Lee 105 SWC in 9mm powder choice?

[dave_g]

First I'd like to say hello and thanks for all the help that I've already received just by reading and searching. I've been casting for about a year now, mostly for 38 special. Now I'm casting for 9mm and I have a question.

Currently I'm using the Lee 105 grain SWC sized to .357 and tumble lubed in my Smith and Wesson M&P9c. I started with 3.6 grains of HP38 which shot well but wouldn't cycle reliably. I tried 3.8 which was better but when the gun is dirty it still sometimes wont cycle enough to lock the slide on an empty magazine. I ended up with 4.1 grains which shoots good and is reliable.

So here's my question. I'm low on HP38 but I have plenty of Unique and Bullseye. Which is a better choice for this short barrel (3.5")? I want to keep the load light but reliable. Are there other powders I should be looking at?

Thanks,
Dave G

[thx997303]

I found Unique can reliably cycle the slide on my XD9 with a 5" barrel. Minimum charge for function was 3.6 gr Unique under a 125 gr boolit.

Though that was a RN, so you would probably do well with a lower charge than that.

I would use 3.5 as a start load for your 105 gr SWC and work up .1 gr at a time until you find accuracy and function.

[Wally]

I use 3.5 grains of Bullseye to get 1,180 FPS in my Taurus 99AF. As I get occassional jams, I will now be using the Lee 90305 102 grain RN cast bullet.

[putteral]

My favorites in the 105 SWC are 5.9 grs of AA #5 and 4.2grs of Titegroup. I seat them at 1.02"
Feed flawlessly in all my 9's. Most accurate boolit. Size mine to .356
P95
P6
PT92AFS
P228
PT111 Mill Pro
Welcome to the forum!

[MtGun44]

Of the ones you have, I'd go with BE. Very light boolit may not get the Unique
to burn completely. Also, since powder costs per pound, you will save on the BE
because you will use less. That boolit worked well in my Browning HP with BE.

Bill

[mooman76]

I've had pretty good luck with Unique. I've never tried Bullseye yet.

[RayinNH]

With those little charge weights Bullseye would be easier to accurately measure...Ray

[dave_g]

Thanks everyone. As I suspected it looks like either Bullesye or Unique should work so I guess I've got some testing to do. The brass is ready I just need to load em' up and get to the range.

[JIMinPHX]

I've used 3 grains of Bullseye under that boolit with great success in a few different Star 9mm guns. Since you say that you needed so much HP-38 to get yours to function well, I question if my charge would be good in your gun or not. I know that many people prefer Unique in the 9mm when loading for a Luger, because of the way that the timing curve matches up to the toggle system on that gun. As far as Smith autos go, I've only fooled with the 3'd generation type. They seem to be a good candidate for my dainty little Star load. I've never messed with the M&P though. I don't know how different they are.

Speaking in general terms - HP-38 & W-231 are very similar. Bullseye is not all that far off. Unique is a little different. Blue dot often works well in heavier 9mm loads, but will probably not work so well with that tiny little 105 boolit.

[Lloyd Smale]

I used to use 4 grains of aa2 with it.

[44wcf]

First I'd like to say hello and thanks for all the help that I've already received just by reading and searching. I've been casting for about a year now, mostly for 38 special. Now I'm casting for 9mm and I have a question.

Currently I'm using the Lee 105 grain SWC sized to .357 and tumble lubed in my Smith and Wesson M&P9c. I started with 3.6 grains of HP38 which shot well but wouldn't cycle reliably. I tried 3.8 which was better but when the gun is dirty it still sometimes wont cycle enough to lock the slide on an empty magazine. I ended up with 4.1 grains which shoots good and is reliable.

So here's my question. I'm low on HP38 but I have plenty of Unique and Bullseye. Which is a better choice for this short barrel (3.5")? I want to keep the load light but reliable. Are there other powders I should be looking at?

Thanks,
Dave G


I like Unique
44wcf

[rayzer]

I tried unique with the Lee .38-105 SWC. i didn't have much luck with it in the accuracy dept. in my S&W5906. Now I use 4.2grs of Titegroup with the Lee .38-105 SWC.

[dave_g]

Okay so other than BE and Unique which I have it looks like

AA #2
AA #5
Titegroup

are good choices. Next time I'm at the shop maybe they will actually have one of them in stock so I can try a pound.

JIMinPHX I've got a S&W 39-2 that worked well with the light loads that this M&P wouldn't. There is definitely a difference in working the slide by hand also. The M&P is pretty stiff.

[dualsport]

Spring change?

[exile]

I load Unique in my 9's with a 124 grain round nose cast boolit. Seems to work well in both my Glocks.

exile

[dave_g]

Just to follow up. I tried 3.6 Bullseye as a start and 4.5 of Unique. Both loads functioned fine and threw the brass farther than my HP38 loads did. The wind kept blowing my target over so I didn't get a real good idea of the accuracy but functionally was good. No leading and the Unique loads weren't too smokey.

[exile]

Two questions. Has anyone tried the Lee 105 SWC in the .357 Sig? Also does anyone have a picture of that boolit as cast?

[jdgabbard]

I have found BE or Unique to work wonderfully in the 9mm. I think either should give you a decent load that will reliably cycle the action of your pistol. But I think I would try Unique first.

[Char-Gar]

I use Unique and AA5 which is a smidge slower with very good results.

[Cloudpeak]

Two questions. Has anyone tried the Lee 105 SWC in the .357 Sig? Also does anyone have a picture of that boolit as cast?

I've used the 105 in a: Kahr, M&P semi-auto, CZ75 Compact & STI but not a Sig.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v620/WyoBob/Targets/DSCN1581.jpg

[exile]

Thanks.

exile

[gwilliams2]

I've had pretty good luck with Trap 100 and Unique...

[XWrench3]

i am using titegroup in my 380.

[silverado]

Let's see if I can do some computer sorcery and revive this thread...
I loaded up some of the 105 swc today with loads of 5.6 and 6.2 grains of unique. Length was 1.005. What dave did here with 4.5 grains of unique seems low to me. I just did some loads with hornady xtp 115 grain and 5.8 grains of unique, and they were hot but not ridiculous. Lyman max load.

Just to follow up. I tried 3.6 Bullseye as a start and 4.5 of Unique. Both loads functioned fine and threw the brass farther than my HP38 loads did. The wind kept blowing my target over so I didn't get a real good idea of the accuracy but functionally was good. No leading and the Unique loads weren't too smokey.

[silverado]

Followup in case anybody reads this... my unique loads didn't really work out well as far as accuracy. They went bang, in about a 4 inch group at 7-8 yards. Also had some rounds fail to feed... this is my 2nd and last try for a while, at least in my beretta, with the 105 swc.

[Finster101]

I use 4 grains of Promo (Red Dot) with that boolit and it shoots real nice.

[TheGameMaster]

Yes. It does work in 357 SIG.

Rodney

[Lefty Red]

I have been using AutoComp from WW and it burns cleaner than BE or Unique.
Jerry

[tazman]

Followup in case anybody reads this... my unique loads didn't really work out well as far as accuracy. They went bang, in about a 4 inch group at 7-8 yards. Also had some rounds fail to feed... this is my 2nd and last try for a while, at least in my beretta, with the 105 swc.

I gave up on the 105 in my Beretta barreled Taurus PT92. The groups were not as good as the ones I got with the 95 grain RF.
Also there was always an occasional failure to feed with the shoulder catching on the feed ramp. Never had the problem with other designed boolits, so I stay away from semi-wadcutters in my 9mm.

[Elkins45]

I have been experimenting very recently with Titewad, but since there's no published data at that bullet weight I'm playing a guessing game. 3.8 grains appears to be too much based on the appearance of the fired primers. It did cycle my Marlin camp carbine reliably and with good accuracy but I think the pressure is probably too high. You really can't judge loads by recoil when shooting this little guy because it just doesn't have very much.

[DLCTEX]

I also have been getting good results with Red Dot, which dispenses well through the Lil Dandy measure.