+P loads for 9mm

[warddc]

I am looking for +P loads for 9mm. I can't seem to find any load data. Can someone point me to some data or share your loads. I am currently loading normal loads using Univ Clays 4.8 gr using a 124 gr Rem JHP. The load chronos about 1050 from a 3" barreled Kahr PM9. I am not sure what I can safely load to and not exceed +P pressures.

dave.

 

[cheygriz]

I load the 115 Remington FMJ, so I can't help you directly with a load, but here's how I came up with my load.

I dug out old hornady and Speer manuals that were written back when ballisticians, rather than lawyers, wrote them.

The powders of choice seemed to be Herco and HS-6. Herco seemed to give the highest vewlocity, but from prevoius experience, I didn't like the way it meters through powder measures. That left HS-6 (BTW, Power Pistol is excellent but there isn't much old data for it.)

I decided that I wanted 1300+ FPS, from my Glock 17. The newer Hornady manuals gave max charges that would only give me about 1250. Using the charge weights in the old manual as a maximum, I started slowly working up from the max in the new Hornady manual.

When the chronograph started showing 1300+, and good consistency, I adopted that load as my max +P load. And BTW, I was still more than 1 /2 grain below the max in the old Hornady manual. I show no pressure signs, and cases can be loaded 10-12 times. go slow, and work up with a slow powder, and you can easily achieve +P+ velocity at +P pressure levels.

There are many different methods of looking for overpressure, but over the years, I have found that case life is one of the most reliable. If I can safely load a case four or five times, or more, I know that I'm not over max pressure.

 

[Clark]

I like Power Pistol and 158 gr. XTP for my hot 9mm carry loads.

I have tried; Red Dot, Bullseye, SR7625, Unique, AA#5, Power Pistol, HS-6, Blue Dot, 2400, 3N37, 800-X, AA#7, N105, Long Shot, STEEL, Enforcer, AA#9, N110, H110, W296, and LIL'GUN to see what gives me the most power without pressure problems, and Power Pistol is the winner.

 

[greg531mi]

Why +P loads anyway, you better not use it for carry ammo....liability if you use it, and it will wear your gun out faster,and have have more recoil. I am happy with AA#7 for my full power 9mm loads, at .2 grains less than published maximums. It gave me 1 hole groups!!!
Too many new powders out there to just use old manuals, and also the old powders have changed, either they got faster or slower burning. So, work your load up slowly, .1 grain at a time...
With all the Glock issues out there with their unsubported chambers, I would be real carefull with a glock, having fired some hot 9mm reloads in a glock.
With a steel framed 9mm, like my Star Model 30, I think they can handle a lot more pressure than others, and will not hurt it.
If you want to fire hot loads, you are taking chances, with your gun and you.
Reloads for 9mm for the range, should be for accurracy, not for speed.

 

[Zak Smith]

A couple years ago, I took advice from someone here who knew what he was talking about: VV-3N37 is a great full-power 9x19 powder.

The old VV manuals even published loads to get you to a 124gr @ 1300fps. I can replicate Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P with ease.

-z

 

[wanderinwalker]

The only powder I've used in 9mm that would get you to your goals is Power Pistol. I still have a little on hand and am considering trying it out in some .45 ACP loads. I've too have heard that VV 3N37 is excellent for hot-rod 9mm. With the Power Pistol and 124gr bullets I seem to recall getting over 1200fps in a Glock 17, with ease. (Lots of blast and flash though, they were lots of fun to shoot on cloudy and dark days! )

Oh, and there is no need to worry about these finding their way into a 9mm Glock. 9mm Glocks have plenty of case support. The bad rap comes from the .40/.45 caliber Glocks.

 

[Delmar]

I think a good question to ask is what velocities you are getting from factory +P in a 3.5 inch barrel.

 

[Grump]

I like to take the "load to velocity" approach, never exceedign what some factory loads will do in THAT gun. You must, however, be aware that only the highest-velocity powders in the load books will safely give you those speeds.

Anyone have actual brand name, barrel length, & bullet weight info to go with chronographed 9mm +P loads (both factory and home-brew)?

 

[Zak Smith]

Factory Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P
Glock 19 - 1279fps (20.2)
BHP: 1322 (20.3)

I have loaded to 1300fps with 3N37 with the 124gr Gold Dot seated to 1.147"

 

[WESHOOT2]

as we like to say:

Oh my!

3N37 / WAP (now Ramshot Silhouette) / Power Pistol; ways to get +P / +P+ performance.

But remember that stuffing itty-bitty cases full of powder can go bad, so be careful and do everything you can to prevent bullet set-back (a case so full of powder that it almost makes it impossible to seat the bullet is one way; bullet cannelure is another).

 

[Clark]

In 9mm:

I have taken 3N37 and Power Pistol to the limit of what is possible, and Power Pistol gives more power.

But if you want to do it per the load books.... the Vihtavuori published loads with 3N37 are way hotter than Alliant's published loads for Power Pistol.

And per the pressure signs I see, the Vihtavuori published loads are at higher pressures, especially in their first edition load book [Europe's answer to "Speer 8" 1970].

--
Be careful what you pray for, it can happen.

 

[Mylhouse]

Clark,

In my experiments, Herco and Power Pistol definitely yielded superior power, but PP especially gives off blinding muzzle flash at night.

I suggest VV N340 as an ALMOST AS POWERFUL substitute for PP, but with next to NO muzzle flash for carry loads!

 

[HankB]

The hottest load I've come across in published data was in the Speer #8 reloading manual. Using a 125 grain Speer soft point, WRA cases, and a CCI 500 primer, they got 1251 ft/sec out of an S&W M39 using 7.0 grains of Herco. This is probably above what's recommended today as maximum, so if you try it, you're on your own.

I've found in some other cartridges that the Speer #8 manual's maximum loads are too hot for some of my guns, so the same may hold true in 9mm.

With a Remington 124 FMJ, Midway's LoadMap shows a maximum load of 6.3 grains of SR4756 will yield 1178 ft/sec at 31600 PSI. Since maximum pressure of normal 9mm P is 35000 PSI, this may be volume limited.

FWIW I vaguely remember one of the authors in American Handgunner magazine alluded to . . . difficulty . . . in loading maximum effort loads with VV 3N37 powder. Seems that some loads developed erratic, unexpected pressure excursions which damaged more than one firearm that had been happily ticking along happily on what seemed like a warm but OK recipe. Use caution.