Reloaded 9mm

[jackson13132002]

115gr winchester fmj-rn
unique powder
cci primers
my once fired brass

I loaded 4.9, 5.1,5.2,5.4 grains col 1.150
I am way more accurate with factory ammo so far

1. What affects accuracy more? Col or Powder? or I just have to find the correct combination.

2. What recipes work for you (i'm shooting with beretta 92fs)

3. Where would you start? fiddling with the powder or changing col? 5.2 feels pretty good but not accurate.

 

[Nevada Ed]

When first starting out I try to match the same OAL of the factory bullet per weight.

Ball, FMJ, JHP , lead........can all have different OAL, per their
shape and design. Usually the company has a set length for their bullets and I use that and adjust my powder types and
amounts until I get a load that works.

A chrony can really help if you have one but I reloaded for years with out one, just took longer to understand what was taking place.
I generally got my best groups and accuracy with 96% loads with 90% being a starting load from the maximum.

With Unique and the 115 Jhp, 5.3grs was the minimum that shot well out of my 9mm..... 1.11 oal.
Good loading.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't like shooting 115gr bullets in the 9mm but my son does so I load them. I'm loading a Remington 115gr FMJ bullet to a COL of 1.095" and that works well for us. Sorry I can't comment on the powder charge weight because I'm using W231/HP-38, not Unique. (5.0gr W231)

 

[davekp]

If you have a KKM barrel, they recommend seating the bullet .010" off the rifling. The AMU armorers recommended Titegroup to me with the Sierra 115gr FMJ for a service pistol load. I've been using 4.8 gr. I get 50 yd 10 shot groups under 3" from a ransom rest.

 

[Granddad]

Ha (I can't help myself), accuracy is most dependent on the shooter, not the powder or OAL. With that out of the way, every gun is going to handle load combinations differently, so what works for me could be terrible for you and your gun. This is why reloading is such a great adjunct to shooting; you can manipulate your loads to achieve your desired "aim." Personally, I have had best accuracy with the heavier 9mm bullets out of my 9's, mid to upper range charges of Unique (and similar burn rate powders), and OAL in the 1.11 to 1.14 range (depending on the bullet being used). Good luck in
finding what works best for you.

 

[moxie]

How's your case neck tension? Are you doing a push test to make sure the bullet is seated tightly?
Otherwise you seem to be in the ballpark. Just keep tweaking.

 

[novalty]

I loaded up some 9mm for my brother last night. Loaded 115gr. Berry's Plated RN, OAL: 1.148--between the Minimum OAL listed in Speer#14 (1.135") and the SAAMI Spec (1.169"). I loaded 16 with 4.4grs of Winchester 231, recommended minimum load in Speer#14, and 16 with 5.0grs. of Unique. I had seen 4.9 and 5.0 and 5.6grs. Unique from some of the various manuals I have. I decided to use 5.0grs. Unique as a minimum load for a couple reasons: 1--Berry's recommend low to mid-range jacket loads for their plated bullets, 2--My favorite 45 load with 230gr. Berry's plated is 6.0grs. Unique so 5.6grs. for 9mm seemed high, 3--5.0grs. of Unique really fills up a 9mm case, and using closer to 6.0grs. must be getting close to a compressed charge.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Have no fear with 6.0 grs of Unique with a 115gr jacket bullet
in a 9mm in good condition..................
Look in your manual what the maximum of Unique is for a 124gr bullet and you will see what I am talking about.
That being said ... 5.8 was the best in my 9mm that
gave good groups before entering the +P world with much more powder.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

I don't like shooting 115gr bullets in the 9mm but my son does so I load them. I'm loading a Remington 115gr FMJ bullet to a COL of 1.095" and that works well for us. Sorry I can't comment on the powder charge weight because I'm using W231/HP-38, not Unique. (5.0gr W231)

Have noticed of late, NO listing loads for 9MM using W231-- I WONDER WHY???????? Haven't looked in any older books. Want to load 147 grain-- because that is what I have, and no 125's to be had..?????? Got to load for my sons Glock 26, and my 469. Last time I loaded 9 was 1989---

 

[OKFC05]

Have noticed of late, NO listing loads for 9MM using W231-- I WONDER WHY???????? Haven't looked in any older books. Want to load 147 grain-- because that is what I have, and no 125's to be had..?????? Got to load for my sons Glock 26, and my 469. Last time I loaded 9 was 1989---

You're looking in the wrong books. HP38/Win231 (same powder) loads are even available online from Hodgdon.
Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com
I load tens of thousands of 9mm each year, mostly with Titegroup and W231/HP38.

 

[blujax01]

Have noticed of late, NO listing loads for 9MM using W231-- I WONDER WHY???????? Haven't looked in any older books. Want to load 147 grain-- because that is what I have, and no 125's to be had..?????? Got to load for my sons Glock 26, and my 469. Last time I loaded 9 was 1989---

You're in luck. My Lyman 49 shows a "TMJ" bullet in 147 grain -that looks enough like an FMJ to be good enough for starters- over Hodgdon HP38 which is the exact powder as W231 only a buck cheaper because it doesn't have the horsey on the bottle.

3.5 grains to 4.1 grains
855 FPS to 957 FPS
23000 CPS to 27500CPS
1.115 OAL.

You know the drill:

Start low and work your way up.

I am not an expert. I started on a progressive press and to some folks may be considered a public menace.

Not my fault if it doesn't perform as expected. Or if you somehow earn the nickname "Stumpy".

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Wait - forget that last one.