9MM Load

[Gliden07]

Can anyone suggest a load for my 9MM that uses W231 Powder and the Lee TL356-124-TC (124 Grain Tumble lube bullet). I checked the Winchester site the only load they list for the type of bullet I have uses WST powder, checked the Lyman 49th Reloading Guide they list a 90,120 and 147 grain bullet that uses the W231. I would like to use the powder I have so any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks

[nhrifle]

The Hodgdon website shows data with a 125 gr. boolit as 3.9 to 4.4 gr. W231, and a 125 gr. j-word as 4.4 to 4.8 gr W231. Somewhere in there should be a load for you.

[MtGun44]

Using the 120 boolit with 125 gr load data should make essentially zero difference, or more properly,
much less difference than all the other stuff that will be different like primer, case maker,
chamber size, etc.

Bill

[cylinderman]

I second that weight difference is negligible. I feel in the 9 mm OAL is most important. Go the longest OAL that will feed, start at a low charge and work up to get reliable function. Then slowly work up to point of accuracy and you are done.

[noylj]

Bullet Weight Powder Weight Velocity Note P.F. COL

L-CFP 121 231/HP38 2.9 963 Start 117
L-RN 121 231/HP38 3.0 1010 Start 122
L-RN 124 231/HP38 3.3 910 Start 113
Bull-X L-FN 122 231/HP38 3.5 1024 Start 125
MasterCast L-CN 125 231/HP38 3.5 1028 Start 129 1.100
Lead 124 231/HP38 3.6 Start 0
Speer L-RN 125 231/HP38 3.8 911 Start 114 1.130
Magma L-RN 126 231/HP38 3.8 970 122 1.110
Magma L-RN 126 231/HP38 3.8 970 122 1.110
L-CN 125 231/HP38 3.9 1009 Start 126 1.125
Speer L-RN 125 231/HP38 3.9 917 Start 115 1.130
SAECO 377 123 231/HP38 4.0 999 poor accuracy 123 1.080
L-RN 124 231/HP38 4.0 1035 Max 128
Plated 124 231/HP38 4.0 Accurate 0
Alberts swaged Lead 125 231/HP38 4.0 941 Acc 118 1.110
Alberts swaged Lead 125 231/HP38 4.0 941 Acc 118 1.110
Alberts swaged Lead 125 231/HP38 4.0 905 113 1.110
L-FP 122 231/HP38 4.0 1081 132 1.070
Magma L-RN 126 231/HP38 4.0 967 122 1.110
Magma L-RN 126 231/HP38 4.0 998 126 1.110
Magnus L-FN 122 231/HP38 4.0 1096 134 1.142
NBC L-FN 122 231/HP38 4.0 1088 133 1.142
Bayou Bullet 125 231/HP38 4.0 1013 127 1.130
Bayou Bullet 125 231/HP38 4.0 1012 127 1.130
Lead 124 231/HP38 4.1 Stock service pistol 0
Lead 124 231/HP38 4.1 Minor 0
L-RN 121 231/HP38 4.1 1148 Max 139
Speer L-RN 125 231/HP38 4.1 982 Max 123 1.130
Speer L-RN 125 231/HP38 4.2 995 Max 124 1.130
L-FP 122 231/HP38 4.2 1068 Accurate 130
L-SWC 125 231/HP38 4.2 1153 Accurate 144
Magma L-RN 126 231/HP38 4.2 1009 Acc 127 1.110
L-FN 122 231/HP38 4.2 1033 126
L-RN 125 231/HP38 4.2 1040 130
L-RN 125 231/HP38 4.2 1062 133
L-SWC 125 231/HP38 4.2 1023 128
Magma L-RN 126 231/HP38 4.2 1032 130 1.110
RCBS 9mm-125-RN-GC 123 231/HP38 4.2 1034 127
RCBS 9mm-125-RNGC 123 231/HP38 4.2 1034 127
Bayou Bullet 125 231/HP38 4.2 1046 131 1.130
Bayou Bullet 125 231/HP38 4.2 1052 132 1.130
L-RN 124 231/HP38 4.3 1071 133 1.130
L-CFP 121 231/HP38 4.4 1264 Max 153
L-CN 125 231/HP38 4.4 1086 Max 136 1.125
Lyman 356242 L-RN 120 231/HP38 4.4 1073 129
Lyman 356242 L-RN 120 231/HP38 4.4 1092 131
Lyman 356242 L-RN 120 231/HP38 4.4 1104 132
Lyman 356242 L-RN 120 231/HP38 4.4 1111 133
Lyman 356242 L-RN 120 231/HP38 4.4 1116 134
Oregon Trail L-RN 124 231/HP38 4.4 988 123
Oregon Trail L-RN 124 231/HP38 4.4 1022 127
Oregon Trail L-RN 124 231/HP38 4.4 1022 127
Oregon Trail L-RN 124 231/HP38 4.4 1024 127
Oregon Trail L-RN 124 231/HP38 4.4 1039 129
Oregon Trail L-RN 124 231/HP38 4.4 1061 132
Bayou Bullet 125 231/HP38 4.4 1070 134 1.130
Bayou Bullet 125 231/HP38 4.4 1071 134 1.130
L-CFN 124 231/HP38 4.5 1015 Start 126
Lee 356-125-2R 126 231/HP38 4.5 1052 poor accuracy 133 1.160
Magma L-RN 126 231/HP38 4.5 1076 136 1.110
RCBS 9mm-125-RNGC 123 231/HP38 4.5 1034 127
L-RN 125 231/HP38 4.6 1104 Start 138
Berry's P-RN 124 231/HP38 4.6 1100 136 1.135
L-RN 125 231/HP38 4.7 1094 Start 137
L-CFN 124 231/HP38 5.0 1135 MaX 141
L-RN 125 231/HP38 5.0 1130 Max 141
Lyman 356402 120 231/HP38 5.0 1195 143
L-RN 125 231/HP38 5.1 1122 Max 140
Lyman 356402 120 231/HP38 5.5 1250 150
L-FP 124 231/HP38 3.6-4.1 Accurate 0

[Larry Gibson]

4 gr of 231 will do nicely.

Larry Gibson

[ipijohn]

My son and I both load this projectile with 231 for 9 MM. We have shot many tens of thousands with 4.0 grains of 231. Works well in all of the 9 MM's we have.

[greyling22]

I've used as low as 3.3 and as high as 4.6 of w231 trying to chase away a leading problem. The gun cycled fine and recoiled less than factory ammo (no chrono with me that day) but I was unable to resolve the leading issue and accuracy was crappy with all tested loads.

All that to say, 4 grains +/- and you should be fine. and good luck. 9mm lead hates me. :(

[LubeckTech]

4.0 W231 on 120~125 cast bullets works well for me too!

[Hardcast416taylor]

4.0 gr. of 231 does it for me too.Robert

[Recluse]

I was unable to resolve the leading issue and accuracy was crappy with all tested loads.

All that to say, 4 grains +/- and you should be fine. and good luck. 9mm lead hates me. :(

You and me both. I broke down and bought the little Lee 2-cav TC boolit mold with traditional lube grooves. Today's tinkering in the shop will be to clean the mold up, Lee-ment it, and cast up a hundred or so, size and lube then let sit (harden) for a couple of weeks, then work up some loads.

As I've said before, I'd have better luck playing pickup-sticks with my butt cheeks than getting a lead 9mm load that works for me.

But. . . I never give up hope.

:coffee:

[MtGun44]

Lee 356 120 TC with NRA 50-50 or similar 'known good' lube has worked for MANY
folks in many different guns. No need for particularly hard alloy, AC wwts is fine. One
HUGE issue is that you want to probably use .357 or .358 diameter, this is usually the
second big piece of the puzzle.

A) ditch TL design
B) size .357 or 8
c) make sure you are delivering a boolit the size you intended, not size down by the case.

Bill

[Gliden07]

After looking at all this info I am gonna load my test rounds as follows 4.0 grains W231 powder loaded to overall length 1.090. See how they shoot check for leading etc... MtGun I'm sure your way is better. I need to get a Lubesizer but money is an issue right now. So I tumble lube for now!!

[Larry Gibson]

After looking at all this info I am gonna load my test rounds as follows 4.0 grains W231 powder loaded to overall length 1.090. See how they shoot check for leading etc... MtGun I'm sure your way is better. I need to get a Lubesizer but money is an issue right now. So I tumble lube for now!!


Then I suggest you TL with straight LLA following the Lee directions. Seems more have leading problems with home made lubes altering the LLA or "thinning" it. I've yet to have a leading problem with LLA when used within it's parmeters which the 9mm certainly is. BTW; my experience with 9mm is extensive as I have shot litterally thousands of cast bullet (my own andcommercial cast) loads through numerous comercial and milsurp 9mm handguns and numerous subguns. Any leading was caused by poor lube mostly (most commercial hard lube were a joke some years back but some makers have listened and use a good lube these days) and a poor alloy (usually too much antimony and not enough tin). COWWs +2% tin is excellent for the 9mm and that can be stretched by adding 30% lead. With a proper alloy and lube I've not found sizing to cause leading as long as the bullet is of groove diameter. I shot lots of .356 sized cast in 9mms without a spec of leading until I found out that wasn't "right". Oh well.......

Larry Gibson