9mm 124gr, AA#7, 4" barrel, Minor Power Factor
First time reloader; first time poster.
With no previous experience, I decided to start reloading 9mm. This thread was one of the many resources that I used to teach myself about the safety and performance of using Accurate No. 7 powder. This thread comes up high on a Google search, so I thought I'd attempt to add my experience.
I'm using the Lee Breech Lock Hand Press, with a Lee Deluxe Carbide (4 die) set, Lee Lock Ring Eliminators, Lee Ram Prime, WSP primers, mixed brass, and Ranier 124gr plated bullets.
I chose AA#7 because I wanted a reduced risk of overcharging my cases. I'm using the Accurate load data v3.5, available here:
http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/accurate_load_data_3.5.pdf
I started with the start load, which is 6.7gr of AA#7. After going to the local range, and convincing myself that the slide was not going to come loose and impact my face, I pulled the trigger on my German Sig Sauer P228 (3.9" barrel), six times. My ProChrono Digital gave me the following:
FPS: 929, 912, 888, 910, 944, 944
After this string, unburnt powder was everywhere, inside of my frame and slide. However, the action did operate properly, and the rounds did eject, with and without bullets remaining in the mag.
I was happy with the low recoil and the function of the action, but I realized that all of the posters (on this and other sites), who told us that AA#7 was better-suited for heavier loads, were correct.
I kept working up...
TL;DR
Here's what I eventually settled-on. I don't shoot in competitions, but this load has a couple of conveniences for me. One, it is a typical powder scoop for my Lee 0.5cc dipper; and two, it averages to a 127 power factor in my P228:
124gr Ranier plated round nose, .356
7.3gr Accurate No. 7
Avg. COL: 1.152
Avg. taper crimp: 0.3765
Which gave me a recorded seven-shot string of:
FPS: 1024, 1031, 1030, 1052, 999, 1026, 1040
Avg. FPS: 1029
Avg. PF: 127
Avg. ft-lbf: 291
Use this data at your own risk. Thanks for reading.