9mm Gold Dot Hollow Points

[Sstanley223]

Hey all! Im working on a 9mm load for a 124gr. Speer GDHP over Unique. Speer and Alliant both list maximum of 5.8 grs. for 1180 fps. The gun is a S&W Shield with a 3.5" barrel. I tested 5.2 grs. which is the starting load and 5.6 grs. which my auto disk liked. 5.2 had a solid recoil impulse with low flash and good accuracy. The 5.6 had a substantial flash and lesser accuracy. I was reading about required velocity for the Gold Dot to perform. My thinking is there is no reason to push past the 5.2 gr load because the short barrel wastes any additional energy at higher loads. This ammo is a back up self defense load due to ammo scarcity. Very little chance I will actually carry it. Ive done tons of bulk reloading but this makes it more interesting right now cause Im being stingy with supplies. Wondering if anyone would care to share a few thoughts?

 

[243winxb]

There is 100 fps between start & maximum loads. Not a lot of difference. Going with accuracy, less flash & recoil, is a good choice.

 

[Sstanley223]

There is 100 fps between start & maximum loads. Not a lot of difference. Going with accuracy, less flash & recoil, is a good choice.

Thanks for pointing that out. Im sure there is significant loss with the short barrel anyway so I guess pushing the load is pointless

 

[rg1]

My 4.1" barrel in a G19 shows slightly less than 1100 fps by 40-50 fps less using Unique at 5.2 grains with Win cases and CCI 500 primers. A very good load range and accurate. At 5.4 grains of Unique I get 1134-1140 fps and don't care to go any higher. Speers max at 5.8 seems very hot? Overall lengths of factory and my reloads are 1.120-1.125".

 

[Sstanley223]

My 4.1" barrel in a G19 shows slightly less than 1100 fps by 40-50 fps less using Unique at 5.2 grains with Win cases and CCI 500 primers. A very good load range and accurate. At 5.4 grains of Unique I get 1134-1140 fps and don't care to go any higher. Speers max at 5.8 seems very hot? Overall lengths of factory and my reloads are 1.120-1.125".

Thanks for chiming in! 5.6 grs. seemed a bit spicy, even a bit of primer flow, and the group spread out some. Im using a lee auto disk measure so my choice is 5.2 or 5.6.... 5.2 is looking pretty good right now.

 

[Dudedog]

Livelife has a thread here with a mod for the Lees disk.
(when I have a chance I will search for the thread but it's here someplace.)
Basically drill a hole thru the side and thread in a machine screw.
That lets you adjust a larger cavity to a smaller size, so say if you did it the the cavity you are using to get 5.6 you could screw in the screw and get say 5.4 as an example.
When I was using the disk measure the best I could get with Unique was charges + or - .2gr. Most were + or -.1gr but the .2 swings were there.

 

[derek45]

124gr XTP 5.8gr UNIQUE chrony'd 1269fps in my 4" M&P

good accuracy and no signs of excess pressure.

 

[NMexJim]

The Shield is rated for +P ammo, but that’s hard on the shooter and the gun, imho.

My carry ammo happens to be Federal HST 124 standard loading rated at 1150 fps. Out of my 3” Kahr PM9 or my Sig 928, HST runs around 1100 FPS on my chronograph. For my practice ammo, I try to match that speed and feel with a round that prints to the same poi - easier said than done sometimes. Recoil is manageable with a reasonable return-to-target speed which are my criteria. Both HST and Gold Dot show full expansion at that speed in various gel tests that I’ve found.

FYI, Speer factory ammo is rated at 1150 for 124 God Dot standard carry ammo and 1220 for their 124 +P out of 4” barrels.

None of this has anything so far to do with Unique, but it is pretty fast burn, and you should be able to get good speed out of your 3.5” with it.

The Speer reloading data is for a 4” barrel. My recommend would be to work for 1100 fps if you have a chrono and see how you like it. No chrono, then try 5.5/5.4 grains to ensure expansion.

BTY, I load some 124 GD as back-up ammo for my larger frame 9s ((XD and XDM) and I push them right to 1200.

 

[Sstanley223]

Livelife has a thread here with a mod for the Less disk.
(when I have a chance I will search for the thread but it's here someplace.)
Basically drill a hole thru the side and thread in a machine screw.
That lets you adjust a larger cavity to a smaller size, so say if you did it the the cavity you are using to get 5.6 you could screw in the screw and get say 5.4 as an example.
When I was using the disk measure the best I could get with UNique was charges + or - .2gr. Most were + or -.1gr but th .2 swings were there.

I have seen the adjustable charge bar for the auto disk. I usually just load bulk practice ammo so close enough is good enough. I could hand weigh each charge for these since I only have 100 lol

 

[Sstanley223]

124gr XTP 5.8gr UNIQUE chrony'd 1269fps in my 4" M&P

good accuracy and no signs of excess pressure.

That is encouraging! Thanks. A chronograph is on my shortlist

 

[Sstanley223]

The Shield is rated for +P ammo, but that’s hard on the shooter and the gun, imho.

My carry ammo happens to be Federal HST 124 standard loading rated at 1150 fps. Out of my 3” Kahr PM9 or my Sig 928, HST runs around 1100 FPS on my chronograph. For my practice ammo, I try to match that speed and feel with a round that prints to the same poi - easier said than done sometimes. Recoil is manageable with a reasonable return-to-target speed which are my criteria. Both HST and Gold Dot show full expansion at that speed in various gel tests that I’ve found.

FYI, Speer factory ammo is rated at 1150 for 124 God Dot standard carry ammo and 1220 for their 124 +P out of 4” barrels.

None of this has anything so far to do with Unique, but it is pretty fast burn, and you should be able to get good speed out of your 3.5” with it.

The Speer reloading data is for a 4” barrel. My recommend would be to work for 1100 fps if you have a chrono and see how you like it. No chrono, then try 5.5/5.4 grains to ensure expansion.

BTY, I load some 124 GD as back-up ammo for my larger frame 9s ((XD and XDM) and I push them right to 1200.

I dont mind the recoil. Im just making an attempt at replicating a factory load before I change tool head. These felt similar to a 124gr Fiocci JHP that Im currently carrying. I really like the shield and it has been 100% reliable