What's your most accurate 9mm load?

[rockquarry]

I'm not a devoted follower of the 9mm cartridge, but getting accuracy from 9mm handguns became an interesting pursuit about thirty-five years ago, just to see if it was possible. Since then, I've tried fifteen bullets (only a few jacketed, most have been cast using conventional sizing and lubricating) in weights ranging from just over 100 grains to just under 160 grains and about the same number of powders.

As with all handgun cartridges, jacketed bullets often won't shoot as accurately as a cast design that fits and is of the proper alloy mix for the load. Granted, that takes some work to get it all right and it usually doesn't happen quickly.

For the last twelve years or so, my most accurate 9mm load has used the obsolete Lyman #358212 .38 Special roundnose design, about 150 grains cast of wheelweight alloy, sized to .358", and Bullseye powder.

In addition to good accuracy, this load also functions perfectly in my three 9mm pistols, a Beretta 92F, a Sig P226, and a Walther P4.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Here's another vote for Vihtavouri N340.
Accurate.
Stable.
Clean.

The holy trinity of Handloading, which is experimenting to find the right load. Reloading is making the same combo over and over and over.

Prescut

Well put, and a distinction that is quite often overlooked!

 

[max]

I load a Delta bullet over 231. It is accurate enough for my plinking.

 

[Rlg#17]

3.2 grains of Titegroup. Runs all of our pistols from pocket to unlimited 9mm pistols. What ever primer you have, but federal is what I like best. 124 grain Montana gold jhp. Much more accurate then wife and I can hold it!


Regards, Rick Gibbs

 

[Nevada Ed]

As a note on most accurate..............

I have a C9 3.5" 9mm pistol that will shoot 1.45" light target groups all day long.

The recoil is minimal and the barrel will not ever over heat with the low fps, I think ?
However it will not work in my 5" pistol due to the heavy slide spring.

It is also a low cost load, since it is with a 115 gr. coated LRN bullet that
is less than .07 cents each, for a box of 500.

Just that most of you can't use my data, since the powder is Trail Boss
and it is not in any manual, that I know of.........
just one of my "Home brews".

 

[342ti]

4.0grs Bullseye under 115/124gr plated bullet, as ALWAYS profile dictates OAL. Superior results in ALL the 9's I had thru the years, best shooting gun was Sig Elite Series gun hands down, next closest was any of the G17's I had. Although my M9A3 is the only 9 I keep these days, accuracy is nowhere near the other guns mentioned.

 

[BB57]

I use a 115 gr HAP or XTP on top of a max load (Hornady 11th edition) of HS-6 in my AR-9, Colt 6450, Uzi and MP5.

In my AR-9, with its Ballistic Advantage barrel it shoots 2” at 200 yards on a calm day.

 

[zeke]

The most consistently accurate load am using revolves around the Win 115 gn hbfmj at full power, loaded to 1.160 with fast powder at full pressure. This bullet has been vary accurate in all the 9mm's tried in.

 

[Erocksmash]

I've got a published load ill check when I get home, it runs great in my 5906 TC, G17/19/48,

Its a w231 load with everglades 124 plated type 2s

 

[stanmerrell]

So, I settled on the CFE Pistol load 5.5 Gr using the Berry 124 gr RNHB. Shoots as good as my factory S&B loads.

 

[Abbynormal]

For 30 years I've used Hornady 115 gr truncated JHP over 6.0 grains of Unique. Good power and very accurate.

 

[teletech]

Well put, and a distinction that is quite often overlooked!

I'm willing to trade clean for cheap, so I'm still running Bullseye rather than N340, but I know there is that other point of view!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

With a 124gr FMJ bullet my most accurate loads are made with W231. They are not max velocity loads.

For max velocity loads AA#5, HS-6, Power Pistol or Longshot will all give you good velocities. I used to use HS-6 until I tried the fairly new W572. Now that's what I use for 124gr JHP or 135gr GDHP bullets.

 

[41 mag Dave]

I use a Lyman 356637 147 gr RN-FP over 2.8 gr of Tite Group and a CCI 200 primer. It chronos at 830 fps out of 5906 IDPA.

 

[Tu_S]

Currently I'm loading 5.3gr CFP Pistol under a 115FMJ at 1.14" COL. The charge weight was developed using an Auto Charger, but when using the Auto Disk on the progressive, it is actually closer to 5.1-5.2gr, but consistently shoots ~2" groups out of a 3" barrel at 50ft even with the variance, and is more than good enough for my skill level and needs.

Previously it was 4.2gn Bullseye with the same bullet and length, but had to switch since I have not seen Bullseye for sale since early 2020.

Next is working up something with TightGroup, since I'm starting to run low on CFE Pistol, and TightGroup was the only thing available to add to a few primer orders a while ago to help spread out the HazMat fee.

 

[BE Mike]

Most casual shooters test at 21'. A load of "bubble gum and talcum powder" will do at that short distance!

 

[41 mag Dave]

I have never heard of anyone doing load development or "testing" factory ammunition at 7 yards.

 

[BE Mike]

I have never heard of anyone doing load development or "testing" factory ammunition at 7 yards.

Really? Check out post #16!

 

[41 mag Dave]

I stand corrected. Like you I see no validity. Normally, I do load development at 20-25 yds.

 

[BillBro]

A 124gr Gold Dot over 6.6gr of hs-6 is what both my glock17 and my cz p-01 loves. Its a stout one and on the ragged edge and not something I shoot 500 of at the range on Saturdays but for sheer accuracy, and as an awesome SD type load thats it, for my guns.