700x 9mm loads

[JBrady555]

Hello all I am new to reloading as you probably already know if you read my loose bullets threads. I got my problems worked out and am now putting together my first few loads. The only powder my lgs had that would work for 9mm was IMR Hi Skor 700x which was cool because it's one of the powders that the lyman manual used for 9mm.

I started at 3.7gr with a 124gr tmj at 1.149. It was nice and light in my g17 and cycled all the test rounds. After doing some research it seemed that a lot of glock reloaders were using a OAL around 1.135. So with my second test I shortened the round to 1.135 and I also used 4.0 grains of 700x since my first test was at the minimum per the lyman manual. They all fired and cycled with a little more recoil but not as much as factory ammo.

My questions are where do I go from here? I haven't been able to do any accuracy testing but should I just leave the load alone and shoot it now? Does 4 grains of 700x with a 124gr sound about right to you guys, or am I not reaching this powder/bullet combos full potential. I'm a beginner so I'm just not sure when it's time to quit testing and time to start loading larger quantities. Thanks for any insight.

 

[twofifty]

4.1 gr of 700X in my nine
yields a PF of 130 with 123gr plated bullets.

This is accurate enough for action pistol games.

 

[LiveLife]

Is your Glock 17 compensated or non-compensated?

 

[JBrady555]

Is your Glock 17 compensated or non-compensated?

It's a 17C

 

[cfullgraf]

My questions are where do I go from here? I haven't been able to do any accuracy testing

Accuracy testing is part of the equation. Since your loads function in your pistol, i would see how it does accuracy wise before fiddling with the load again.

To optimize range time, you could load up three or four variations, 10 to 20 rounds or so of each, changing powder charge or overall length a little and see if accuracy improves or not.

An aside anticipating the next question, without a chronograph, you cannot make any judgement on velocity. It is a helpful tool but folks have been making excellent ammunition for a century or more without a chronograph at their disposal. In other words, having a chronograph is not a requirement or a necessity.

 

[rfwobbly]

As long as you are going through the trouble to reload, you may as well get the maximum accuracy. You may be reloading for reasons of cost or availability, but with just a tiny bit more effort you get all three. At least that's the way I look at things.

To do this, divide the load range by ~5. Sometimes the load increments will be 0.2grns, sometimes it will be 0.1grns. Then load up 8-10 rounds at each load increment, making double sure to keep the same bullet and same OAL on each. Fire them from a supported position at new targets at about 30+ feet. The lowest load with the tightest group will be the one you want.

You need not shoot all the groups if you see a definite pattern of accuracy emerging early on. You can dis-assemble the higher loads, which is why I never go over 10 in a test group. You will find that dis-assembly is not nearly as much fun as assembly!

BTW, I heartily agree with the deeper seated OAL of 1.135". Auto pistol bullets seem to need deeper seating to counter the effects of their collision with the feed ramp.

Hope this helps.