Getting ultralight 9mm loads to cycle in Sig SP2022

[Silvercreek Farmer]

It took 4 grains of Promo to get the Lee 356 120TC to cycle 100% in my Sig. Wife says they are too snappy and they are exceeding the lube abilities of 45/45/10. I'm thinking a lighter recoil spring might help cycle a lighter load and get me back into tumble lube territory for volume shooting, but I do not see anything listed at Wolff or elsewhere. Any ideas?

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Progress made! After doing a lot of research and reading numerous reports of others getting satisfactory function results with lesser charges, I decided to start over with my work up, only this time, taking the time to walk down to the berm rather than just shooting straight down off the deck. Only did 3 test rounds, but 3.6 grains cycled fine and locked the slide back on the last round. Gun probably had a little more lube this time as well. Didn't shoot paper, but had no problem hitting an 8" plate in the center at 20 yards offhand. Recoil was noticeably lighter than the 4 grain load. Further testing needed, but interesting none the less.

Lack of vertical function is no big deal for a plinking round, but probably worth consideration if working up defense or hunting loads, but these don't tend to be light loads.

[runfiverun]

I'm down to just over 3grs of bulls-eye and red-dot, but I'm using a boolit closer to 130grs.
it just drops the cases about 18" to the side and about a foot back making them easy to find.

[GhostHawk]

I also have very good luck with a variety of boolits and Red Dot.

Have gone as stout as 4.5 but 3 to 3.5 is my normal pistol load. 124 gr tc is what I have been shooting most lately although I have also had good luck with 158 gr round nose.

[btreanor]

Another idea: I've had better luck making less snappy loads with heavier boolits and light charges of powder. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but it has worked well for me while maintaining reliable function.

[Moonie]

Believe it or not 147gr boolits have lower perceived recoil than 120 and below. I've switched from the 120gr TC to a 147gr boolit in my wifes P938 and the difference was very noticeable.

[Thompsoncustom]

I've got some 168gr to cycle reliably under 3gr's of AA#2 but those boolits don't give much wiggle room. I think the first thing I would start with is a litter recoil spring like you said. if it's not a captive guide rod/spring than I'm sure theres another that will fit. Like the other above said 147gr with a fast powder are a great soft recoil round but still have some stopping powder. I'm currently running 3.3gr of tightgroup under a 147gr for my production load.

[Lloyd Smale]

I do it two ways for my wifes lc9. I load 105 lees at 3.5 grains of aa2 and a 147 with 2.8. recoil is mild with either. I have to agree with moonie though. If you want pop gun loads that still cycle your slide your probably better off starting with a heavier bullet.
Believe it or not 147gr boolits have lower perceived recoil than 120 and below. I've switched from the 120gr TC to a 147gr boolit in my wifes P938 and the difference was very noticeable.

[fredj338]

Believe it or not 147gr boolits have lower perceived recoil than 120 and below. I've switched from the 120gr TC to a 147gr boolit in my wifes P938 and the difference was very noticeable.
At lower vel yes. Push vel up on the 147, recoil is about the same. The advantage with heavy bullets going slow is enough bullet mass for reliable cycling. That & less torque from lower RPM, my theory anyway. A 158-165gr bullet @ 800fps is stupid soft shooting & will run in many stock guns.

[KenH]

I've loaded 4 grains of Unique with the Lee 105 grain bullet to work pretty good. With the 127 grain Lee I've dropped down to 3.8 grains of Unique for a nice plinking load in my Glock 43.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

Just for kicks, I loaded 10 rounds up with 3 grains of Promo and took them down to the berm. The first 8 cycled just fine, so I decided to fire one at the ground to see what would happen, which resulted in a FTE, confirming my prior hypothesis that function was dependent on the position of the pistol.

A while back, I did give the Lee 358 158 SWC TL a go and it cycled fine (in all positions) over 2.6 grains of promo. Quieter, too. However, the wadcutter shoulder would hang up in the chamber and prevent returning to battery on a few rounds out of 100 which led me to the 120 TC boolit.

Given how fast the 9mms disappear, I'd like to stick with a 6 cavity mold. I do wish Lee made a 147 mold for the 9, though.

[sigep1764]

Im running 2.8 grains of red dot/promo under a 147 grain hp that drops at 151 with my alloy. 1.115-1.12 col, it runs in all my nines with nice recoil and the hollowpoint will open. Even with a 125 grain tc boolit, 3 grains will cycle them. Seating depth has a lot to do with it as well. Seat deeper, less powder, but be be careful.

[KenH]

You nailed it, in 9mm seating depth is VERY critical - such a small case a small difference in COL makes a lot of difference in pressure.