What's your favorite 9mm bullet for accuracy

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Potatohead

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Echoing Russel's thread here, what's your favorite 9mm bullet for accuracy? I was a bit surprised to see so much lead in the answer, at least I think that's what all those abbreviations were:).

Might be something I need to look into as nary a lead round has ever left the barrel of one of my non 22s.

From what I've read, 9mm and lead don't often mix to well, so I suspect we won't see a lot of that here, but what is your favorite 9mm projectile for accuracy?

I'm partial to the Nosler 115 JHP and the 147 SPR TMJ of late.
Feel free to mention your recipe.
 
I've been reloading for over twenty years and I'm still searching...
 
For me, Berry's 115 gr and 124 gr HBRN-TP bullets. Both of them have been more accurate than Winchester 115 gr FMJ I have used as my reference 9mm bullet (115/124 gr FMJ/HBRN-TP/LRN comparison thread with Herco) - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=745656

115 FMJ/124 gr HBRN-TP comparison thread with W231/HP-38/Bullseye/Titegroup/Unique/N320 - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7266869#post7266869

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124/125 gr lead SWC bullets from Dardas/Missouri Bullet Company (16/18 BHN). They provide significantly longer bullet base/bearing surface to seal the high pressure gas and engage the rifling for more consistent chamber pressures and greater accuracy.

124 gr lead RN "non-step" (SmallBall) from Missouri Bullet Company (18 BHN) and Dardas Cast Bullets with longer bullet base/bearing surface than other "stepped" lead RN bullets

147 gr lead FP from Z-Cast bullets (14-16 BHN) with lower BHN to use with lighter powder charges that will still expand/deform the bullet base to seal with the barrel - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=748940
 
I've been reloading for over twenty years and I'm still searching...
LOL, I know the feeling.

Interesting that lead shows up again. I thought it was almost a no no in 9mm. Not sure where I got that in my head though.

Ive never tried the Berrys in 9mm Jwrow, I will have to get a box. I do have some Xtremes that i rarely shoot.
 
Sorry, about my earlier post it wasn't the most useful but 1 hole groups has been elusive for me in nines as opposed to fortyfives.

With that said, Atlanta Arms makes match ammo for the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU).
That ammo is tested (in a machine rest) to deliver 1.5" groups at 50 yards. They use Sierra's 115gr. FMJ Tournament Master with new Starline brass. You can search the web for the type of powder they use but you'll get different answers. However, you can buy the same ammo from Atlanta through a dealer.

For 9mm, I believe that brass selection and preparation is as important as bullet choice whereas 45ACP is more forgiving in that regard.
 
I agree with the brass selection. As already expressed by bullseye match shooters, use of new brass is the biggest factor in reducing flyer, thus smaller shot groups - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=9606673#post9606673

But since most of us use mixed range brass, that is a variable we may not be able to factor in, regardless of the projectile Atlanta Arms & Ammo uses and they do vary their projectile brands from time to time.
 
Believe it or not in my Glock 17...Missouri hard cast 125 grain truncated cone with 4.8 Unique. Yes, yes, I know about hard cast and OEM barrels but I clean it every 100 rounds and no indication whatsoever of leading. Beats EVERY other jacketed bullet I've tried. Also excellent in Beretta 92FS
 
My 124 grain hard cast lead bullets made from wheel weights and a bit of linotype. Great accuracy, great penetration, very good expansion, and hard enough not to lead-foul my barrels.
 
...use of new brass is the biggest factor in reducing flyer, thus smaller shot groups...
That's what I've always believed but buying new Starline brass just isn't happening when I have 12,000 9mm cases sitting in the garage.

I'm not giving up though....
I recently bought a set of Redding steel dies (not carbide) that hopefully will better size the cases.
I also bought a Ransom Rest.
 
I really like the Nosler 115's, and I also like the XTP's, 115's, 124's and the 147's pushed with a good worked up charge of Longshot.

GS
 
That's one I haven't tried also, and need to.



On the new case thing...I just got some Starlines...first experience w new brass..noticed that I dont get that little "bulge" (wrong word?) in the outside of the brass where the bottom of the bullet sits in the case, that I often get with 9mm because it's tapered (I'm reckoning that's the cause) and I've always wondered why factory brass hardly ever has this bulge. So I kind of wonder now, if one can tell how "used" their brass is by how pronounced this "bulge" is. That or either it's just a one time thing...you get the bulge after one firing. Boy, I feel that didnt come out right, hopefully that's understandable to the reader.


And Otto, I hear you on the new brass issue...I bought some SL just to play around with..but Ive got a million "once fired" 9mm cases already primed and ready.
 
For my most accurate loads I use Sierra 125 JHP, 125 FMJ then Hornady HAP125, all loaded on top of Starline brass.


I recently bought a set of Redding steel dies (not carbide) that hopefully will better size the cases.

I used these dies at first and was not happy with the amount of the case that did not get resized. I switched to a redding shell holder and Hornady Nitride dies and did a lot better. I hear there's an old out of production RCBS die that will resize even more of the case, but I am not lucky enough to own one.
 
My G19 LOVES 135 gr xtreme plated bullets. 135 is kind of a strange weight for 9mm, but hey, the gun tells me what it likes, I just keep it fed.
 
For my most accurate loads I use Sierra 125 JHP, 125 FMJ then Hornady HAP125, all loaded on top of Starline brass.


I recently bought a set of Redding steel dies (not carbide) that hopefully will better size the cases.

I used these dies at first and was not happy with the amount of the case that did not get resized. I switched to a redding shell holder and Hornady Nitride dies and did a lot better. I hear there's an old out of production RCBS die that will resize even more of the case, but I am not lucky enough to own one.
Hey rat,
First time Ive used new brass, are your Starlines really stubborn to bell/flare/expand? Mine are. I have to really apply a lot of force to pull them out of the expander. Almost to the point that I feel I'm near overworking my LCT, as it's really pushing the uppermost part hard.
 
Hey Potatohead - I used a small squirt of Ballistol on a Q-tip to lightly swipe inside before belling the new Starline brass. It worked well for me on my Lee.
 
124gr. Berry's HBRN in front of 4.0gr Titegroup. Shoots accurately in all off my 9mm pistols. Very pleasant shooting load.
 
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