Question about 9mm and Unique

[DMZ]

I am new to reloading the 9mm, but I use Unique in all my other straight cased pistol loadings. So I wanted to try it in the 9mm with the Speer 115 grain GD in W-W cases.

Speer #13 calls for a 5.6 grains to 6.3 grains for the 115 gr GD.

I decided to start with a conservative load of 5.7 grains and immediately noticed that it filled 85-90% of the case. Even though the GD 115 grainer is a short bullet the powder is still slightly compressed when it is seated.

Is this acceptable with Unique? I don't think I could get 6.3 grains of Unique in the case. I am using the new "cleaner burning" Unique.

Anyone experience with this bullet powder combo in 9mm?

Thanks,

DMZ

 

[zxcvbob]

Alliant lists 5.5 grains as the maximum load of Unique with 115 grain FMJ bullets. Gold Dots (I guess that's what GD means) are hollow points, so they will seat deeper in the cases. Based on this, 5.7 is not a conservative load at all.

Slight compression is not a problem at all with flake powders like Unique.
It might even be a good thing. HTH

Bob

 

[DMZ]

Thanks for the info Bob,

I looked at two other sources (online) for data on a 115 gr JHP and both showed a max load of 6.1 gr of Unique and a start load of 5.5 gr. Hornady does not list Unique for that wt bullet. My Speer # 10 does not have data for a 115 gr bullet.

I do not have an Alliant Manual and the online database only list data for American Select and a 115 gr JHP.

It was really the compression of the load I was worried about.

 

[jeepmor]

Link to Alliant data.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipeDetail.aspx?title=Pistols%20and%20Revolvers&gtypeid=1&weight=115&shellid=1014&bulletid=20