9mm Lead Load Data

[Macca38]

Hi all,

trying to work out some places to start loading lead projectiles for range work.

I have power pistol, bullseye, unique and win231 on hand.

I have 115grn, 124 &125grain, 135grain, and 145 & 147 grain projectiles on hand too.

If it makes any difference I plan to shoot them out of a sti targetmaster, a 9mm colt, and a beretta M9.

Data I have so far is looking something like:

115:

Power pistol: 5.0, 5.5
Bullseye: 4.0, 4.2, 4.5
Unique: 4.5
win231: 4.3

124/5 grain:

Power Pistol: 5.0, 5.5
bullseye: 3.8, 4.2
unique: 4.5, 5.0, 5.5
win231: 4.0
wst: 5.0

135 grain:

power pistol: 5.0
bullseye: 4.0
unique: 4.0
win231: 4.0

145/7 grain:

power pistol: 4.5
bullseye: 3.5, 3.8
unique: 3.8
win231: 3.4


I've gone through lymans manual now and have consulted other sources...one or two of the above are pushing it a bit, obviously i'll shoot the lower versions first where there are multiple loads and see how they go lowest to highest.

Lyman's latest manual wasnt that much help...but it did give a few start points.

updated 30/9/09

 

[rcmodel]

Buy a Lyman #49 load manual.

All the lead bullet load data you could possibly want in one place.

rc

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

+1 RCmodel's advice.

Personally:

I load 5.5 grains Unique under my 125 grain hard cast lead bullets.
I load 5.0 grains Unique under my 115 grains FMJ bullet.

Thank you

 

[Macca38]

RC....does the lyman number 49 manual actually have load data for those powders with lead projectiles in all those sizes?

I dont really want to just purchase another updated manual unless it actually has the data im after....especially when amazon wants to slug me $50USD for shipping!!!!

 

[Steve C]

Look for one of the compiled spiral bound "one caliber book" for 9mm if you already have at least one complete manual. It will have data from all the manuals including Lyman and every other source both lead and jacketed.

 

[Macca38]

does it have load data for what Im looking for, cause Im not going to buy manuals unless someone says it is in there.

 

[Rugg_Ed]

Lyman #49 load manual. will keep you out of trouble

 

[Macca38]

once again unless someone tells me it is in there Im not spending a fortune to import a book that should cost an average book price.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

First: Get the book used on Amazon.
Second: Get at least a couple other reloading books.
Third: Go to the powder manufacturer website and check their loads. If they do not have the exact setup that you have, it is still a good starting point.

Fourth: Buy the book. It is one of the best around. Here is my mathematical function to determine your benefits return/ cost ratio:

Price of book < blowing your gun + blowing your hand + spending 3 days in the emergency room waiting to see a doctor because Oz has the same social medecine than Canada.

Thank you

 

[Macca38]

first of all: im not about to load something stupid and blow up my gun and injure myself...i have been loading for in excess of 10 years and have loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds...because im new to 9mm doesnt mean im an idiot.

I have a number of reloading books, none of them have lead data for alliant stuff except unique and bullseye. and even then mostly only for 125grain projectiles.

If everyone has this book, why is it so hard for someone to just say, yep...i had a quick look and it has the data....

the cost for the book is nothing its the cost of postage and time, but I am prepared to get it if its got what i want....but i already own a number of manuals and none fo them have it...even alliant doesnt publish data for lead...(except one load for a 125grain lead projectile).

 

[Macca38]

ok...ive ordered the book despite cost....will take a couple of weeks to get here.....

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

It was an humoristic post. I have the book. I'll take a look tonight (it is mornign here and I am at work right now) and I'll tell you what the book suggest if it has that kind of data. Maybe someone will write it here meanwhile.

I understand that you want to check your load. I always do it by posting it here and 2 other places. Never failed me. I can say right now your 124/5 grain with Unique is in the ballpark.

Thank you

 

[Macca38]

Thanks.... Im fairly sure the unique and bullesye loads will be ok...its the power pistol that has the most apparent lack of data....and thats what im most interested in trying...

I do always ask about loads and listen to what everyone says...sadly, load data publsihed isnt even always correct....ive seen what i can only assume have been misprints in data books over the years, but anyone stupid enough to believe the book could have had a nasty accident....mostly they are safe, and usually you can go higher safely, but nothing is guaranteed with loading...hence ask everyone i can....particularly when data is scarce. thankfully my days of asking for data are nearing an end...i have so much for everything else i shoot...9mm is my last hoorah so to speak.

One of the reasons I often just loaded ADI or vihtavuori powders over the years is because there is a wealth of data....

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

This guy has a lot of loads : http://www.reloadammo.com//

Moreover, write an Email to Alliant. They will give you the info you need. I wrote to Accurate, Ramshot, Hogdon and they all answered to me in less than 24 hours.

Thank you

 

[Macca38]

funnily enough...reloadammo.com doesnt have data for power pistol lead...and i have written to alliant....im hoping they might have a wealth of lead data that they just dont publish....they sure havent replied in 24hrs though....i'd be impressed if i got that response.

 

[kestak]

Greetings,

Lyman is still your best source. I have the pistol and the "big" one and it is my first reloading source. They have tons of data with hard cast lead.

Thank you

 

[Macca38]

yep...damn the shipping time!

 

[Walkalong]

I believe you will be happy you invested the money and delivery time to get the Lyman manual.

 

[Macca38]

typical amazon canceled order...wont ship to aus

even tried an ebay auction...then they canceled and said it was too much to ship....

suggestions? i dont seem to be able to get this friggin thing!!!!!!!!

 

[edSky]

Layman is the only one with lead for 9mm that I saw. I had to guess for my Missouri Bullet 147gr loads based on the Speer data and what I've learned, and I was still on the high end and showing pressure signs. Layman got me to where I needed to be

 

[wankerjake]

124/5 grain:

Power Pistol: 4.3-6.0
bullseye: 4.5-4.9
unique: 5.5-6.0
win231: 4.0

I emailed alliant with the data for bullseye with 124/5gr lead projectiles and they recommended 3.5-4.0gr. For unique they recommended 4.0-4.5gr. So definetely get that manual before you start loading up the data you posted. I've only tried 3.5gr bullseye and I love it.

 

[rbernie]

I use 4gr Unique under cast 124gr/125gr bullets and it works quite well - accurate, economical, zero leading issues, and powerful enough to operate every semiauto that I own.

 

[Aliencane]

I shot some 125 gr Missouri bullets in my Beretta PX4 today. I used 4.2 grains of W231. Accurate, but some leading. I probably need to back off to 4.0.

Thoughts?

 

[Galil5.56]

For my Beretta M9 and Walther P1 using my home cast Lee 125 grain RN bullets (water quenched) I like:

4.4 grains Bullseye

4.2 grains WW231/HP38

4.7 grains Unique

5.2 grains Power Pistol

Velocities for all of the above are in the 1065-1095 fps range over a ProChrono Digital, function perfectly with minimal fouling. Have used many other propellants with these bullets, but always seem to fall back on what I mentioned. These bullets are sized .357"/.358" depending on the alloy used for best accuracy, especially from my M9's .3572" groove diameter barrel. Only "heavy" 9mm loads I have played with are 158 grain LSWC's, and drive them to just over 900 fps with Unique and HS-6.

Good luck.

 

[Galil5.56]

I shot some 125 gr Missouri bullets in my Beretta PX4 today. I used 4.2 grains of W231. Accurate, but some leading. I probably need to back off to 4.0.

Thoughts?

Perhaps the .356" sizing is not ideal for your barrel, and even if it is, some leading can/will happen because of various factors. For many years I have very lightly coated commercial "hard cast" bullets that demonstrated fouling with Lee Liquid Alox, and it works well in almost all cases.

Good luck.