9x19 Lead

Yea, I've shot lead out of 9mm. Works decent, but I prefer jacketed stuff. Just remember that jacketed load data will not work for cast bullets. You will need cast load data.

I had a cheap High Power copy and fed it mostly lead. I used full loads with B'Eye, and it shot very well, and the leading was never a problem. A little after enough shooting, but would scrub out pretty easily. I may have been lucky with that barrel, though.

I put a lot of lead bullets through 9mm handguns, mostly my S&W and Witness pistols. I've never had a problem with leading, and I run them right at the top of the loading data. I cast all my own, so I can't speak to anyone else's bullets, though.

Hope this helps.

Fred

I shoot all kinds of lead out of my XD. 3 grains of clays is going to be a mouse fart load. The brass will land at your feet. I use 3.2 gr for a load that I use when getting beginning shooters used to firing a pistol. Leading has a lot of factors other than just velocity. I've seen 1100 fps loads not lead at all and 800 fps loads lead like crazy. Prober bullet diameter is a big factor. Orbturation is the key. http://www.missouribullet.com/technical.php

if you have some Bullseye try 3.8 gr
what are the sized at my 9mm like bullets
that are sized at .357 no leading and i shoot
a lot of them good luck

I've been shooting 125g, and more recently 147g lead from my nines for the exact reason you are; jacketed, hell, even plated, is non-existent.

I ran 4.2g of HP-38, and 4.0g of Titegroup respectively, when I was shooting the 125g. Ran the semi-autos just fine. I decided to move up to the 147g to try and match the weight of my carry hollowpoint ammo, and found they actually performed better, and leaded substantially less. 3.5g of HP-38 in this load results in decent power, and good accuracy. The 147g bullet doesn't leave you much room in the case though.

I look forward to returning to the jacketed/plated loading days...

I've lost track how many powders used with my 125gr 9mm. Thousands through my two CZ's.

I seem to remember Universal being fairly accurate.

Lj1941 said:

Has anyone had any experience using lead round nose bullets in a 9MM? I just purchased 1K of hard cast 125 grain LRN and am trying to work up a load that I can shoot without going bankrupt.I intend to keep them around 1000FPS to limit the leading.I am trying 3 grains of Clays in my M & P fullsized.

Click to expand...

The attached is what the Hodgdon site has for 9mm w/ Clays powder. LCN is "lead conical node" Per the site, between 2.9 and 3.3grains will give 899 to 993 ft/s.

The Hodgdon site (http://www.hodgdon.com) requires you Click HERE to go to reloading center, then click the "AGREE" on the next page; then Cartridge Loads or Shotshell Loads and pick your ammo type (e.g. 9mm, 38 special .. etc). You can then filter on powder type or bullet weight.

Chuck

I have some Missouri Bullet company 'small ball' 124 LRN bullets that I've been playing with. I started with 4.1gr of Promo (trying to make really cheap plinkers). I had to seat them pretty deep to get them to feed in my CZ (1.07" I think). The 4.1 of promo had stout recoil. I'm going to run a few more test batches, reducing the charge quite a bit.

hAkron said:

I had to seat them pretty deep to get them to feed in my CZ (1.07" I think). The 4.1 of promo had stout recoil. I'm going to run a few more test batches, reducing the charge quite a bit.

Click to expand...

Yes. If you are seating Missouri 124 gr RN (SmallBall) shorter than 1.080" - 1.100", you want to use 3.6 - 3.8 gr of Promo as max charge.

Due to the shorter/rounder nose profile that extends the bearing surface, the bullet base will get seated deeper than typical "stepped" and more pointed 125 gr RN bullets that are generally loaded at 1.125" OAL with shallower seated bullet base.

I am using 4.0 gr of Promo for 1.080" - 1.100" OAL and it is my "personal" max charge for MBC 124 gr RN.

I'm just getting into using lead bullets; and as I understand it, hard cast may cause leading problems at light loads if the base doesn't obturate.
What I've read from reputable sources and been told by lead users is that for light 9mm loads softer lead will run with much less leading.
Also slugging your bbl and ordering .001 or .002" oversize is important.

I've fought with lead in 9mm off and on for years now trying to get a good load, and I've learned a lot. I learned even more when I started shooting paper and saw the keyholes with some loads, and the overall lousy accuracy with most loads.

9mm is a high pressure load which is kind of hard on lead, but that is not a deal breaker. From what I can tell the key is bullet fit. Stuff the biggest diameter bullet that will chamber down the barrel. Took me a long time but I finally figured out that my cases were swagging down my bullets and that was the cause of my issues. I think. I've ordered a larger expander but have not had a chance to try it out yet.

Good luck.

I bought a boatload of 135 grain LRN bullets years ago (when they were cheap) for loading 9mm. My Hi-Power doesn't like anything but LRN and FMJ's. I load them up +P or higher using Bullseye; have no problems with them.

I need to work up some lighter loads just so I don't batter the gun since I installed a lighter hammer spring.

Your first post said you were using Clays, and then later you said that you were using Clay Dot. There is Hodgdon- clays, universal clays, and even international that carries the clays name. Clay Dot is made by Alliant. Just keep in mind that when talking about "clays" powder, list exactly what it is. You or a future browser may get some bad advise. Im not trying to pick a fight, I just wanted to post this for any future viewers of this thread that may not know the difference.

If yer gonna shoot lead in yer gun, you need to know what the groove diameter of yer barrel is, and the bullet diameter. You need to slug the barrel (gun manufacturers tell you what your groove diameter is "supposed to be", bur slug to make sure. I gave 2, 9mms and one measures .356" and one measures .357" so I size/shoot .358" bullets. Bullet to gun fit is more important the BHN of the bullet...