9mm handloads

[brutus51]

At $50 bucks a box of 50 I've come to the conclusion I'm going to need to start reloading the 9mm again. Going to start as soon as primers become available, meantime my SPP are spoken for in other calibers.
I've used WW-231, Universal, Autocomp, AA#7 and #5 in the past during the last shortage.
Usually just bought factory ammo when it was $10 bucks for box a 50, especially when I was to lazy to reload anything else. anyway I never got that serious about it but times have changed.
Have a good supply of .355 plated bullets both 115gr. and 124gr. which I've been using in my 38 supers. Also have Bullseye, Titegroup, Power Pistol and a can of CFE pistol on hand.
Interested in hearing about other peoples favorite target loads.

 

[bersaguy]

I've had good luck with Berry's 115 RN over 4.5g Bullseye, that's been my go to target load

 

[RemoW]

I love Universal for 9mm. Shoots clean. I use 115gr plated and FMJ. Normal load for RN is 4.8 - 5.0 gr Universal at 1.135 oal.

 

[drband]

I've had good luck with Berry's 115 RN over 4.5g Bullseye, that's been my go to target load

I like w231, Red Dot/Promo, and have recently been using AA#5. All of thos powders have worked acceptably well for me.

 

[RashQuestion]

I've had good luck with True Blue & Sport Pistol using RMR 124gr FMJ RN/124gr HP MPR.

 

[blackd24]

RMR 124 RN over BE-86 and Hp-38. Both in the middle of published data at 1.12 to fit both my CZs. It’s about $.13-.15 since bullet prices increased which is a lot better than $.50 for factory. I usually just shoot steel at 15 yards so these do the trip just fine.

 

[cfullgraf]

I'm a fan of True Blue in 9x19 these days but you cannot go wrong with the powders already mentioned.

 

[Charlie98]

Although I'm NOT a big fan of TiteGroup, it does work pretty well with 115grn and 124grn 9mm.

 

[brutus51]

Although I'm NOT a big fan of TiteGroup, it does work pretty well with 115grn and 124grn 9mm.

Titegroup is my #1 powder for 38 Super target loads. Only problem with it is how hot it burns.

 

[Spare Parts]

If I'm reading the supply chain correctly, 9mm supply will increase before SPP. Nonetheless, today is a good day to think about the next ammo/component shortage. Kinda like the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago.

My "target" load is a clone of Federal 147gr HST. Pulled projectiles from American Reloading. Blue Dot or BE-86. If you wander into the deep end of the 9mm pool, be careful - the pressure curve goes asymptotic for high-performance personal defense loads. I measure my powder to +/- 0.001g.

If I may say so, my handloads have a lower standard deviation over the crony than Fed's commercial stuff. It's extremely gratifying to find all my cases within a 12" circle.

 

[brutus51]

If you wander into the deep end of the 9mm pool, be careful - the pressure curve goes asymptotic for high-performance personal defense loads.

In my case venturing into the deep end is what the 38 Super is for.

 

[Charlie98]

Titegroup is my #1 powder for 38 Super target loads. Only problem with it is how hot it burns.

Well... that is one of my biggest criticisms of TG. I do not use it with cast bullets anymore, that's for sure.

 

[FROGO207]

Back along I happened onto several kegs of Promo. I use the mid to just above Red Dot data with 124 grain data for inexpensive rounds. Better accuracy than commercial with plated or powder coat.

 

[Skeptic13]

I love Universal for 9mm. Shoots clean. I use 115gr plated and FMJ. Normal load for RN is 4.8 - 5.0 gr Universal at 1.135 oal.

I too reload a lot of 9mm with Universal. I usually buy the bulk 115 gr FMJ from Everglades Ammo and load them over 4.8 to 4.9 gr of powder.

 

[fxvr5]

If you wander into the deep end of the 9mm pool, be careful - the pressure curve goes asymptotic for high-performance personal defense loads.

Feel free to translate this into English. Can you share a measured pressure curve that demonstrates this? Thanks.

I measure my powder to +/- 0.001g.

So, +/- 0.0154 grains?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use W231/HP-38 mostly in the 9mmbut you don't list it as one of your available powders. Of the powders you list CFE Pistol would be my choice. You can also use Power Pistol but I feel its a little slow for the 115gr bullets. Titegroup will also work but I just don't like that powder.

If you can find some W231/HP-38 or Ramshot Zip you will be better off IMO.

 

[fxvr5]

A#7 and Power Pistol can produce excellent accuracy with the right bullets. Power Pistol is popular with Bullseye shooters with 115 grain JHP bullets for excellent accuracy.

The most important part of an accurate load is the bullet. If you decide to chase accuracy, consider jacketed flat point or hollow point bullets.

 

[AJC1]

Well... that is one of my biggest criticisms of TG. I do not use it with cast bullets anymore, that's for sure.

I still use it in cast because at 3 grains in a 38 case this will last a lifetime. I dont plan to buy more but maybe I should keep a pound even when stocked up due to its ability to keep me shooting when I cant find anything else. Maybe I dont shoot fast enough.

 

[bersaguy]

Feel free to translate this into English. Can you share a measured pressure curve that demonstrates this? Thanks.



So, +/- 0.0154 grains?

Pretty sure what is being said is, be careful loading heavy projectiles at near max charges, as the small case capacity of 9mm can lend itself to large pressure increases with small variations in seating depth or charge weight. I'd say that's pretty sound advise and not something to be derided.

 

[Charlie98]

I still use it in cast because at 3 grains in a 38 case this will last a lifetime. I dont plan to buy more but maybe I should keep a pound even when stocked up due to its ability to keep me shooting when I cant find anything else. Maybe I dont shoot fast enough.

TG is economical, I'll give it that... it's weird that way. You take one scoop out, and two more appear.

as the small case capacity of 9mm can lend itself to large pressure increases with small variations in seating depth or charge weight. I'd say that's pretty sound advise and not something to be derided.

You got that right, and particularly with a fast powder like TiteGroup... or even something as benign as Unique.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I've been using HS-6 because I couldn't get Titegroup for a while. Been happy with the performance, it meters well in my Autodrum, but it is a little more prone to static and sticking in the powder pan.

 

[brutus51]

Do have some 231 as mentioned above, my goto powder for .45ACP, use a lot of Universal in .357, .45 Colt and .44 Mag. target loads.
Not looking forward to dealing with those punybellum cases, my fingers were designed for .45 Colt.

 

[WeekendReloader]

Berry's 115gn plated over 4.5gn of Win231 or 5.0gn of CFE Pistol. Nice accurate plinking loads. Both are in the middle of Hodgdon's load range data. Ran a ladder of Bullseye and found 4.2gn - 4.5gn to work also.

 

[Charlie98]

Not looking forward to dealing with those punybellum cases, my fingers were designed for .45 Colt.

True that. That's one of the reasons I gave up on loading 9mm years ago... but, as you say, times have changed.

You think 9mm is fun, you should try .380....

 

[RashQuestion]

Pretty sure what is being said is, be careful loading heavy projectiles at near max charges, as the small case capacity of 9mm can lend itself to large pressure increases with small variations in seating depth or charge weight. I'd say that's pretty sound advise and not something to be derided.

++1 We are all responsible for our own safety and the ones that shoot at the range near us.