Got some range time in again today and have come to the conclusion that reloading for 9mm is pretty much a complete waste of time, money, and resources.
Then why do top regional/national match shooters use reloads/handloads? My guess is because they are more accurate than factory ammo.
When I started shooting USPSA in the 90s, I tested several factory ammo and used the best shooting of the bunch which was PMC/S&B. When I started reloading, my group size shrank by 40% over smallest factory groups.
Keep in mind, 9mm with small internal volume operating at higher pressures is sensitive to small changes in reloading variables (Such as OAL/bullet seating depth variance, Neck tension/bullet setback, Taper crimp amount, Powder forward/exposed primer when round is slammed/chambered, etc. etc.) which affects chamber pressure build/average peak pressures (Area under curve) that affects muzzle velocities (SD) and ultimately groups on target (Or shotgun pattern with lots of flyers).
If you are using mixed range brass, this reloading variable alone will produce unwanted flyers which will open up your groups, independent of shooter input on trigger.
Does your front sight jump/move when the striker is released? If so, this also will add to the flyers. Grip pistol properly and dry fire/practice until it doesn't and if it continues, you may need a trigger job (At 1:55 minute mark of video on link, Rob Leatham demonstrates this to steady the pistol for faster accurate shots) -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-help-me-speed-up.824618/page-4#post-10902444
Rob Leatham demonstrates firing gun without moving it -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-help-me-speed-up.824618/page-4#post-10902452
Depending on headstamp, amount of bullet setback can vary which will produce different chamber pressures -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...neck-tension-and-bullet-setback.830072/page-4
How consistent are your bullet nose profile (ogive) and resulting OAL variance? For my match loads, I pre-resized my brass to reduce OAL variance from shellplate tilt/deflection and used bullets with most consistent ogive to get OAL variance down to .001" -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...progressive-press.833604/page-2#post-10779806
And I use the least amount of taper crimp so as to not reduce bullet diameter at case mouth (And I want case mouth to seal with chamber as fast as possible for faster pressure build and with less gas leakage). So for .355" sized bullet, I use .377" taper crimp. For .3555" (RMR) and .356" (HAP/Speer/Zero) sized bullets, I use .378" taper crimp.
BTW,
if your barrel's groove-to-groove diameter is oversized at .356"+, using larger than .355" sized bullets will produce less gas leakage and more consistent chamber pressures.
If you want accuracy out of 9mm, you have to sweat the details and is my current reloading pursuit -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-and-discussions.778197/page-10#post-10966692
My reference benchmark for 9mm accuracy is Atlanta Arms 115 gr FMJ AMU (1.130" OAL, 1150 fps) "designed for extreme accuracy at 50 yards and is used by the Army Marksmanship Unit and the Marine Service Pistol team for service pistol matches." -
https://atlantaarms.com/products/9mm-115gr-fmj-match-amu.html
Accuracy test requirement: 5 ten-shot groups at 50 yards with an average group size not to exceed 1.5 inches. (Fired from a Match Grade barrel fixture) Minor Power Factor – 125
Like reloading variables, there are shooting variables and now I conduct my accuracy testing with 17" Just Right carbine (with 9/40/45 barrel/bolt/magwell conversions) at 25/50/100 yards using a scope.
BTW, Guns & Ammo produced 50 yard 1.2"-1.7" shot groups with the JR carbine in this review -
http://www.gunsandammo.com/reviews/jr-american-flag-carbine-review/
My 50 yard 10 shot groups with RMR 100 gr HM RN (Yes, thick plated bullet, not jacketed with MIXED range brass) -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...n-9mm-40s-w-45acp.799231/page-3#post-10245856
What small change in powder charge (Chamber pressure) can do to group size and why I prefer powders and measure combo to produce .1 gr or less powder charge variance -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/new-alliant-sport-pistol.816514/page-5#post-10702450
What small change in OAL can do to group size (Yes, I am using mixed range brass, so that may explain the one lone flyer on 1.130" group
). BTW, IMR Target is often overlooked powder for accurate loads -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/sport-pistol-and-9mm.840966/#post-10918438
Here are some comparison 25 yard 10 shot groups (With mixed range brass so expect flyers) starting with 115 gr FMJ 4.8 gr W231/HP-38 which is my reference load comparable to Winchester white box -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...for-more-accurate-loads.841097/#post-10919894
115 gr FMJ with 4.4 - 4.5 gr Promo (Loaded short at 1.110"-1.115" for short leade Lone Wolf barrel) is my "econo" plinking load that works well in all pistols and shoots well in blowback carbines due to fast burning powder (4.1 - 4.2 gr Promo is a pleasure to shoot in subcompacts like Shield 9mm) -
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...for-more-accurate-loads.841097/#post-10919894
Sport Pistol recently replaced W231/HP-38 as my reference powder as it meters better (.05 gr or less compared to .1 for W231/HP-38) and essentially uses the same powder charge as W231/HP-38 with less temperature sensitivity and cleaner burning than N320.
For this testing, I tried to see if shorter 1.110" produced smaller groups than 1.130" and it showed promise (circled group).
Bottom line? All of these loads should be more accurate than bulk factory ammo at $5 to $6 per 50 rounds reloaded using RMR FMJ bullets. While I do buy factory ammo (mostly 5.56 NATO), I do not buy pistol ammo as I can reload them cheaper and my reloads are much more accurate than factory.
I hope this helped.
