New to 9mm - suggestions?

[woolfam]

Howdy! I've just purchased a new Ruger P93, Magtech brass (500 - $16 @ Midway USA) Rainier 115 gr plated RN (2000 - $73), and a Lee Carbide 3-die set. I'm a long-time reloader - .38 spcl 158 gr LSWC over 4.0 gr Unique.

I am planning on using either Unique or Universal powder and have reviewed the reloading data at their company's web sites.

I've never had to "work up a load" before and I have a couple questions.

1) Do you work up an OAL for your cartridge? If not, how do you decide what to use? If so, how do you do that in conjunction with determining the charge? The data sheet that came w/ my dies lists a max. OAL of 1.169".

2) Have any of you used this powder & bullet combo and have a suggestion for a load?

3) Besides safety issues, anything else I need to be aware of?

Thanks!

PS - I forgot to add - I will be using the ammo for target / recreational shooting.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Just load the Rainier to 1.125"oal and use 5.4-5.6gr of Unique. Sierra lists that (5.4)as the accuracy load for the 9mm. The max load is somewhere over 6gr of Unique, only go there if you the extra "umph" to cycle your guns. Dont' worry about case length unless your brass is over max to start with (I doubt it will be)
Enjoy your loads !!!

My experience is that the 5.4 of Unique will do fine for any purpose you may have for 9mm with FMJ of plated bullets.
You have a pretty good match of components, however I have no experience with the Magtech brass (made in Brasil I understand but, so are the Springfield Armory recievers/slides). With the Universal, try 4.8gr, advance if more "umph needed to cycle gun to max of 5.2-5.3gr. In my experience there is no real accuracy difference, the Universal is a bit cleaner burning (vs. "old Unique") and a bit more economical.

Be sure to flair the cases enough to smoothly seat the bullets. Shaving metal off while seating the bullets really plays hob with the accuracy!

If you are getting buldges in the case (coke bottle apperance) on second loading (this can also indicate problems with run-out of seated bullet -off center seating) Try this: back off the sizing die approx 1/4 to 3/4 turn. Flare cases only barely enough to accept the bullet w/o damaging it; crimp and final size the loaded round with a Lee "Factory Crimp" die. This will remove most of the "Coke bottle" buldges and correct "some" of the bullet mis-alignment for some accuracy improvement.

That failing, try some either Federal or Starline brass. They're the only ones I've found to be best for "match" grade accurate 9mm ammo. (minimal run-out and consistent weight tolerances).

Also; test bullet tension by pressing loaded round against the loading bench bullet first, if it pushes in, you need to tighten sizing die down to contact shell holder. You shouldn't have this problem with the Lee Dies however. (did have this problem with some RCBS carbide dies made back in the '70's, yes it was the sizer die, not the expander too big!)

 

[woolfam]

GooseGestapo - Thanks! Lots of helpful stuff.

OAL of 1.125"? Wow. Let's say... I already loaded a box with 5.0 grains of Unique and the OAL is 1.6. Should I shoot them as is?

I did bell the cases sufficiently to allow the bullet to seat w/o shaving off the plating. And I did slightly crimp the casings. I will try the press-loaded-round-against-the-loading-bench test.

Thanks again.

 

[stans]

I have found that W-231 works well in the 9mm as long as you do not try to push it into the realm of +P velocity. My favorite bullet is Remington's 115 grain JHP. I do recommend segregating cases by manufacturer and stay away from Norinco and Amer brass. As for OAL, whatever functions through your magazines and feeds reliably in your pistol. I load my JHP's longer than factory ammo and it works well in both a TZ-75 Series 88 and a S&W 439.

 

[jw29650]

I also load 9mm. I use HS-6 and/or VV 3N37. I would suggest you buy or borrow a published reloading manual. Midway USA also has 9mm load books real cheap.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Woolfam;
Didn't you mean 1.16" ?
If so, go ahead and shoot them. 1.6" is longer than the combined lenght of the bullet and case combined for 9mm and 115gr bullet.
Seating longer is ok within the 1.169" length. Even exceeding that is probably ok providing your magazines will allow it. However, you will eventually reach the point where the ogive of the bullet will impinge on the throat of the chamber preventing proper lockup of the gun. Some guns are capable of firiring "Out of Battery", which results in a KB!.
With the 115gr bullets you cited, at 1.125", you have enough of the bullet in the case to give proper support and guidance of the bullet to maintain minimal run-out -(alignment of bullet concentric with center of axis of the cartridge case and barrel bore---I've found this to be second in importance to accuracy in 9mm only to quality of bullets). Also, this is not so deep that you are seated beneath the point at which you have no case support against the bullet being pushed back causing another potentially dangerous situation of excessive pressure due to a compromised case capacity/expansion volume created by the bullet being pushed back against the powder charge. (this is a problem with high intensity, small case cartridges -particulary the 9mm and .40 S&W). This is the significance and importance with seating depth in these pistol cartridges.
Situation is reversed with rifle cartridges !!!
Oddly Enough!!

I strongly recommend you read the discussions in several of the major bullet manufacturers manuals, including the Midway "Loadmap" for 9mm. It includes recommended seating depths/powder charges. Realize that their data is just that, what they found with their components (particular lots) with their particular barrel, and the components they chose to test. They did not test many of the current and best powders available.
YMMV !!!

 

[woolfam]

Oh, dear - yes I did mean 1.16". Thanks for understanding. I appreciate everyone's replies. 5.4 - 5.6 grains sure "seems" like a lot - especially after using 4.0 in a (larger) .38 spl case. I guess that's why we have manuals!

Thanks, again.

 

[Stealthfixr]

Just did the same thing ...

And I used Berry's plated 124gr bullets over 5.0gr of Unique, 1.165" OAL. That recipie shot at 1103fps average velocity out of my 4.7" CZ-75BD barrel. I loaded and shot about 800 rounds of it, and they all were fine. However, my CZ was easier on that long OAL than a friend's Ruger that did not like that long of a OAL, and it would jam occasionally--test what works before you load hundreds and find out yours does not like the OAL.

The standard length for a 124gr bullet is listed as 1.125", and I load to 1.135" just to be safe and still get consistant feeding. I am now trying AA#7, and finding it to be very accurate in the upper load ranges (8.0gr #7, 1.135" OAL, 124gr Berry's--all WSP primers). In the end, work it up the way you feel most comfortable with, and take it in steps. Good luck!

Mark