I went a bought a very lightly used 9 EZ Smith yesterday from a coworker who wanted to get a 40 for graduation from the apprenticeship but his wife would only allow him to have two guns. A couple of weeks ago I got the dies needed for 9mm just because they were available. Now I have a 9 with no ammo, lots of powder some primers all I need is bullets, cases and someplace to put the ammo since my safe is full. Darn the first world problems.
Reloading 9mm
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minconrevo
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These days fired 9mm cases can often be had cheap. Norma primer holes are too small for standard decap rods. GI cases may need the primer crimp removed, if present. Lots of 9mm bullets to be had. Maybe your safe space will expand.
Brass should be easy to come by and maybe the bullets. It is not a hard caliber to reload.
PM sent with offer for brass
Loading the 9MM Luger
Lots of new folks have problems loading the 9mm Luger, from what i see online.
Brass- Many different types of brass. Tapered walls. Steps in the case. Thin walls allowing bullet set back. Smaller then normal flash holes.
Lead bullets- A wide range of groove diameters in the barrels can run from .355" to .358" (Or some folks cant measure correctly)
Barrel throat- Some are very short, requiring a short COL. Like my Taurus G3C.
Dies- The fl die with the tapered carbide insert sizes brass better then a carbide ring. The insert follows the taper of the 9mm case.
Expanders that have the "M" type, starts bullets straighter & keeps from shaving lead bullets. Taper crimp always.
No issues for me. Taurus G3C. 9mm Luger | The High Road
Lots of new folks have problems loading the 9mm Luger, from what i see online.
Brass- Many different types of brass. Tapered walls. Steps in the case. Thin walls allowing bullet set back. Smaller then normal flash holes.
Lead bullets- A wide range of groove diameters in the barrels can run from .355" to .358" (Or some folks cant measure correctly)
Barrel throat- Some are very short, requiring a short COL. Like my Taurus G3C.
Dies- The fl die with the tapered carbide insert sizes brass better then a carbide ring. The insert follows the taper of the 9mm case.
Expanders that have the "M" type, starts bullets straighter & keeps from shaving lead bullets. Taper crimp always.
No issues for me. Taurus G3C. 9mm Luger | The High Road
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sourdough44
Member
Most of my casual 9mm loads is with a 115 grain plated RN then a charge of Titegroup powder. Should be plenty of sellers in MO, then the rest of the web.
Check out RMR bullets. Prices are good, the bullets are very well made and accurate. The owner is an upfront, trustworthy guy. It's been a pleasure to be his customer.
max503
Member
The best thing about loading 9mm is all the free brass. Even now people leave their brass on the ground at the range. An EZ Reach & Grab Pickup and Reaching Tool from Harbor Freight makes scrounging brass a breeze.
Yes there is a lot of variation in 9mm brass but it doesn't seem to cause a problem for me. Then again, I'm shooting lead bullets, so that gives me a little wiggle room with crimping and such.
Yes there is a lot of variation in 9mm brass but it doesn't seem to cause a problem for me. Then again, I'm shooting lead bullets, so that gives me a little wiggle room with crimping and such.
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Green Frog
Member
All of my admittedly limited reloading for the 9mm has been done using once or twice fired brass, 231 powder, and some commercially cast 125 gr RN bullets. Primers have been whatever came to hand, primarily some old Federals in the small boxes, stashed since the late eighties.
I say all of this to relate that I haven’t found 9mm any more difficult to reload than 38s or 45s which I’ve loaded for several decades.
Froggie
I say all of this to relate that I haven’t found 9mm any more difficult to reload than 38s or 45s which I’ve loaded for several decades.
Froggie
len917
Member
Pick up brass at the ranges is the best way to go. Lead cast bullets are available at about .08-.10 per. To be sure of the loads, check that the powder you have can be used with 9mm. FOLLOW THE LOAD CHARTS.
Primers you can use Small Pistol, Small Rifle or Small Magnum.
Have fun and be safe.
Primers you can use Small Pistol, Small Rifle or Small Magnum.
Have fun and be safe.
Another advantage in the 9mm camp is bullet availability.
I use 9mm and .357 lead and plated bullets interchangeably! My favorite .357 projectile is the 135 grain RNFP! I use this in both 9mm and 38 spl loads. Since I shoot 9mm and 38 Spl handguns in shooting games it helps with inventory. Accuracy is more than acceptable out to 35 yards.
Smiles,
I use 9mm and .357 lead and plated bullets interchangeably! My favorite .357 projectile is the 135 grain RNFP! I use this in both 9mm and 38 spl loads. Since I shoot 9mm and 38 Spl handguns in shooting games it helps with inventory. Accuracy is more than acceptable out to 35 yards.
Smiles,
9mmPatriot
Member
Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!
It's a word of caution though, you'll get your products delivered on the same day that you get your tracking number.
I have another coworker who as already offered a few thousand 9mm cases, I'm thinking of getting a few boxes of ammo of different weights to see what the gun and me like. I prefer to use plated bullets so that I am not handling bare lead while reloading, not in a big hurry to get started since I probably won't get back into shooting until after I retire in April.
Well, I have been reloading 9mm for 5 guns for 18-20 years and I've not seen a stepped case (I know they exist, just ain't seen any in So. Orygun). I have experienced no "set backs" (I do not crimp, just deflare). I have a nice mold for a 125 gr RNFP bullet that works quite well in my 9mms, both nekkid and PCed. I've been looking around for components and there seems to be plenty of Hornady 9mm bullets available and 9mm cast are plentiful (I don't care for plated bullets). I have purchased "once fired" 9mm brass with zero problems. Doing a plunk test to make sure your handloads will chamber freely is no different than any other semi-auto. Finding "the load" for nekkid cast bullets can be a chore, but not impossible. I don't count pennies so cost of reloading vs factory is of no concern to me (local box store has 9mm) and I enjoy reloading. So reloading 9mm is a major plus for me...
RMR has some very good bullets, at good prices. I have about 400 124 gr JHP and my "JIC" loads (about 400+) are all RMR loads (125 JHP over a stiff load of Universal. Works well in all my 9mms. JIC = Just In Case)...
RMR has some very good bullets, at good prices. I have about 400 124 gr JHP and my "JIC" loads (about 400+) are all RMR loads (125 JHP over a stiff load of Universal. Works well in all my 9mms. JIC = Just In Case)...
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To give you some information on what I've been doing for 9mm, before the pandemic shortages, 4.2gr of Bullseye with a 115gr FMJ or plated at 1.13" COL was may standard target load.
Since I couldn't get Bullseye, switched to CFE Pistol and found 5.0gr with the same bullet and COL works well with the 4" and under barrels I run it through.
Now that CFE Pistol has become hard to find, picked up some Tightgroup and will be working on something for that in the next few weeks.
Since I couldn't get Bullseye, switched to CFE Pistol and found 5.0gr with the same bullet and COL works well with the 4" and under barrels I run it through.
Now that CFE Pistol has become hard to find, picked up some Tightgroup and will be working on something for that in the next few weeks.
max503
Member
This is one caliber I wish I had bought the Lee Factory Crimp die.
The only powder I use is Unique. It works for me.
The only powder I use is Unique. It works for me.
First, you need primers..........
then some cases..........
you say you have powder..........
as for bullets, some like to shoot lead, for the cheap price, if they mold them.
Today they sell coated lead bullets that don't smoke, when fired and barrel clean up is much, easier and faster.
There is also the copper & plated bullets that I use, (lots of them) that
are easy on the wallet my most sellers and they work great for most target work.
Have fun with your 9mm and when you get it sort of dialed in.......
post a picture of a "Good" target that makes you proud.
then some cases..........
you say you have powder..........
as for bullets, some like to shoot lead, for the cheap price, if they mold them.
Today they sell coated lead bullets that don't smoke, when fired and barrel clean up is much, easier and faster.
There is also the copper & plated bullets that I use, (lots of them) that
are easy on the wallet my most sellers and they work great for most target work.
Have fun with your 9mm and when you get it sort of dialed in.......
post a picture of a "Good" target that makes you proud.
