sniper7369
Member
OK, maybe a dumb question here. I was perusing my load manuals and all of them list +P .38 loads, but none for 9mm or anything else. Is there a reason for this? What exactly constitutes a +P or +P+ load in 9mm? 
+P 9mm ?
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D. Manley
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ArchAngelCD
Member.
I think it's a pressure problem. Since the current SAAMI limits for a .38 Special are set at only 17,000 PSI pushing the charge to only 18,500 PSI isn't a big deal. (considering the old limits for the .38 Special +P were 20,000 PSI and originally 21,500 PSI)
The 9mm has a limit of 35,000 PSI which is fairly high to begin with. Pushing the limits much higher would really stress older pistols even at 38,500 PSI. There aren't many non-Magnum handgun cartridges with higher pressures than a standard 9mm and none above the 9mm +P limits other than the .357 Sig.
I have a feeling it's as simple as that...
The 9mm has a limit of 35,000 PSI which is fairly high to begin with. Pushing the limits much higher would really stress older pistols even at 38,500 PSI. There aren't many non-Magnum handgun cartridges with higher pressures than a standard 9mm and none above the 9mm +P limits other than the .357 Sig.
I have a feeling it's as simple as that...
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
On the otherhand, it's a pretty simple matter to find a standard pressure load in a manual that gives higher velocity with the same bullet weight as factory +P.
By carefully selecting a powder from all the load book recipes, you can get the same or better velocity without the +P pressure.
rcmodel
By carefully selecting a powder from all the load book recipes, you can get the same or better velocity without the +P pressure.
rcmodel
rcmodel is right on with +P velocity equivalent loads being listed in the load manuals. If you get the same or better velocity at a safe pressure there really is no reason to care if the pressure is at +P or not.
For the most part you are only guessing about pressure when hand loading. Unless you are using exactly the same components listed in the manual, and how often does that happen in real life, the resulting pressures may or may not be within SAAMI spec. This is why loads are developed and not cook booked.
For the most part you are only guessing about pressure when hand loading. Unless you are using exactly the same components listed in the manual, and how often does that happen in real life, the resulting pressures may or may not be within SAAMI spec. This is why loads are developed and not cook booked.
evan price
Member
You get up around 1300 fps you are in +P territory. Most load manuals are on the conservative side- nobody will show a load up at the max for legal reasons, there is always a safety cushion. Develop your own loads using a chrono, and be prudent.
I have good luck with what I have developed.
I have good luck with what I have developed.
sniper7369
Member
[/QUOTE]You get up around 1300 fps you are in +P territory. Most load manuals are on the conservative side- nobody will show a load up at the max for legal reasons, there is always a safety cushion. Develop your own loads using a chrono, and be prudent.
I have good luck with what I have developed.
[/QUOTE]
See, that's what I was thinking. All of the manuals I've looked at list pressures way below the SAAMI max pressure, even the hottest max loads. I'd like to work up my own 124gr +P load though.
I have good luck with what I have developed.
[/QUOTE]
See, that's what I was thinking. All of the manuals I've looked at list pressures way below the SAAMI max pressure, even the hottest max loads. I'd like to work up my own 124gr +P load though.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
On the powder front, give HS-6 a try. You will find it will provide you with higher velocities than most powders and do so with lower pressures. It's also a low flash powder which is a plus...
With all the new powder that have been released in the past decade it seems HS-6 have been forgotten. Hodgdon discontinued both HS-5 and HS-7 but kept HS-6 in their lineup. There is a very good reason for it, HS-6 is an outstanding powder with many applications. (although I did like HS-7 a lot LOL)
With all the new powder that have been released in the past decade it seems HS-6 have been forgotten. Hodgdon discontinued both HS-5 and HS-7 but kept HS-6 in their lineup. There is a very good reason for it, HS-6 is an outstanding powder with many applications. (although I did like HS-7 a lot LOL)
sniper7369
Member
Thanks, I'll pick up a can of HS-6 and see what I can do.
Halo
Member
I agree about HS-6, I've been very pleased with it in my 9mm loads. It also meters nicely.
I like HS-6 too, enough so that I use it for SD rounds in one of my 9's.
If you are looking for "+P velocities" at std pressures in 9mm, you might try Unique and Power Pistol. Using the Hercules/Alliant max published charge of 6.2 grains of Unique behind a 124 JHP bullet gets me a chronographed 1230 fps. Another good one but flashy is Power Pistol. 6.5 grains PP which is below max gets me 1255 fps, with no signs of high pressure.
If you want to pursue the HS-6 option, look around the net for 9mm major loads, and see what you can get when you run it at some real pressure!
If you are looking for "+P velocities" at std pressures in 9mm, you might try Unique and Power Pistol. Using the Hercules/Alliant max published charge of 6.2 grains of Unique behind a 124 JHP bullet gets me a chronographed 1230 fps. Another good one but flashy is Power Pistol. 6.5 grains PP which is below max gets me 1255 fps, with no signs of high pressure.
If you want to pursue the HS-6 option, look around the net for 9mm major loads, and see what you can get when you run it at some real pressure!
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