9mm too Hot?

[Naterater]

I just tried reloading 9mm luger for an XDM and I got out to test accuracy vs factory loads. When I switched from factory to my STARTING LOAD reloads, I found a noticeably large increase in muzzle flash, recoil, and sound. Is this normal for reloads?

I looked for signs of overpressure and I found no evidence of such. I didn't chronoghraph the bullets though.

These factory loads were the same weight bullet as the reloads.
Accuracy was better in the reloads.
I am using:
-6.3g of Alliant Power Pistol
-Win Brass
-Hornady 115grain XTPs
-CCI 500 Small Pistol Primers
-1.120 O.A.L

Am I doing anything wrong?

 

[rcmodel]

For one thing, using Power Pistol.
It is slower burning powder and you use more of it then you are likely to find in any cheaper brand of factory ammo.

So you get more blast, flash, and probably velocity too.

Then, you started 2.0 grains over the Starting load listed in the Hornady manual for that bullet.
You are near a max load of 6.7 according to the Hornady & Alliant load data.

I would also bet money you are seating too long for an XD pistol.
They have a very short rifling leade, and the bullets you are using has a very long full diameter bearing surface.
I am almost certain you are jamming the XTP bullet into the rifling when they chamber.

That raises pressure too.

Hornady says seating depth is 1.075", but you need to take the barrel out of your gun and try the loads to see if they are seated short enough to drop in & out of the chamber freely.

rc

 

[Naterater]

It doesn't appear to be seated too long for the XDM as it does drop in and remove freely. There's no marks on the bullet from being chambered either.

Thank you for helping me out!

 

[GLOOB]

RC laid it all out pretty good. Naterater, be sure to check the max OAL for your gun, just so you know how close you are to the edge. Between different headstamps, crimp adjustment, and seater plug shape, you usually end up with some variation in OAL. I had a 9mm Daewoo once upon a time that wouldn't chamber an XTP until the OAL was below 1.075", exactly. I had to seat 'em down to 1.065" to be safe.

The other thing to note is that cheap domestic 9mm is often loaded on the weak side.

 

[JDGray]

Power Pistol feels hotter than it really is....Even 5.5-6.0gr charges feel hotter than WWB.

 

[918v]

Try Hornady's short OAL. It may produce better accuracy still. Other than that, your observations are typical of PP which is the wonder powder for the 9mm.

 

[kingmt]

Can't add anything to what RC told you. Good information.

 

[steve4102]

When I switched from factory to my STARTING LOAD reloads, I found a noticeably large increase in muzzle flash, recoil, and sound. Is this normal for reloads?

I looked for signs of overpressure and I found no evidence of such. I didn't chronoghraph the bullets though.

These factory loads were the same weight bullet as the reloads.
Accuracy was better in the reloads.
I am using:
-6.3g of Alliant Power Pistol
-Win Brass
-Hornady 115grain XTPs
-CCI 500 Small Pistol Primers
-1.120 O.A.L

Were did you get your load data from? As RC pointed out your 6.3gr is close to max according to Hornady and is well above a "Starting Load".

 

[Walkalong]

Many people really like PP in 9MM, along with other calibers, but PP in 9MM =

View attachment 590349

 

[918v]

Were did you get your load data from?

Alliant?

 

[Steve C]

6.3 grs of Power Pistol is not a hot load by any means and you have some room to work up a bit. PP produces good velocities and accuracy but has more flash than some other powders mainly because you use a bit more of it than say a faster powder like Bullseye or W231. I chrono'd 6.3grs of PP behind a Remington 115gr JHP at and average velocity of 1,222 fps from my Glock 19, a bit faster than the factory S&B 115gr @ 1,142 fps.

 

[918v]

At what OAL?

 

[gamestalker]

In the event you do decrease the OAL, be cautious of increased pressures. The 9mm is pretty sensitive to OAL.

 

[Naterater]

Big Mistake--I used my memory for the starting load--which I was way off. I KNEW the max load, so I knew I was safe. The Hodgdon manual doesn't list Alliant powders, so I think I used an internet source. Sorry about the inaccuracy of my original post. Thank you for your responses!

 

[Metal Tiger]

Alliant Data:
9mm Luger 115 gr Speer GDHP Speer 1.125 4 CCI 500 Power Pistol 6.7 1,212 -

Correct me if I am wrong here but if you know the max charge of powder. I would be a reduction of 10% to get to the starting load. In this case ~ 6.1gr

Yes?

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

PP has a large flash to it.
however if you have or someone you know has try those loads in a carbine. PP really shines there.
also .45acp. I don't have a .40 but suspect same there.

 

[Fisherdave10]

Don't worry, that's just Power Pistol.

When I decided to try Power Pistol for the first time I loaded 115gr bullets over 6.1gr of PP seated near the maximum length in a BHP and I was also surprised by the extra energetic results of pulling the trigger. I shot some HSM 115gr reloads and they seemed anemic and underpowered after shooting a box of my loads and 6gr is a starting load. Before I tried PP, I was loading 9mm with Win231.

I don't care for the snap I get with the 115gr bullets with Power Pistol so now I load 124/147gr bullets, which is good since my carry ammo is 147gr.

I also like Power Pistol for .38 special with 158gr cast bullets and .357 Magnum with 125gr JHPs. It's also nice for .40. Because it isn't as dense as other faster powders, it's more difficult have an accidental over charge.

Flashy? Yes, But it's good stuff.