9mm help

First off, do you have at least one current reloading manual? They usually walk you through the basics.
col or oal is case overall length (loaded).
Alliant Powder Reloader's Guide 2000 edition gives a max charge of 6.2gr unique for jacketed 125gr bullets (close enough for the 124 XTP), using a length of 1.150". That's pretty high compared to other data sources. Their online data shows 5.8 gr max with a 124gr Speer Gold Dot. Reduce charge and work up slowly.
Hornady and Lyman call for 5.0gr unique max, at 1.060" & 1.075" respectively.

I'd start at 4.2 gr and work up until you start seeing pressure signs or are happy with your velocity.



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Hornady 9th Manual:
9MM
124 gr. XTP----primer Win SP----case Hornady
overall length as tested---1.060"
Unique powder---Start 4.0---maximum 5.0 grains
5.0 grains while listed as maximum is a nice load. Caution going above 5.0 grains.
__________________
Lyman 50th manual:
9MM 124 XTP---CCI 500 primer----Federal cases----oal 1.060"
Unique powder-----Start 4.0-------maximum 4.5 grains

One thing you need to watch for in 9mm is case neck tension. ie make sure the bullet is nice and tight in the case. Poor case neck tension can case the bullet to be pushed back into the case when hitting the feed ramp to chamber resulting in higher possibly excessive pressures.
If your using a single stage or a turret press you can usually feel the bullet go in to easy.

I do a quick and dirty check by giving the bullet in the loaded round a couple solid whacks on a piece of 2X4 I keep on my bench. The bullet shouldn't move.

Unique shot well for me in 9mm, I just didn't care for the way it metered.

What the other posters have said If you don't have a manual, I recommend the Lyman manual. I didn't like the way Unique metered, so I moved on to 231 and HS-6.

If you're anywhere near Homestead/South Miami I'd be willing to meet up and talk about it in person.

I find it interesting that the max charge varies so much. I wonder why Lyman dropped so low. Their 49th shows 5.0. just goes to show, what worked in my gun might be unsafe in yours...

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astocks2622 said:

I find it interesting that the max charge varies so much. I wonder why Lyman dropped so low. Their 49th shows 5.0. just goes to show, what worked in my gun might be unsafe in yours...

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I don't have my Lyman book or records today or I'd verify the numbers on this. A few years ago I was working up a load for my 40 with 180gr and HS-6. I'd loaded about 10 rounds every few grains up the load range. When I got to the 8.0gr (not sure, but positive the load was within my manual) of HS-6, I fired two rounds one at a time, and couldn't find the brass. Had a stiff recoil so I stopped shooting them. When I got home I noticed that Hodgdon data stopped at 6.9gr. Still surprises me that there was such a variance between the sources.

Keep in mind also that CZs tend to like short OAL, so whatever your chosen length, make sure that:

1) They will fit in the magazine... probably not a problem
and
2) You can pass the "plunk test": With the barrel removed, drop a loaded round into the chamber and make sure you can freely rotate it... to make sure that the bullet isn't hitting the lands. CZ's have shorter chambers than most others and will not run some longer lengths that are fine in many other guns.

J_McLeod said:

What the other posters have said If you don't have a manual, I recommend the Lyman manual. I didn't like the way Unique metered, so I moved on to 231 and HS-6.

If you're anywhere near Homestead/South Miami I'd be willing to meet up and talk about it in person.

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I agree, W231 and HS-6 do meter much better than Unique. I use W231 for most of my 9mm range ammo and HS-6 or Longshot for more serious work.

"...Lee said 5.8 grs..." Lee uses Alliant's data. They test nothing themselves.
Max OAL for 9mm is 1.169". Whole lot less mucking around using the Max OAL for all bullet weights. Works like hot dam with a cast 121 grain TC. Will for a jacketed 124 too.
"...gives a max charge of 6.2gr Unique for..." Currently 5.8 for a 124 jacketed bullet. Year 2000 published data would have used different powder lot. Mind you, my old(1977 vintage, I think. Covers worn off) Lyman book(far more versatile than any bullet or powder makers book. Their book only give data for their products too. As in no IMR data in an Alliant manual. Or Bullseye data in a Hodgdon manual.) gives 5.8 as max for a jacketed 124.
"...interesting that the max charge varies so much..." It's all about the tools used and conditions on the day of the tests. Data in manuals are averages anyway, but you still don't go above max or below minimum.

Max OAL for 9mm is 1.169". Whole lot less mucking around using the Max OAL for all bullet weights.

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You can't always just use the MAX listed OAL.
Some bullet shapes and chambers will not allow it.
You need to plunk to see what fits.

Plunk test
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=506678

Be careful you don't over bell and use a good taper crimp die. I like the Dillon die but others work as well. It is a very easy cartridge to load the only easier one might be .45acp.

In addition to what other have said, which is good advice, I also drop the slide on the same few cartridges multiple times. Measure them before and after, this will help reveal a functional set back scenario.

I've also performed a bench test by pressing the nose against a bathroom scale, then compare what it takes to create set to that of recommended neck tension spec., what ever that is, I can't remember off the top of my head.

I will first find my functional OAL/COAL by performing the plunk test and by determining what will fit the magazine and feed reliably from the magazine. Once I've determined the functional OAL I then work my charge up at that OAL. And any time I change bullets, and, or the oal, I perform the same process again.

9mm is already a high pressure cartridge to start, so it is very pressure sensitive to set back, pressures can spike very high depending on the amount of set back. IMO .010" set back can have a noticeable effect on pressures depending on the powder and charge, but it's certainly needs to be addressed. .020" can cause a significant amount of pressure spike and is certainly a reason for heightened concern and correction.

Just one country girls perspective.

Barrelgal

Off thread but
Welcome to THR Barrelgal.

Lots of great people here.

I'm using 5.0 gr of (Hercules)Unique with the 124 gr XTP, set at 1.060, and get an average of 1115fps out of my hi-power. I use a taper crimp too, but not much...only to remove any belling.

One thing you may wanna watch out for, are cases that have less capacity. Some Norma brass I have for example, is a bit thicker inside at the head (you can even see a raised up portion), and were the only ones I used that had any indications of pressure.

Unique used to be a bit of a metering problem for me, but after sanding and semi-polishing the interior casting of my uniflow, and adding a baffle, it'll now drop within .1 grain all day.

RC Model quote: I am running 5.0 Unique with Berry plated 124 RN seated 1.120".

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What I used, shoots out of my XDs 9mm wonderfully. Some say it's dirty, but I clean my gun after every shoot.

I'm with Ironicaintit...unique meters just fine in my Dillon powder measures (+/- 0.1 grains). It can be difficult with other measures, and those that aren't polished up, but certainly NOT impossible.