Potatohead
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9mm powder/accuracy questions
- Thread starter Jmontie
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Try 700X, that's I all I use for 9mm out of my G19 with a 115gr FMJ. It took me a few to figure out what it liked, settled on 4.5gr of 700X with OAL of 1.120 great groups @ 15yards.
I have used Unique with 6gr with a OAL of 1.150, I just didn't get the groups like 700X..
On crimping I just take the bell out
I have used Unique with 6gr with a OAL of 1.150, I just didn't get the groups like 700X..
On crimping I just take the bell out
gamestalker
member
I've been using HS6 and Longshot for a number of years with excellent results. AA5 is also a good powder. I just loaded up a bunch of 115 gr. FMJ's for my daughter in law, and they shot great with Longshot and HS6.
Since your new, make sure you know the crimping process for rimless cartridges that only utilize a taper crimp, such as 9mm. The crimp on these type cartridges is only as much as it takes to remove the bell used during seating, nothing more, or you'll actually decrease neck tension significantly.
With jacketed bullets, I don't bell or crimp at all. I simply re size, chamfer the inside of the mouth evenly, and then set the bullet on top nice and straight, and seat. But I don't know if that will work with a progressive though?
GS
Since your new, make sure you know the crimping process for rimless cartridges that only utilize a taper crimp, such as 9mm. The crimp on these type cartridges is only as much as it takes to remove the bell used during seating, nothing more, or you'll actually decrease neck tension significantly.
With jacketed bullets, I don't bell or crimp at all. I simply re size, chamfer the inside of the mouth evenly, and then set the bullet on top nice and straight, and seat. But I don't know if that will work with a progressive though?
GS
Thanks for all the replies. There have been plenty of good suggestions. I'm am going to try accurate no5. I have quite a bit of it and it only seems a little hotter than Unique. I'm starting 5.4 gr of powder. I'm only slightly crimping the case. Hornaday (die set) says you can crimp or not crimp with the die. The no5 seems to flow more consistently than the unique. Weight per volume is higher on the no5, so there is more room left in the case. My case was so full with the unique that I had to be careful indexing the press, powder would spill out. Anyway, I've ran a small batch and need to get to the range and try them out. I will post back when I have more info. Once again thanks for all the info.
Blue Thunder
Member
+2 on different weight bullets vs gun vs accurate. My G-19's love 115, 124, 127, 147GR bullets. My PT-99 loves only 115 and 124GR. Have not tried 127GR. It will keyhole all 147GR regardless of the load behind it. It has to be barrel related and it has done this using factory as well as reloads since I bought it in the mid 80's. I use AA2 and Unique for all pistol, 9MM, 40S&W and 45ACP. My Unique meters very nicely in my pair of Dillon SDB's. I also have 4 different reloading manuals with the oldest dating back to 1973.
Here's another vote for 4.8 gr of either Win 231 or HP38 with any good 115 gr jacketed bullet. I use 1.125" LOA for all my 9mm's with good results.
Another good powder I'm just beginning to experiment with is: WST...charges run about a half grain lighter than those with HP38 or 231, but accuracy is just as good.
HTH's Rod
Another good powder I'm just beginning to experiment with is: WST...charges run about a half grain lighter than those with HP38 or 231, but accuracy is just as good.
HTH's Rod
gamestalker
member
If you are using jacketed bullets and don't want to mess with crimping, there is a way to do it without any issues.
Evenly chamfer the inside of the mouth, charge the case, and set the bullet on top of the mouth nice and straight, and then just seat. If you've properly chamfered, the bullets will set up perfectly straight without any problems. Don't bell the mouths, and don't crimp at all. It provides maximum obtainable neck tension too! I've been loading jacketed bullets like this for a long time, and I've never experienced a problem.
GS
Evenly chamfer the inside of the mouth, charge the case, and set the bullet on top of the mouth nice and straight, and then just seat. If you've properly chamfered, the bullets will set up perfectly straight without any problems. Don't bell the mouths, and don't crimp at all. It provides maximum obtainable neck tension too! I've been loading jacketed bullets like this for a long time, and I've never experienced a problem.
GS
WST and Competition appear to be cousins, if not brothers, and my lot of Competition is .1 gr faster than my lot of WST, so if it was me I would go to the Ramshot PDFs for data to get a good starting point, but that's just me, I can't tell you what to do.
From the Ramshot 4.5 PDF
Use data at your own risk.
Guys, I just went to the range yesterday. I crono'd my old loads again. The high was 1180 the low was 1123.
With the accurate #5 (5.4gr) 115 FMJ Remington projectiles. 1094 high and 1061 low. Will bump up the powder staying below the max. Would like to get to 1130ish. Like the fact that there is less smoke with the accurate #5 than the unique.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Why are you focusing on the 1130 fps velocity instead of accuracy. If you find that 1094/1061 fps load is very accurate what good will a slightly faster load serve if it's not as accurate? You said nothing about the accuracy but seem to be very worried about speed.
rodregier
Member
...he's probably loading for IPSC power factor floor.
He is right, looking to make the required power factor. Accuracy is an issue, but I would like to get safely within the power factor and then focus on the accuracy.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
I'm sure AA#5 will safely get you there as will a handful of other powders. If you can't get what you need from AA#5 with power factor and accuracy take a look at AutoComp.
I almost thought that this was MY post! I was having the same problems with my 9mm. One of the members here suggested that I use 4.1 or 4.2g of tite group on a 124g fmj. I did! It gave stellar results. I then tried Power Pistol over a 115g FMJ and it was even better. I cannot remember the grains...since I'm at work..but I BELIEVE it was 5.0. Dont quote me on that...but the results were incredible. I use a EAA Witness Limited and the gun is accurate as can be..but these configurations helped out quite a bit. Don't over crimp!! That is a crucial part of this equation. Accuracy will be thrown off quite a bit if you do. Crimp enough for the bell to come out and assure that the rounds chamber in your firearm.
First of there's nothing wrong with using Unique in the 9mm. It produces quite accurate loads and some of the higher velocity ones is you want to put out self defense equivalent to +P and +P+ velocity equivalent to some of the commercial companies.
One of the problems with new loaders is they don't want to go through the development of finding an accurate load and figure they can just slap together some load and find great accuracy. You should start with loading a box of 50 with 10 round batches with increasing powder charge from start to at or near maximum to test and not load huge batches of a single load arbitrarily picked. Once in a while you can win the accuracy lotto but don't expect to every time. After you put 20 to 30 years of hand loading experience under your belt you will get better at "picking" a good load to start with.
Generally I find accuracy is mostly in the shooter and not the ammo. If you are having a bad day or your blood pressure is a little high due to excitement then you probably won't get good accuracy regardless of the ammo you are shooting. You first need a baseline of accuracy with know ammo at known distance on the same paper target repeatable more than one time to tell if your ammo isn't being as accurate as it should. Otherwise you are just guessing it is an ammo or load problem.
The velocities you are getting from 5.0grs (1,130fps) of Unique are about what you will usually get from the typical bulk 9mm Winchester and Federal and is in line with loads I've chrono'd using 5.2grs. You may want to up you charge a bit to 5.5 or 5.7 grs which should give you 1,200 fps +/- a few fps but load a few and try them to see if you get an improvement.
The bullet is the most important factor of accuracy in reloading and Remington makes good bullets, their jacketed 9mm is some of the best.
One of the problems with new loaders is they don't want to go through the development of finding an accurate load and figure they can just slap together some load and find great accuracy. You should start with loading a box of 50 with 10 round batches with increasing powder charge from start to at or near maximum to test and not load huge batches of a single load arbitrarily picked. Once in a while you can win the accuracy lotto but don't expect to every time. After you put 20 to 30 years of hand loading experience under your belt you will get better at "picking" a good load to start with.
Generally I find accuracy is mostly in the shooter and not the ammo. If you are having a bad day or your blood pressure is a little high due to excitement then you probably won't get good accuracy regardless of the ammo you are shooting. You first need a baseline of accuracy with know ammo at known distance on the same paper target repeatable more than one time to tell if your ammo isn't being as accurate as it should. Otherwise you are just guessing it is an ammo or load problem.
The velocities you are getting from 5.0grs (1,130fps) of Unique are about what you will usually get from the typical bulk 9mm Winchester and Federal and is in line with loads I've chrono'd using 5.2grs. You may want to up you charge a bit to 5.5 or 5.7 grs which should give you 1,200 fps +/- a few fps but load a few and try them to see if you get an improvement.
The bullet is the most important factor of accuracy in reloading and Remington makes good bullets, their jacketed 9mm is some of the best.
Jim Watson
Member
If one grain of bullet weight matters, I haven't noticed it yet.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Agreed, just use the 125gr load data. It's perfectly safe.
I use Accurate #5 in my 9's with the Lee Pro Auto Disk hole #43. It throws in the 6.2 to 6.4 gr. range. My COL is 1.136 and I use 115 plated RN Berry's-Xtreme-Ranier's. I shoot with S&W M&P full size, S&W 669, S&W SD9VE, and a Bersa BP9CC.
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