Please Double Check my Thinking for this 9mm Load

[USMC22]

Hi Guys,

After finding some CCI #500 Small Pistol Primers in stock tonight I'd like to have someone double check my thinking here:

I plan on using the following:
Starline Brass
CCI #500 SPP's
HS-6
Hornady 9mm 124gr FMJ RN Bullets (http://www.hornady.com/store/9mm-.355-124-GR-FMJ-RN/)

Lyman's 50th Reloading Manual does not contain a FMJ RN in 124gr, neither does Hodgdon's Website. However, Lyman's and Hodgdon's 9 Reloading Manual agree on the OAL for the 124gr XTP Jacketed HP of 1.060". Looking at Hornady's 9th Reloading Manual I see the OAL they recommend for the 124gr FMJ RN bullet I'd like to use as 1.150".

Would it be safe to use Lyman's data (which includes the CCI #500 SPP's and HS-6 combo) and then apply the OAL from Hornady's manual?

I'm mainly concerned about safety and want to ensure this won't be a compressed load or something else that could foul me up... managed to keep all my digits and extremities from my previous life and don't want to loose them now...

-Aaron

 

[2bfree]

Hodgdon list a 125 gr FMJ Just use that. 4.4 to 4.8 HP-38. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/node

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I use 5.7gr Unique with 9mm 124gr bullets, producing ~1200 fps velocity from my Glock 19. Different primer brands produce negligible differences in chronographed velocity.

 

[USMC22]

I use 5.7gr Unique with 9mm 124gr bullets, producing ~1200 fps velocity from my Glock 19. Different primer brands produce negligible differences in chronographed velocity.

Hi Shawn,

This will be for a Glock 19, I'm mainly worried about safety as I'm just starting out. Just trying to wade through all I've read in the manuals...

-Aaron

 

[USMC22]

If this data helps:

Lyman 50th 9mm 124gr Jacketed HP
1.060" OAL
CCI #500 SPP
Winchester Brass (Will be using Starline)
HS-6 (Starting 5.6gr / Max 6.6gr)

Hornady 9th 9mm 124gr FMJ RN
1.150"
WSP
Hornady Case
HS-6 (Starting 5.1gr / Max 5.9gr)

 

[rg1]

Just me thinking too. Hornady's 124 XTP and 124 FMJ has about the same bearing surface on the bullet. CCI 500's in my loads are slightly milder than Win SP's. I would use Hornady's oal and there would be no problems between 5.6 and 5.9 grains. Just for some added info to compare:
Midway's Loadmap series 9MM
Win SP primer, RP case, Hornady 124 FMJ, 4" test barrel
HS-6 powder.
Start 5.5 25200 psi--989 fps
5.6 26100 psi-1004
5.7 27000 psi- 1019
5.8 27900-------1034
5.9 28800-------1049
6.0 29600------1063
6.1 30500-----1078
6.2 31400-------1093
6.3--32300 -----1108
6.4 33200 psi---1123 This is the max recommended.
This chart from the Midway LoadMAP is useful in that it gives some idea how much velocity is gained from powder increases. Note that Midway's LoadMAP tested the Hornady 124 FMJ at 1.169" which is maximum and seating deeper will increase pressure a little or a lot.
Just from my several data sources and no experience with HS-6, I "personally" would limit loads to 6.1-6.2 grains looking for best accuracy and reliability. You can see from the chart that you lose very little velocity keeping pressure lower. Just for added info for the Hornady 124 XTP using HS-6 with an oal as tested at 1.135" the maximum load in the LoadMAP is 6.1 grains. Notice that velocity and pressure seems to be the same increment from charge to charge and appears to be computer generated BUT in 45 ACP, 357 Mag, 44 Mag, and also 9MM, loads I've chronographed are very close to Midway's LoadMAP data.

 

[rfwobbly]

Several thoughts for you to consider....

► The Hodgdon site does show Berry Mfg 124gr HBRN used with HS-6 (6.0 - 6.6gr) at an OAL of 1.150". The Berry is thick plated and is loaded as if it were FMJ. (See the Berry web site FAQs.) Therefore, the converse is also true and you can use this data for loading FMJ... provided of course that you begin at the Starting Load and work up.

► In pistol reloading, the brass and primer only make minuscule differences and most reloaders will use any brand interchangeably with those in the load manual recipe. By beginning at the Starting Load you cover a host of small variations, and insure your safety. When making substitutions, you'll want to fully focus on the bullet weight (124gr), bullet construction (FMJ / thick plated), and the powder (HS-6).

► HS-6 will produce an extremely accurate load in 9x19 Luger, but this powder will probably not become a favorite. It is simply extremely sooty in 9mm. Much more so than Win231 or Unique, 2 powders which people commonly complain about. A much better choice in a similar burn rate range would be Winchester WSF.

► IMHO, you'll get much better results with a shorter OAL, like 1.130". I'm not exactly sure why this is, but it does. To shorten up on this high pressure cartridge, simply set your Starting Load back to 5.9gr and don't let your incremental loads exceed 1,116 fps (as per the Hodgdon load data).

Hope this helps.

 

[Blue68f100]

You will need to determine what your OAL will be for your gun. You may or may not be able to use the longer length. Longer lenght tan published normally produces lower pressure provided your not into the lands. Once you done that, made sure your gun will feed them, Make several dummies and make sure they will feed, adj as required. Then do your load workup.

Be safe.

 

[LiveLife]

Hornady 9mm 124gr FMJ RN ... HS-6

Hornady's 9th Reloading Manual I see the OAL they recommend for the 124gr FMJ RN bullet I'd like to use as 1.150".

FMJ bullets will often vary by 0.5-1.0 gr. Hodgdon load data lists 125 gr Sierra FMJ which you can reference for Hornady 124 gr FMJ. Since your OAL/COL of 1.150" is longer than published 1.090", you should not have any issues using the published start/max charges - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

125 GR. Sierra FMJ Hodgdon HS-6 COL 1.090" Start 6.4 gr (1,131 fps) 25,600 CUP - Max 6.8 gr (1,169 fps) 27,100 CUP

Glock 19 ... I'm mainly concerned about safety and want to ensure this won't be a compressed load

Since Glock 19 barrel will accommodate longer than SAAMI max of 1.169" as working OAL, 1.150" will do fine as your working OAL. To check whether your max load will be a compressed load:

- Subtract bullet length from working OAL to determine max case fill (1.150" - bullet length = max case fill)
- Then resize some cases (they may vary slightly in length so average a sample) and subtract max case fill from average resized case length to determine depth of seated bullet base (Average resized case length - max case fill = distance from case mouth to bottom of bullet base)
- Measure down from case mouth using end of calipers and mark inside of case
- Fill case with HS-6 to mark and weigh powder charge
- If max case fill powder charge is greater than published max charge, you will not have a compressed load

 

[alientrainwreck]

I load 9mm with hs-6 and 124xtp bullets at max 6.6 and have had good results. Hs-6 will be dirty unless you go with top end loads then it cleans up nice. As for COAL you should plunck test your bullet to your barrel then seat your bullet a few thousandth more.