My First 9mm Reloads

[Mals9]

Mike0251 I have loaded 20 rounds each at 4.3 and 4.4gr but was not able to make the range this week. I know this still seems low but I am working up the ladder until I find my guns sweet spot. I make sure I see a hole before the next shot so I am not worried about a squib.
Thanks for checking on me.

Mals

 

[Mike0251]

Your very welcome. I think you will be quite surprised and pleased when you fire off either one of those! A huge difference from the 3.5. I'll quote you ahead of time. "holy **** I loaded those, wow!" LOL

 

[Mals9]

Mike0251 - I shot my reloads today and the 4.3 gr caused the "holy **** I loaded those" moment you mentioned. I nice tight group with soft recoil. Not sure I even want to try another recipe.
Thank you very much.

Mals

 

[Mike0251]

Excellent!

 

[m657]

Mals9: Congratulations! Those are the moments we all yearn for.

 

[racefan]

Mike0251 - I shot my reloads today and the 4.3 gr caused the "holy **** I loaded those" moment you mentioned. I nice tight group with soft recoil. Not sure I even want to try another recipe.
Thank you very much.

Mals

4.3 at what OAL?

Starting to reload 9mm this weekend for first time reloading. Will be using 231 and barry 115 RN 115gn rounds.

 

[Wise_A]

Select the OAL to match your gun. I usually load all roundnoses 115-124 grains to 1.160", and hollowpoints marginally shorter to match the ogive.

 

[Mals9]

Racefan I don't have the load info in front of me but I believe it was 1.130"

Mals

 

[gwpercle]

RCBS Cast Bullet Manual , 115 grain cast lead RN , with 231 powder shows a starting load of 4.5 grs. @ 1042 fps.
and a maximum load 0f 5.0 grs. @ 1138 fps.

The soot and stove pipes are classic signs of not enough pressure, bump the charge up at least to 4.5 and try that..

Gary

 

[R.J. in Phoenix]

I shot my first reloads today. I loaded Berry's plated 115 gr so I started low at 3.5gr of W231. About 80 % stove piped and the accuracy was poor. I stepped up to 3.7 gr and most all ejected but I had a lot of short stroking, not loading the next round. The cases came out with heavy soot on one side. This did not happen with the Winchester white box that shot very accurately. What is the cause of the large amount of soot? I am new to pistol reloading so I am here to be schooled.

Mals

I am using the same bullet and powder. But I am loading 4.1 gr. of the w-231. That load works in all my 9 MM. hand guns without any type of problems.

Take care, R.J.

 

[racefan]

I just loaded my first 9mms today. This is my first reloads since I just started today. I loaded 5 rounds at 115 gn Barrys RN at 4.3 231 power with a OCL of 1.113 and 5 at 4.4 with a OCL of 1.113 done on a lee classic 4 turret press with factory crimp die finishing them off. Hope to get to the range to shoot them and see what they do. I will shoot them in my full size M&P first. Cannot fine any good load data other that what lee has with there dies and in there book Lymans 48th book does not list 9mm cast and do not have access to any others local and hate to buy and them not have any good imfo. I will only be loading 9mm for right now but in future hope to load 45ACP.

 

[BC38]

Just FWIW, I had a very similar experience with 4.1gr AA#2 under a 115gr Xtreme RN, loaded at 1.15 COAL.
They worked in all the 9mm bottom feeders we tried EXCEPT for a Ruger

P94DC. Just not quite enough energy to cycle that big ole stainless steel slide every single time. About 1/3 or 1/4 of them stove-piped. Time to bump the load up .1gr...

 

[racefan]

I shot my first reloads they all cycled good loaded 115 barrys with 231 at 1.115 with 4.3 and also 4.4 and 4.5 power loads. Must say even the 4.5 had very little recoil compared to a factory load which made me think they were all week . Is this common with 231 to have a soft or light recoil? Loads wider shot through a full size M&P 9 and a Kimber 1911

 

[Wise_A]

If they cycled and did what you want, then who cares?

If you're trying to replicate factory feel for practice, then yes, that was a very light load. I would have started around 4.7 grains of HP-38/WW-231 for a 115-gr plated bullet (Berry's or Xtreme). Probably more like 4.8 or 4.9.

Thicker, quality plated bullets like Xtreme and Berry's use midrange jacketed data. And personally, I've found that charges in the .46cc range by volume work best in 9mm, across fast to medium powders I've tried.

 

[carpriver]

When I started reloading I read reloading books, went to the web sites for the powders I was using for a particular load I was working up.

In most cases I would start with the recommended start load. If the performance was good I work it up in small increments of .2 grains.

You will develop your own standards. new loads require research. Have fun use care ans stay focused on what you are doing.