.38 Special lead bullet in a 9mm case Unique Powder measurement.

[luvit]

This OP is edited.
I was looking for measurement of Unique Powder for a 9mm case with 158gr bullet via PM.
Answers begin from RC (presently post #10).


Original Post:
Can you calculate a powder charge for me via PM? (Unique powder)
I'll provide my components via PM.
I'll be starting low and work my way up to your calculation.
Thanks, so much!

 

[steveno]

buy a loading manual or two

 

[kostyanj]

Most powder manufacturers list their loads on their sites.

 

[jwrowland77]

buy a loading manual or two

+1 million on this.

 

[jwrowland77]

Most powder manufacturers list their loads on their sites.

+1 million on this too

 

[luvit]

yup. I use manufacturer online guides often and those are great.
i'm going a little outside of their free guides, though.

 

[Walkalong]

Alliant provides a lot of info on their website. Care to at least tell us the components so we can steer you in the right direction?

 

[stavman11]

ya.... Kinda weird request OP....

Buy some Loading manuals....

These are actualy a good source.... they have a bunch of different Data for caliber specific usages..

 

[luvit]

yeah, like i said, i use the free online guides from the manufactures, and the alliance site.
I really do get the response "read a reloading manual", like the thousands of times it printed as a response throughout THR reloading forum.
Whether I post the components or not, every one of these posts, including the dreaded +1 were anticipated.. so i felt i'd try a different approach to prevent the routine responses that litter many other threads in the reloading forum of THR.
I predicted all these responses, but hoped this approach would help.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the responses, but normally they do not answer the OP.. also, many times it appears that people just throw these out way too fast.

I can predict many other responses, but here's the components anyway.
158gr bullet, ?.?gr of Unique powder, 9mm cartridge.
I really do appreciate real calculations and not the same cookie cutter responses we always see.

 

[rcmodel]

You failed to mention what bullet type you are asking about??

But:
Old Lyman #45 (1970) manual says a 158 LRN #358311 cast bullet + Unique.
3.5 Start load.
4.5 MAX.

This is with that 158 grain LRN bullet only.
Not for any other bullet shape.

NOT for SWC, TC, etc.

rc

 

[luvit]

thanks, rc.
I have an abundant amount of 158gr LSWC and LSWCHP
How does this suit the calculation?

 

[rcmodel]

Read the last line in my post again!!!

Not enough case capacity in a 9mm for LSWC or LSWC-HP, and they probably will not feed anyway.

rc

 

[luvit]

i read it, rc. ..your first line can suggest you may have had access to info of multiple bullet types. -- sorry for any misunderstandings.
these LSWC are feeding great with each manual slingshot of the slide..
i appreciate the look-up in Lyman.

 

[Walkalong]

Well then, you must let us know how it works out. I know some folks who have shot some lighter LSWC's in 9MM. I have a few a member sent me. Great looking bullets. A nice crossover bullet for 9MM/.38 Spl, realizing of course some 9MMs are not going to like them.

158 is pretty heavy for 9MM, and I assume you will go slow and easy.

 

[Jim Watson]

I shot some regular .357" 158 gr SWCs in my P7 9mm before the experts told me that lead and bullet lube would foul the gas system. I didn't see any, but maybe I quit before it became obvious.

I did not use Unique and did not then own a chronograph so I cannot spoon feed you a "recipe" but will offer some general guidelines.

Start low on powder charge. The old Lyman starting load of 3.5 gr Unique would be a good place. Or even the Speer .38 S&W Maximum of 3.1 gr at 1.065" OAL with their swaged bullets.
Don't load many in case you have to increase to get function.

Seat as long as your chamber will accept. The gun barrel beside the loading press for an immediate Plunk Test would be smart. My P7 would take those SWCs loaded to the crimp groove, enough chamber throat for the front band. Shot like a champ.
So why did I try some seated deeper? I dunno, it seemed like a good idea at the time. Even at the low end of loads, it jacked up the pressure to where it embossed the chamber flutes on the brass.

Y'all be careful, now, you hear?

 

[oneounceload]

Why are you trying to shoot bullets designed for the 38/357 in your 9mm, where the bore dimensions are different?

Why not just trade for what you really should be using?

 

[luvit]

Alrighty,
I chose 3.1gr for my first 6 rounds. [ edit: thanks to jim and rc. ] I chose light crimp followed by a tighter crimp with each pair or bullets with lengths of 1.16" and 1.06".
Everything "felt" right, knowing that you can't really go by feel and the fact that i bullseyed each shot at 30ft.
I forgot to catch my brass for each shot and only found 1 brass (after dusk). That one brass is in good shape.
I'll look for the other 5 brass tomorrow and start over to inspect each brass between firing. -- I may stick with 1.16" since it chambered as well as 1.06"

oneounceload.. i tried to trade, locally on online boards and even regional gun/ammo boards. no responses, no big deal.
I'm not inventing anything new.. this has been done by many people, but their recipe is never shared with any detail.
The reasons for this interest is limitless.. and my reasons are numerous.
This thread is about 158gr .38 special bullet in a 9mm case with facts.
I was only attempting to avoid the tiresome posts of those who do more posting than shooting.
.
.

 

[rcmodel]

I was only attempting to avoid the tiresome posts of those who do more posting than shooting.

Thankya! Thankya!

That fits me to a T anymore!!

rc

 

[Jim Watson]

If 1.16" OAL chambers freely, load it. You don't have a lot of volume to work with and .10" is gold.

 

[luvit]

rc, you provide good content, not just a post count.
jim, i was choosing 1.16" for a lower pressure safety buffer (if only in my mind). Can you elaborate on what you mean?

 

[Jim Watson]

That is just what I meant. A bit longer OAL is just what you say, a pressure safety buffer.
If an autopistol round will feed and chamber at a longer length, it has more of a safety margin. Funny bullet profiles that require deep seating are touchy.

 

[243winxb]

9mm 158g RN lead loads

9mm 158g RN lead loads

3.4 grains of W231: Ave. 838 fps, 13.81 SD
4.2 grains of HS-6: Ave. 801 fps, 17.36 SD
4.5 grains of HS-6: Ave. 875 fps, 15.87 SD
3.0 grains for bullseye with a max of 3.5 869 to 961 FPS
3.0 grains Red Dot with a max of 3.6 858 to 963 fps
3.5 grains unique with a max of 4.5 883 to 1039 fps
3.6 grains Herco with a max of 4.6 840 to 1010 fps

load 1.160"

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_6_42/402304_Load_data_for_158gr_9mm_.html

 

[Owen]

luvit, please don't edit your original posts.

 

[luvit]

243winxb, that's interesting how that was published early this morning. -- ah well, i'm a day late or early.
Last night i did find that same recipe for unique, and others assumed the recipe for 158gr was dropped from Lyman because of the bullet seating depth.

 

[Mike1943Ret]

Might I ask what gun you are using and is it fitted with the original or aftermarket barrel (e.g. a Glock with original brl, Bar-Sto or Lonewolf etc.) Bullet profile and alloy, make-up, hardness?

Does the barrel you intend to use have a short, medium or long leade and is the chamber subgun (loose) average or match (tight)?

Are you specifically looking to load subsonic rounds?

Do you have any other powders available?

I've known many Glock shooters who loaded lead SWC and SWC HP's and were very happy with the results. Also known many shooters who couldn't get the same loading to even feed in their firearm.