reloading recipe for 9mm fmj

[robmont]

New to reloading and everything is very easy to understand except....finding a recipe. I live very near where Hodgdon is headquartered so that brand is very easy to get. Selected HP-38 on recommendation from my local gun shop. They say it is very popular and works well with 9mm, 38 special and 45, my areas of interest. I shoot 9mm 115gr fmj and want to use HP-38. Looking at Hodgdon, Lyman's and Lee's load tables....can't find it. I can find recopies for LRN, jacketed HP, lead. XTP, GDHP, etc. Can't find fmj for HP-38. I can find recipes for 115 gr fmj for many other powders, not HP-38 (or Winchester 321). Did find lots of recipes for hollow points. I don't want to shoot hollow points.

Should I be looking at another source book for the data? I assume that no one wants to give out their recipe for fear of liability. I just don't understand why there isn't much more info for what I thought was a very popular combination of "ingredients".


This subject has probably been beat to death, but like I said, I'm new.

Thanks.

 

[Walkalong]

Welcome to THR.

The shop is right, HP-38/W-231 is a great powder to start with and will work very well for those three calibers.

When I am home later I can quote some 9MM 115 Gr FMJ from my Speer manuals. I am surprised the Hodgdon online data doesn't show any.

 

[Sunray]

Hi. You load for the bullet weight and jacketed or cast. Doesn't matter who made it or its shape. You will find jacketed bullets get expensive quickly though. Close counts a bit as well. As in plus or minus about 5 grains of bullet weight won't matter.
Usually best to use the powder makers data. Doesn't make much difference though. Every manual will be slightly different as the data reflects conditions using the particular firearm and components used in the tests. Partial to the Lyman book myself. Has more loads using more bullet weights and powders than any manufacturer's book. Plus they usually give an accuracy load by bullet weight. Good place to start with as new cartridge(HP38 will do nicely though. Don't shoot a 115 or jacketed myself, but Bullseye works well with the 121 cast I use. Pop over to Hodgdon's site. The 115 SPR GDHP data is for you.). The reference chapters are a good read too.
Lee tests nothing. They use Hodgdon's and the other powder makers data.
"...to give out their recipe..." More that it won't matter. All firearms shoot the same ammo differently. You must work up the load for your pistol.

 

[rcmodel]

Just use the Hodgdon data for the 115 Speer Gold Dot.

The OAL stated will be different using FMJ-RN but the powder charges will be fine.

Probably an OAL of around 1.150", but plunk test them in your barrel to make sure the bullet isn't getting in the rifling.

rc

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, Speer lumps the different styles together by weight, but show different OAL's.

Speer # 13.

115 Gr data. GD-HP @ 1.125 OAL

115 Gr FMJ @ 1.135 OAL

115 Gr JHP @ 1.125 OAL

W-231: (HP-38)

Start 4.5 for 1026 FPS

Max 5.0 for 1133 FPS

4" barrel.

 

[notaglockfanboy]

Nosler calls for 4.2g starting load and 5.2 max for the 115 JHP With OAL at 1.100. Hope that helps.

 

[LiveLife]

Welcome to THR.

Although online Hodgdon data center does not list 115 gr FMJ for 9mm, you can reference 1999-2005 Winchester load data which does list the bullet - http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=159609&stc=1&d=1329800605

115 gr FMJ W231 Start 4.4 gr (1045 fps) 25,900 psi - Max 4.9 gr (1135 fps) 32,600psi

With Winchester 115 gr FMJ bullets, 1.150"-1.160" OAL/COL work for many barrels but I prefer to use shorter 1.135" for greater neck tension and more consistent initial chamber pressure build up, especially if you are not using near max powder charges. For the past several years I have been using HP-38 instead of W231 and my pistols can't tell the difference (As posted already, Hodgdon expressed they are the same exact powder).

For my Glocks, 4.6 gr starts to reliably cycle the slides and 4.8 gr produces greater accuracy.

 

[johnandersonoutdoors]

Probably an OAL of around 1.190", but plunk test them in your barrel to make sure the bullet isn't getting in the rifling.

If we are talking about 9mm, beware of the OAL listed above. Max 9mm is 1.169"?

 

[Walkalong]

I also use 1.130 to 1.135 for most RN 9MM bullets. The one exception is loaded @ 1.140 to 1.145 OAL.

Plunk Test

 

[robmont]

Simulating Factory Ammo for Reloading 9mm

Does anyone have advice about how to load 9mm 115gr fmj with HP-38 to approximate the factory loads of say Federal or Winchester. I think that would be a good place for me to start my hand loading hobby. I am quite happy with the way that factory ammo performs in all of my guns including a rather finicky Dan Wesson Pointman 9, so why not try to achieve a load that approximates that?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lethal rx7]

Best thing is follow the books/guides untill you get the recipe that runs/feels right to you. Once you make a few different loads you will probally load a round different than you think you will like.

 

[Buckeye357]

Here is a load that my Sig P239 likes a lot.
Bullet= Winchester 115 grain FMJ
Powder= Winchester 231 at 4.7 grains
Primer = CCI 500 small pistol
Case = Winchester
Cartridge OAL= 1.151"
Have note in my Reloader's data Log 4.7grs 231 at low end of Sierra 3rd but max for Hornady 7th.
I have loaded with as much as 4.9 grs of 231 but my Sig shoots 4.7 grs the best.
Others powders I like with 115 gr FMJ are IMR 700X and Bullseye.
700X =4.3 grs. everything else the same.
Bullseye = 4.6 grs " " Very good results !

 

[Dudedog]

I shoot paper targets for fun so I don't woory about power factor or attempting to duplicate factory ammo.
Say I have bullet x and powder y.
The charge range for powder y with bullet x is 3.8 to 4.5.
I would load up some at 3.8 fisrt (start load first of course until you have more experience) then maybe 4.0, 4.2 and 4.4.
Does the start load function the firearm ok... Yes we are good there then with that charge for functioning. If no, stovepipes, failure to eject etc then we need a little more powder.
I would then shoot the rest being careful and checking for high presure signs as I approached the max or almot max charge.
I would then pick whichever of the charges seemed to shoot best for me.
I find I load a lot of my (mm ammo somewhere in the middle of the charge range, which is usually a little bit less powerful than "factory" ammo.
I do load some at "factory" power levels for practice just to get used to the feel of what my SD loads would be. ( I always shoot some of them as well but a close to $1 ea that gets expensive quick.)

Usually you can find a load that will shoot better than factory ammo.

As a side note I have had really good luck with Missouri bullet company 9mm 125 gr cones and SWC in my 9s. Less expensive than jacketed and they shoot real well. MBC offers THR members a 5% discount and they are great people to do business with.

Hope this helps, welcome to THR (great people here)
and reloading.
Have fun and be safe.

 

[Toprudder]

Does anyone have advice about how to load 9mm 115gr fmj with HP-38 to approximate the factory loads of say Federal or Winchester. I think that would be a good place for me to start my hand loading hobby. I am quite happy with the way that factory ammo performs in all of my guns including a rather finicky Dan Wesson Pointman 9, so why not try to achieve a load that approximates that?

Thanks in advance.

In my opinion, that is not a good way to start. They publish min loads for a reason, start there and work up. No shortcuts. Besides, most of my favorite loads are way below the max loads.