9mm reload problem

[LopezEL]

So I have reloaded for the following calibers and never had a problem: .45, .38, and .223

However, I recently purchased the 9mm dies for my Dillon Sq Deal and loaded up a batch of 50 rounds using 3.9 grains of unique with a 147g round nose bullet. I shot them today out of my CZ 75b SA and they grouped very well. They felt drastically underpowered compared to factory loads.

The problem I'm having is that my point of impact is significantly different from my point of aim. At first I thought it was me, so I bench rested the pistol and shot a five shot group in which all the bullet holes were touching... about 3 inches to the left and 1.5 inches high. I then switched to factory 115g fmj Blazer ammunition and shot the bullseye out that I had been aiming at before with my reloads.

I understand that the POI varies with different loads but it had never varied this much for me in my pistol reloads. Unfortunately my CZ does not have adjustable sights... do I need to adjust my powder weight and find another charge that shoots well and is closer to my POA or what? Like I said, my reloads were all consistent but not accurate to my POA. Has anyone else had this happen with your reloads? I'm thinking maybe I'll just get some different weight bullets and start up another load. Do you have any 9mm favorite loads with Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol, or AA7... those are th e powders I have so far.

 

[ants]

Hi, Lopez. I've never had it that dramatic, but I'm not surprised. Try different bullets and different powders. Maybe you found the one 147g load that your pistol just doesn't shoot straight. It happens.

If factory 115 grain shoot straight, try 115g fmj or hollow point. Try 124 grain also. Unique, Titegroup, and W231 are good shooters with those powders in my 9mm pistols (Glock, S&W, Beretta, 1911, and Steyr). The S&W really likes mid-loads of Unique and 124g fmj. It cycles extremely well and hit POA. I also like Clays with those bullets, but some folks don't.

 

[D. Manley]

So I have reloaded for the following calibers and never had a problem: .45, .38, and .223

However, I recently purchased the 9mm dies for my Dillon Sq Deal and loaded up a batch of 50 rounds using 3.9 grains of unique with a 147g round nose bullet. I shot them today out of my CZ 75b SA and they grouped very well. They felt drastically underpowered compared to factory loads.

The problem I'm having is that my point of impact is significantly different from my point of aim. At first I thought it was me, so I bench rested the pistol and shot a five shot group in which all the bullet holes were touching... about 3 inches to the left and 1.5 inches high. I then switched to factory 115g fmj Blazer ammunition and shot the bullseye out that I had been aiming at before with my reloads.

I understand that the POI varies with different loads but it had never varied this much for me in my pistol reloads. Unfortunately my CZ does not have adjustable sights... do I need to adjust my powder weight and find another charge that shoots well and is closer to my POA or what? Like I said, my reloads were all consistent but not accurate to my POA. Has anyone else had this happen with your reloads? I'm thinking maybe I'll just get some different weight bullets and start up another load. Do you have any 9mm favorite loads with Bullseye, Unique, Power Pistol, or AA7... those are th e powders I have so far.

You're seeing the effect of the slower bullet printing higher which, is perfectly normal. There is a substantial velocity difference between your 147 grain reloads and the factory 115 grain load. You might consider working the load up incrementally and see if both problems (see below) are lessened.

As for printing to the left, this sometimes happens. Occasionally, a load will just print a bit one way or the other. I've seen several opinions and explanations on this and personally have no idea what the real cause is...I just accept it and move on. More often than not the affliction is self-correcting by changing the powder charge (even with the same powder). One of the tightest 9MM groups I've ever shot was with a well-above-max load of HS-6 but...printed center of group well off center from any other load. Go figure...

 

[Steve C]

Heavy bullet with light load effect is what you are seeing. Bring your charge up to 4.0grs and work up to 4.3grs max which is current Alliant Unique data with 147gr Speer Gold Dot bullet. Higher velocity will bring your point of impact down and be more in line with factory loads. Hopefully your accuracy will not deteriorate.

 

[Remo-99]

Target shooters will look for a bullet/powder combo that will give the tightest group, then adjust the sights to that load. But unfortunately with fixed sights you don't have that option.
This bullet/powder weight doesn't appear to be working for you in your gun, although grouping maybe acceptable, the bullet is not going to hit where you aim.
If changing different powder weights doesn't resolve the issue.
Then maybe it's best to stick closer to factory specs, with reloading close to the same bullet weights and velocities, as the rounds your getting acceptable results with now.
Just my thoughts on the subject.

 

[ants]

If you have round nose bullets, be careful using max loads for hollow point

The max powder charge for a Gold Dot or other hollow point is OK when using a round nose bullet, but don't seat to the overall length listed in the manual for hollow points. Round nose is longer than hollow point and you don't want to seat them too deep on a max charge.

 

[armoredman]

This is the fun time, finding the perfect load.