm, extreme performance that few powders can equal.
