dghboy315
Member
i heard somewhere that IPSC/USPSA rules had changed (could have been a while ago) and some kind of 9mm round was now acceptable as major. is this true? would this round be only handloaded or can you buy it?
9mm as Major in IPSC?
- Thread starter dghboy315
- Start date
- Status
USPSA did change the caliber restriction for Open class to allow 9mm. This was more or less in conjunction with changing the power factor to 165. This is for open and production ONLY. Limited still must be bigger than 40 caliber and 165 power factor. Revolver must be 357 or higher for major.
lycanthrope
Member
In Production it has no effect, since everyone is scored minor. Shooting 9mm at major loads in Production would be a disadvantage to some.
Zak Smith
Member
So in summary, you can now shoot Major 9x19 loads in your new 9x19 OPEN division pistol.
-z
-z
For perspective, that is a 115gr bullet going at least 1440FPS, 124 at 1330ish, and 147s at 1130ish. So no, you cannot buy this off the shelf.
Being that my 124gr Gold Dot +p Carry stuff only makes about 140 something Pf, I can't imagine shooting major 9 in Production through an uncompensated pistol. I have a nice Production load now that makes 135 Pf. some like to flirt with going home and get little pissant loads down to 126-7. I don't like hoping the chrono isn't one foot too far away or the air pressure is wrong.
I'd say you better be a pretty competent reloader before you go off and rape the SAAMI specs to make major 9. It can be done safely, you just better pay attention. I think if I ever get an Open blaster it will shoot TJ or Supercomp, variations of the .38 super flavor.
Being that my 124gr Gold Dot +p Carry stuff only makes about 140 something Pf, I can't imagine shooting major 9 in Production through an uncompensated pistol. I have a nice Production load now that makes 135 Pf. some like to flirt with going home and get little pissant loads down to 126-7. I don't like hoping the chrono isn't one foot too far away or the air pressure is wrong.
I'd say you better be a pretty competent reloader before you go off and rape the SAAMI specs to make major 9. It can be done safely, you just better pay attention. I think if I ever get an Open blaster it will shoot TJ or Supercomp, variations of the .38 super flavor.
Zak Smith
Member
The way to do this safer is to "load long". That is, you load them beyond max spec'd OAL for 9x19, closer to .38S or 9x23 lengths. Since you're probably shooting it out of a STI, SV, or Caspian, the length isn't a problem. The advantage is you can use super-cheap brass.
-z
-z
dghboy315
Member
interesting.
thanks, guys
thanks, guys
easiest way is as Zak suggests..load it to an OAL of 1.235 to 1.250 mimicing the length of a 38 super or 9x23..will feed very well out of an STI/SV/Para/Caspian gun..
9x19 to standard length is easy..just some care will be needed..we use to do this all the time using 9x21 brass but loading to 9x19 specs..in a Springfield Armory P9 LSP..
Using small rifle primers, ramped barrel and working loads up carefully..IPSC major ( at the time 175 ) power factor was easy to do with 124 and 115 jacketed bullets..
no worries of double charges..as cases were full..
either way you load it..the only real advantage is that brass is cheap..other than that..no real reason to switch if you are already shooting a 9x23, 9supercomp, 38 super, 38 supercomp, 38TJ.
This is pretty much a custom load..whether you do it or contract someone else to do it..
9x19 to standard length is easy..just some care will be needed..we use to do this all the time using 9x21 brass but loading to 9x19 specs..in a Springfield Armory P9 LSP..
Using small rifle primers, ramped barrel and working loads up carefully..IPSC major ( at the time 175 ) power factor was easy to do with 124 and 115 jacketed bullets..
no worries of double charges..as cases were full..
either way you load it..the only real advantage is that brass is cheap..other than that..no real reason to switch if you are already shooting a 9x23, 9supercomp, 38 super, 38 supercomp, 38TJ.
This is pretty much a custom load..whether you do it or contract someone else to do it..
- Status