First 9mm loads seem kind of all over

[Nighthawk0083]

I initially made 5 rounds to function test just make sure they would cycle. They worked so I made up 50 and went back to the range. I stayed at 7 yards and the results were in my opinion less than great. I had one group that was about 2 inches and the other were 5-6 inches or more apart. Either I was going too fast or the load just isnt right for the gun. I was thinking of working up the load a little more to see if it tightens up. I also plan to go slower next time. I didnt see any signs of over pressure.

Any thoughts on the load?
I like everyone else am a bit constrained on my powder choice as I have limited pistol powder at the moment.

Sig P229r 9mm pretty much brand new, has less than 150 rounds through it.
124gr hornady xtp
7.0gr Blue Dot
Fed 100 primer.

I also had loaded up some frangible rounds to test and they were not that great either. They hit the steal target but failed to fully cycle the action. I will need to put more powder in the next load. I believe the max load is 4 grains so I will test 3.7 grains this weekend.

Anyone have any experience with 9mm frangible loads?
100gr sinterfire frangible
3.5 gr 700x
Fed 100 primer.

 

[KingM]

You probably aren't going to get a 100 gn to shoot worth a crap but those XTPs while pricey are nice. You probably need a faster powder. Blue Dot is slow enough for rifle rounds.

 

[LKLive13]

I was loading 124gr XTPs with WSF I believe(they may have been 115gr). My loads held a pretty good group.

 

[Comrade Mike]

Blue dot is more for the 147 grain range and it's a very temperamental powder. I hate it. I have about half a pound left and I'm considering using it to start fires

 

[Nighthawk0083]

Yeah I know the frangible rounds arent the greatest but I have access to a range but its green only and there are a lot of steel targets there. So I will have to try to get it to work I might have to try another powder though.

How many grains do you use with WSF? Just out of curiosity.

 

[Nighthawk0083]

comrade mike I am in the same boat I just want to use it up and be done with it. I had bought it many years ago for my 357 loads and then I read that you shouldnt use it with 125gr loads so I switched to 2400 and put it on the shelf and havent used it since. I started loading for 9mm and its a way to get it used up.

 

[KingM]

Why not give lead a try?

 

[Walkalong]

You may need to go hotter. Blue Dot likes top end loads. It's pretty slow for a pistol powder.


FYI: Not suited for rifle loadings except for off the chart reloading.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

When working up a load it is much easier to make a few lots in increments. That way you find your load. Also it never hurs to make a few more in each lot for better testing. I generally make three lots of 5-10 each and that way I get the load I am looking for without several trips to the range. YMMV.

As far as cycling the slide it does sound like it was a low end load. Note: I am no frangible fan and have never loaded them but failing to cycle because of low charge is universal.

 

[KingM]

You may need to go hotter. Blue Dot likes top end loads. It's pretty slow for a pistol powder.


FYI: Not suited for rifle loadings except for off the chart reloading.

I have seen rifle load data for it. It seems like it may have been for a Hornet.

 

[Walkalong]

Sure your not thinking of 2400?

Some people use Blue Dot in .223 (Research it and be careful), but you won't find it in the reloading books.

I have blown the heck out of two primers over the years, one was playing with Blue Dot in .22 Hornet.

I have never seen any rifle load data for Blue Dot. I would be interested to see any published data for it in rifle calibers.

 

[KingM]

I'm sure it was BD but not sure it was a Hornet. It has been a long time. Seem I recall some rifle data for 2400 also. I use 12B101 which is just a tad slower then BD in rifle but I have spent a lot of time working up that data. Stuff is the beast in 243Win, so-so in 30-06 but not really that great, & pretty good in 223Rem.

 

[greyling22]

Why not give lead a try?

gah! that's a terrible idea for a new reloader in 9mm. 9mm is a high pressure round that a lot of people have trouble with. I know I have fought with it for years without a whole lot of success. (and yes, I know some people have success with it, and if that's you, congratulations, but if you start looking around the net, more people struggle with 9mm than any other caliber)

 

[sexybeast]

Yeah, lead is more challenging than jacketed in 9mm or 40. High pressure rounds with lead take a lot of experimentation.
I shoot 300 rounds a week with lead in 9mm and 40 and its much different than with fmj.
I agree with Greyling and walkalong that bluedot is a bad choice for 9mm. Most people I know use it in 357 or 44 with heavy jacketed bullets.
Slowest powder I would use with lead or in 9mm is Unique/Universal.

 

[UziLand]

I have loaded the 90gr 9mm frangibles. Frangibles have to be loaded up to the next weight of a jacketed bullet. So with 90gr sinterfires I loaded them for a 115gr jacketed round. I used 4.9gr of bullseye (5.1 is max) at a length of 1.150 to 1.160. You have to be really careful with your crimp. Over crimping can fracture the bullet and you may not see it. Can really jam your barrel up. The Sinterfire web site has some so so data. I fired these through a UZI carbine and they worked fine. Make sure you tap test after crimping.

UL

 

[KingM]

gah! that's a terrible idea for a new reloader in 9mm. 9mm is a high pressure round that a lot of people have trouble with. I know I have fought with it for years without a whole lot of success. (and yes, I know some people have success with it, and if that's you, congratulations, but if you start looking around the net, more people struggle with 9mm than any other caliber)

Seems like a better idea then frangibles. Your not going to be good at it till you try it.

 

[Walkalong]

When I started reloading it was .45 ACP for myself and 9MM for my brother. I started with Unique and lead in 9MM with store bought cast bullets. I never had a leading problem. I was worried about it from reading horror stories about leading, but whatever combo it was worked.

 

[Nighthawk0083]

I am only using blue dot because I am running low on unique and dont have much in the way of pistol powders. I hope to pick up some better powders soon. I may wait until I get some better powders before I waste any more xtp's.