9mm load questions

[J_McLeod]

After a few month break from reloading I upgraded to a Lee Turret and have really enjoyed it.

Loaded up a few sets tonight and plan to shoot them tomorrow. One thing that really bothers me about reloading 9mm is how much different load date there is out there. I've looked at data from Lee, Hodgdon and RCBS and gotten different load data from each one, with one company's starting load being another's max load.

Here's what I loaded tonight, using 124 gr Rainier HPs, CCI 500 and HP-38 in all and they'll be shot in an XD.

3.2 gr powder at 1.115 OAL
3.5 gr at 1.115, 1.125 and 1.135 OAL
4.1 gr at 1.145 OAL

What do you think of these loads?

 

[LiveLife]

Rainier plated bullets are sized to .355" and your first two loads are below even the lead load data, which starts at 3.9 gr at 1.125" OAL. Depending on the stiffness of the recoil spring, they may not reliably cycle the slide of your pistol.

I usually start out plated 9mm 124/5 gr bullets at 4.3-4.5 gr to cycle the slide on my Glocks. OAL of 1.125"-1.135" work fine for me, but determine the OAL that will feed/chamber well in your pistol from the magazine.

From Hodgdon's website:

125 gr Lead CN W231/HP38 Diameter .356" OAL 1.125" Start 3.9 gr (1009 fps) 25,700 CUP - Max 4.4 gr (1086 fps) 31,200 CUP

125 gr Sierra FMJ W231/HP38 Diameter .355" OAL 1.090" Start 4.4 gr (1009 fps) 24,600 CUP - Max 4.8 gr (1088 fps) 28,800 CUP

 

[918v]

The frst two won't cycle your gun.

 

[J_McLeod]

Thanks. I had a feeling the loads would be a bit low. The first few are from the Lee manual. Just about everywhere I looked but Hodgdon had a max of about 4.0. Fortunately I didn't load too many, so there wont' be a lot to pull, and I'm going to bring a rod for if they feel light.

 

[LiveLife]

I'm going to bring a rod for if they feel light.

They'll clear the barrel, but may not fully cycle the slide.

You can use them for malfunction drills.

 

[1SOW]

4.1 grs will shoot and 'probably' cycle the action, but your gun will be very 'sooty' .