unburnt powder? 9mm 115swc

[SW CQB 45]

In my quest to find a decent PPC load out to 50yds and looking for a clean scoring hole

I came across the Penn 115 LSWC sized .356

Shot out of a STI 6" TargetMaster

I am always in fear of leading my barrel but prefer the lead in the area of cost savings andlong easier on the barrel compared to jacketed....also price!

I load bottom of the barrel with an emphasis on accuracy and reliability.

I decided on AA#2 with and advertised charged of 4.4 for a 4", I backed off to 4.3 to stay at. 1000fps. I loaded long...just above the lube groove.

While I had zero issues, they were soft shooting and accurate...however I noticed some yellowish ball residue (obviously) the AA#2 in the ejection port area and breech face.

I firei150 rounds in a match and had no issues with reliability, but as anal as I am....concerned the powder residue might...

Cause a malfunction...
Or am I getting the most out of this charge?

My crimp was decent but not overly done.

Should I increase my crimp?
Increas powder charge?
I have not cleaned my barrel, but not expecting any leading issues.

I am thinking about tryin N320, but would like to make this load work while minimizing the unburnt powder...or is this the norm with AA powder?

Thanks for looking

 

[jepp2]

I loaded long...just above the lube groove

The 9mm is very sensitive to OAL variations. If you are loading longer than the listed load you could be significantly reducing the peak pressure.

Compare your load bullet seating depth (the part of OAL that really means anything) to that of the LaserCast load listed in the AA data. If you don't know the bullet length of the LC bullets you might email Oregon Trail or ask someone on the forum. I don't have any LC to give you the length.

You may be seeing unburnt powder due to peak pressure reduction. Your description of "soft shooting" seems to support this.

 

[shovelwrench]

Yep, those unburnt or yellowish powder flakes are normal as you go lighter (under peak pressure).

Have you tried Meisters 150gr LSWC yet?

 

[SW CQB 45]

In my load book.....

It show a min charge of 4.4 loaded at 1.1 OAL.

I tried 1.1....but the grease groove was exposed....so I shortened to 1.095.

4.3 grs of AA2 really fills up the 9mm case.

Since the advertised load is longer than what I loaded...I will drop to 1.085 and see if that improves the reduction of unburnt powder.

Those meisters are pricey but might have to try those hvy slugs!

 

[shovelwrench]

I seat those to just so they show a little shoulder, I also drop my load quite a bit below what the books say is min. The same reason why I have springs well below 14# for the 1911. (But, I'm not playing PPC either)

Your on the right track, although I wouldn't worry about the unburnt powder so much. Think more about lessened recoil and how much faster your follow up shot will be, or how much more time you have to aim. If you saw how dirty my bullseye guns get from super light loads with next to no recoil and just keep functioning......

On the other side of things, is the gun running as fast as it should (or feels good) for you?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Sorry, I don't use AA#2 in the 9mm but I do use W231 and Longshot.
W231 runs very clean in all my 9mm ammo. (although I usually shoot a 124/125gr bullet)

 

[SW CQB 45]

Shovelwrench.....since my gun is a big chunky 6"....and shootin 9mm, it feels clunky but runs all the time. Not sure what recoil spring is in there....but definitely around 11ish.

If u don't mind.....what is ur powder throw weight with AA#2 and OAL using the 115 Penn SWC?

Mr Palmero told me the US ARMY Marksmanship Team were loading his 115 swc with AA#2 at ridicously low powder charge....in the 3.? Range. He did not know the exact grains.

I had intentions of reducing my powder charge as I am looking for the best accuracy with 100% reliability and the slug has to pass all the way thru the target and any backing.

Thanks in advance

 

[boatbum101]

FWTIW . I personally don't shoot 9mm as it won't do anything I can't do with a 45acp . The hot skinny from the folks that do is as follows : 1) Use new brass , Starline preffered . 2) Use a 1 in 32 twist barrel as 1 in 16 is too fast for 50yd accuracy . 3) Hornady 115 XTP / Sierra 8815 are bullets to use . 4) OAL , Brass & sizing dies are critical in respect to accuracy . 5) OAL with Sierra bullet is 1.120 , with XTP 1.085 . 6) Powders of choice VVN330 ( no longer available in USA ) , VVN340 or WSF . 7) Charges 4.8 VVN 330 or 340 , 5.0 WSF . 8) Taper crimp .375 . Above is courtesy of David Sams & Neil Kravitz . S&W 952 load used by Jim Clark Jr . 4.3 BE , Nosler 115 JHP .377 crimp , Fed primer shoot for 1150 fps . Nobody in the " Bullseye / 2700 '" community has been able to get acceptible results @ 50yds with lead . Yes I have seen 10 shot 1" groups @ 50yds with 9mm ( jacketed not lead ) , but not consistently out the same gun . Not what you want to hear I know . Sincerely hope it helps in your quest anyway .

 

[SW CQB 45]

boatbum, a couple of years ago, I made the decision to buy my first Nina 1911 being a big .45acp shooter.

I only went to that direction based on the cost of shooting and it seemed that 9mm was a popular gun in the PPC format.

In fact, I have not run across a 45acp PPC gun.

while my main reloads have been 45 200LSWC and 38 in 148/158, they have served me well.....however Nina has been quite a "Baer" to settle on one load.

I just ordered another K of 115SWC and will finish the season with those slugs and then start with jacketed to try and ring out the best accuracy.

I also read that my STI TargetMaster 6" is a 1 in 16 barrel?

I will definitely record your posting for future reference.

WHY is VV N330 no longer available? I was told this was the 9mm powder to have.

thanks in advance