Load data for Winchester 9mm 124 grain bullets.

[ssyoumans]

I don't load Power Pistol (PP) with 124gr bullets but thought I would share my experience with 115gr JHP and PP. It has lots of flash and matches that with very high velocity.

For my 115gr bullet, max is 6.7gr PP. I loaded some up with 5.9gr and 6.3gr for testing. The 5.9gr exceeded all Factory 115gr Loads (non +P) that I have tested except for Speer gold dots (which were 20fps faster than the 5.9gr load but slower than the 6.3gr load). I never loaded more than 6.3gr as 5.8gr became my standard load. It is a great max velocity powder in 9mm, but start at the minimums with this powder. I did not see any signs of excessive pressure, but just thought I would share my experience with it.
If you are a novice loader, I concur with others that Unique or W231 would be a better choice for starting out with. Heck, even bullseye if available, it is cheap and efficient.

 

[ssyoumans]

. Is it safe to just use the same load it recommends for Hornady bullets and just swap the bullets to the Winchester ones and use the same powder charge? Should I use the same OAL the Hornady manual states? Or should I go by what Winchester claims for this bullet with their powder when it concerns OAL?

I'd load .015" shorter than the max your barrel will allow. You should see what OAL your gun/bullet combo yields. Pull the barrel, place a bullet barely in a fired case, press dummy round fully into the barrel. Your bullet will be pressed back into the case. This is the length that your bullet hits the rifling. Load .015" shorter, but do not exceed 1.169", the max length for 9mm. Load a few and test before loading up 100+. This is the method I use to determine the appropriate length for pistols. There are a few exceptions, but this will keep you safe. Then start loading at the min and work your way up until you are happy with the load/functioning/velocity/accuracy.

 

[918v]

Should I use the same OAL the Hornady manual states? Or should I go by what Winchester claims for this bullet with their powder when it concerns OAL?

With Power Pistol, you'll be OK starting with 6 grains at any OAL.

 

[slowr1der]

Well, the Hornady manual listing for Power Pistol with their 124 grain FMJ bullet is listing 4.3 grains minimum charge and 5.7 as the max charge. Would it be safe to start with around 5 grains with these Winchesters? I'm just hesitant when I don't have a manual to go by.

 

[918v]

That's because Hornady has both TC profiles at 1.050" OAL and RN profiles at 1.150" OAL, so they have to defer to the shortest OAL and limit the powder charge.

 

[slowr1der]

Thanks guys. I ended up loading a few up with 5.4 grains of Power Pistol Powder and the OAL 1.155 and I crimped it by using the Lee Crimp Die and turning it 3/4 of a turn in after it touched the shell mouth. It says to do 1/2 turn for a light crimp and 1 full turn for a heavy crimp. I figure 3/4 turn should give me a medium crimp. Should this be enough?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That crimp sounds good but you will have to try it to find out. You can also check if the round is made correctly by removing the barrel from your pistol and dropping the loaded round into the barrel to check it.

As for powders, I wish you would have come back to us and asked before you bought Power Pistol. Don't get me wrong, it's a good powder but like I said way back in the start of this thread, it's very flashy and it will produce "hot" ammo. It wouldn't be my choice for loading practice ammo by any means.

Don't forget the range report.

 

[slowr1der]

As for powders, I wish you would have come back to us and asked before you bought Power Pistol. Don't get me wrong, it's a good powder but like I said way back in the start of this thread, it's very flashy and it will produce "hot" ammo. It wouldn't be my choice for loading practice ammo by any means.

I kind of wish I would have too. Honestly. That being said, I was at a shop about an hour away and he didn't have any of the others I was looking for, but had Power Pistol and said he recommended it and that's what he used, so I took his advice and bought a pound of it. I guess that's what I get for not coming back here and asking. Next time, I most likely will.

That being said, I got to shoot it today. I only loaded up 20 rounds to try out. It shot great. It didn't jam during those 20 rounds, and the majority of them hit where I wanted. I'm not the greatest pistol shot, so a 3" group at 7-10 yards is about all I can get with any ammo standing shooting free hand. So I was happy with them. It shot as well as the WWB shoots for me.

I shot 1 round of Speer Gold Dot +P and the recoil from it seemed more than the reloads so I'm assuming they aren't as hot as the +P loads which is what I was shooting for.

I checked the primers and they looked pretty normal, so I'm assuming this load is fine. Are there any other signs I should look for, or should I assume this is a safe load?

 

[Seedtick]

I think you done pretty good myself. Power Pistol is my favorite 9mm powder but HP38 is a close second.
That pound will make you a bunch of rounds.

Seedtick