9mm +p loadings

[evan price]

WARNING:
This posting may contain information about loadings which are above stated maximums by the manufacturer of the powder(s) listed. DO NOT load to these levels unless careful testing is performed. Do not assume these loads are safe for your application. You have been warned.


I find no info on 9mm +p loadings on Hodgdons web site.

I am loading Titegroup under a 125-grain K.E.A.D. hard-cast lead round nose bullet.
I started out at 4 grains of Titegroup but had cycling problems in my Sub2000, sometimes it would not strip a new round out of the mag. Also my brass was very sooty and black which indicates the load wasn't hot enough. Plus it felt "light" in pistols comapred to factory ammo.

I started loading to 4.4 grains which is the max for FMJ same weight. Sub2K cycles fine, ammo "feels" good now from seat of palm of hand in a pistol. Brass is now fairly clean when ejected and no signs of overpressure.
I was lead to believe this was not a +p loading and that using KEAD's extra-hard hardcast alloy, loading as if it were FMJ would be OK.

So far no overpressure signs in pistols or Sub2K.

Anyone know where I can find true +P load data, since the "old" 9mm Luger was a higher power at one time and has now been watered down to current levels?

I have been loading 124-grain Rainier HP's over 4.7 grains of Titegroup in +p brass to get a nice hot carbine ammo that would not be used in pistols normally.

Anyone able to help me out on Titegroup and +P 9mm loads?

 

[CZ57]

Evan, I wouldn't use TiteGroup for +P. It is too fast with a very quick pressure peak. Check this thread. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=329745;)

 

[Steve C]

I can't remember ever seeing 9mm +P data in any reloading manual but most list loads that will equal factory +P velocities. As has been mentioned, Tightgroup is too fast a powder for anything but medium velocity target and practice loads. If you want to maximize your velocities or reach +P velocity levels you will need to use a medium burn rate pistol powder. Unique, Power Pistol, Blue Dot, AA#5, AA#7, Universal and HS6 would be good powders to use. Power pistol was developed for the 9mm military load and works well for 1,200 fps + velocities using 115 to 125gr bullets.

That said, I wouldn't use cast bullets to get +P velocities since I don't like having to clean up a leaded bore.

 

[evan price]

Welp, throwing caution to the wind I loaded up some 9mm nickle cases with Win SP primers, Rainier 124-gr HP projectiles and 4.7 grains of Titegroup (which is what I use for .45 acp 230-gr). Max listed by Hodgdon is 4.4 grains under a 125-gr FMJ.

Test fired individual cases then a mag full in a Springfield XD-9 4" pistol.

Strong ejection, felt great, not snappy at all, no muzzle flip. Brass looked excellent, no primer deformation, no stretch in the case. Cases came out nice and shiny clean, no sign of a weak load and dirty burn. I would have to say these are nice shooting rounds.

In terms of power, I have no chronograph to give good results. But I can say my test target, a junked Kitchenaid all-steel dishwasher, exhibited good penetration. The slugs penetrated through all the layers of the machine except the very last outer skin where they lodged, fully mushroomed, nearly all the way through the steel.

 

[ReloaderFred]

There is an article in Handloader Issue #238 that includes loading the 9mm to +P levels. The article is about Western Powders Ramshot line, and lists some favorite loads, including two loads for the 9mm +P. The article begins on Page 50.

Hope this helps.

Fred