Self defense 9mm loads

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bernie

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I know that there are schools of thought regarding not loading your own self defense ammunition. Please do not reply that “you should not load your own defensive ammo.” The reasons have been covered many times.

With that being said, do any of you have defensive loads for 9mm using 124 and 147 gr bullets? Most of the loads I have seen do not seem to be going very fast. I load some 9mm but my stuff is milder practice stuff.
 
124gr RMR MPR over HS-6. Book says max is 6.6gr IIRC. There might be some official +p data somewhere to make it “ok” to go higher.

HS-6 is a great powder for what you want.
RMR is a great bullet for what you want. That is all I can officially say. ;)
 
BE-86 and 147 gr XTP’s for my full size 9’s and the same powder (different powder weights of course) under Sierra Sport Master 124 gr JHP for my short barreled 9’s.
 
A load approaching 7 grains of HS6 is in the +P category, but is good for a solid 1300 fps with a 124 grain Hornady XTP.
RMR is definitely the more affordable projectile... and works great.
Good Luck
 
Yep, I got the same results with 124xtp and the RMR 124 hp. The barrel you're using makes a difference on what you'll get. For me almost 100fps difference between my 3" barrel Cpx2 and my 4" barrel STR9 with the same load of HS-6.
 
Hartkopf said:
124gr RMR MPR over HS-6. Book says max is 6.6gr IIRC. There might be some official +p data somewhere to make it “ok” to go higher.

HS-6 is a great powder for what you want.
RMR is a great bullet for what you want. That is all I can officially say. ;)
Click to expand...
Hs-6 loads go through minor and major power factors I believe. Rumor is those cases are recycled after.
 
bernie said:
do any of you have defensive loads for 9mm using 124 and 147 gr bullets?

Most of the loads I have seen do not seem to be going very fast
Click to expand...
I used to use WSF to load "duplicate practice rounds" using same as factory Gold Dot/Golden Saber JHP bullets and verified/known once-fired brass. In recent years, I switched to BE-86 for higher velocities and improved accuracy.

Speer publishes load data with multiple powders sorted by highest velocities to slowest. Pick the velocities you want with powder of your choice. Below are example loads of each bullet weight using BE-86.

124 gr - https://reloadingdata.speer.com/downloads/speer/reloading-pdfs/handgun/9mm_Luger__124_rev1.pdf
  • 9mm 124 gr Speer GDHP BE-86 COL 1.120" Start 5.4 gr (1124 fps) - Max 6.0 gr (1199 fps)

147 gr - https://reloadingdata.speer.com/downloads/speer/reloading-pdfs/handgun/9mm_Luger__147_rev1.pdf
  • 9mm 147 gr Speer GDHP BE-86 COL 1.130" Start 4.5 gr (936 fps) - Max 5.1 gr (1027 fps)
 
147 grain XTP over a near max charge of CFE Pistol from Hornady load data. That was the most accurate load not just the hottest.
 
Hartkopf said:
124gr RMR MPR over HS-6. Book says max is 6.6gr IIRC. There might be some official +p data somewhere to make it “ok” to go higher.

HS-6 is a great powder for what you want.
RMR is a great bullet for what you want. That is all I can officially say. ;)
Click to expand...
From the load data, HS-6 and 124 gr. seems a good combination. I used 6.7 gr. of HS-6 with Berry's Hybrid HP. I also tested Longshot and CFE-P. HS-6 arrived at the desired velocity. Test were conducted in an FMK that recommends against +P. But I bought a stronger recoil spring.
 
bernie said:
Most of the loads I have seen do not seem to be going very fast. I load some 9mm but my stuff is milder practice stuff.
Click to expand...
How fast do you think you need to go and do you have a chrono to verify it?

https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/

What powders do you have? Generally SD loads pushing higher velocities with safe pressures need a slower powder than target loads. Pick a slower powder, something like WSF and lower. CFE pistol and N340 are good choices as well. Good luck.
 
What powder do you have? What bullets? What gun?

Not to difficult to look in a manual or powder company data online

Always get the bullets with the most tactical name and ads.
 
I tried CFE Pistol but BE-86 grouped a little better for me. Seems to be moving a little faster as well by the book listing. Haven’t chrono’d them yet but the G17,19,Walther PPQ and Kel-Tec Sub 2K like the load. My actual powder charge is based off of Alliants max listing and not Hornadys.
EDE29DBC-1843-410B-9BEC-83A0DBC19B8A.jpeg

DC2D2C3E-39D7-418A-BE12-67CD33E50F26.jpeg
 
One issue I ran into with the Speer GDHPs, is that they're easily deformed while seating them. IF you have RCBS dies, they make specific seaters for both the 124 and 147 GDHPs.

I wouldn't worry about the speed personally, I normally chrono the factory loads in my gun, then load to duplicate. The factory loads are designed with expansion and penetration in mind. Pushing too hard, could well lead to more rapid expansion at the cost of penetration.
 
bernie said:
I know that there are schools of thought regarding not loading your own self defense ammunition. Please do not reply that “you should not load your own defensive ammo.” The reasons have been covered many times.

With that being said, do any of you have defensive loads for 9mm using 124 and 147 gr bullets? Most of the loads I have seen do not seem to be going very fast. I load some 9mm but my stuff is milder practice stuff.
Click to expand...

I cloned the Hornady 147gr XTP load which is listed at 980 fps
3.4gr of TiteGroup under a 147 Hornady XTP
Yields 973fps from a 4" barrel
Only change I would consider is using something like N320 as its a much less smokey powder.

I dont feel that loading to +P is really worth it unless you are testing something out. The XTP at a leisurely 1000 fps is pretty proven.
 
I did not list what I have as I did not want to limit the discussion too terribly much. I have 124 XTP's and Gold Dots, and 147 XTP's. Lots of powders on hand but from what I have seen listed, CFE pistol. I have the manuals, but was looking for what has given guys good results in their own experiences. I very much appreciate the input.
 
bernie said:
I did not list what I have as I did not want to limit the discussion too terribly much. I have 124 XTP's and Gold Dots, and 147 XTP's. Lots of powders on hand but from what I have seen listed, CFE pistol. I have the manuals, but was looking for what has given guys good results in their own experiences. I very much appreciate the input.
Click to expand...


A lot depends on what gun, Somebodys "load" may not be the best in whatever gun you have.

It really doesn't matter. Your XTP and GD are fine. Just load to max or +P with what powder YOU have and what the data says.
If you don't have a chrono then it's all guess work

Then people start defending themselves against water jugs, wet newspaper and gelatin.:)

There is no magic bullets or super duty SD ammo. Shot placement is where it's at!
 
bernie said:
I did not list what I have as I did not want to limit the discussion too terribly much. I have 124 XTP's and Gold Dots, and 147 XTP's. Lots of powders on hand but from what I have seen listed, CFE pistol. I have the manuals, but was looking for what has given guys good results in their own experiences. I very much appreciate the input.
Click to expand...

One thing that you might want to keep in mind is recoil impulse. Fast burning powders like N320, TiteGroup work with 147s like PB&J. Very low recoil impulse compared to a much longer burning powder with CFE-P. Ive found CFE-P to be an incredible powder for 124 and 115s, when shooting for a 1100fps+ load.

Thats one of the reasons I carry 147s loaded with TG, its such a mild smooth shooting load, thats been proven over and over again.
 
Kaldor said:
One thing that you might want to keep in mind is recoil impulse. Fast burning powders like N320, TiteGroup work with 147s like PB&J. Very low recoil impulse compared to a much longer burning powder with CFE-P. Ive found CFE-P to be an incredible powder for 124 and 115s, when shooting for a 1100fps+ load.

Thats one of the reasons I carry 147s loaded with TG, its such a mild smooth shooting load, thats been proven over and over again.
Click to expand...

thats good info there. That might be who I like W231 so much with Berrys 147 grain bullets.
 
Rule3 said:
Then people start defending themselves against water jugs, wet newspaper and gelatin.:)
Click to expand...
I test mine against feral pigs, typically. Short pig as a proxy for long pig. :) The problem is, they're not bipeds. :(
Rule3 said:
There is no magic bullets or super duty SD ammo. Shot placement is where it's at!
Click to expand...
That belongs in Chapter One of every handloading manual. Of course the real challenge is getting people to read Chapter One of their loading manuals.
 
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