Share your 9mm load data

[opos]

Any cast bullet 115 - 125 gr self cast or commercial
4 gr Bullseye
Any case; commercial or milsurp
Any SP primer

This load has functioned many 9mm handguns reliably and is quite accurate. I've also used it in various subguns very reliably. This has been my "go to" cast bullet load since I started using it in the early '70s. It's never been "broke" so I haven't fixed it with any other load. I presently use the Lee 356-120-TC cast of 94/3/3 alloy, AC'd, sized .357 and lubed with BAC or the NRA 50/50 lube. I have used several other 9mm cast bullets though. If commercial cast are used I TL them as per Lee's instructions with LLA and let thoroughly dry before loading. I also wash the hard wax lube off and relubed with BAC.

Larry Gibson

Because of serious lung problems I buy commercial cast from Missouri...can't cast myself...I shoot a CZ 75b and have had good luck with the 12 hardness 9mm....I want to start using their "high tech coated" bullet in the same configuration...any issues with using coated instead of lubed? I doubt it as I shoot the coated in my .40 and my .45 but I'm a little goosey about 9mm loads.....also I have a few hundred Berry's 115 grain plated...lots of different powders..any thoughts here? thanks

[John Van Gelder]

Lots of cast bullets down range in the last 60 years, over time I have had good success with lots of different alloys. When I started loading for the 9mm again, kind of a long dry spell between 1968 and 2016. Back in the day I had a good supply of wheel weights, but these days I find myself using softer alloys. I have a small horde of linotype that I have been saving for cast bullets in the .222. My recent attempts with soft metal in the 9mm were pretty dismal, I dipped into my cash of hardener and the result was much better. My Ruger has a .356 barrel, and I have been sizing bullets to .358. With soft metal I was getting "keyholing" at 10 yards.

I chatted with my good friend in BC, he recommended that I pull some of the loaded soft alloy bullets, I did that and the average was .354, no mystery there about poor accuracy. My remedy was not to FL resize my cases, use just enough flare to start the bullet and apply a slight taper crimp.

Accuracy improved exponentially, and no appreciable leading with softer alloy. Using 4.1 Gr. of Tightgroup and the Lee 120 gr. TC bullet.

There is a caveat here, you have to make sure the bullet to case fit is tight enough to insure that the bullets do not get pushed back into the case.

I believe that someone else who posted in this thread also mentioned the possibility of the case sizing the bullet down below bore diameter.

Being able to shoot softer alloys has some appeal, in economics and in hunting applications.

[Meatpuppet]

Cheapest bulk-packed 147gr coated bullet sized .357 (Currently Eggleston Munitions) for practice or Everglades Ammunition 147gr JHP for match shooting.
Range pickup brass wet tumbled (no pins) and sized in a Lee Carbide "U" Die small base sizing die
VV N320 - 3.3gr for coated and 3.5 for JHP (switching to Sport Pistol once I run out of VV)
Federal Small Pistol Magnum primer
Lee FCD set to barely take the flare out of the case mouth .379
OAL - 1.10

While I swage or cast and powdercoat all my other projectiles, I find 9mm to be the point of diminishing returns of my time for volume "Pew Pew Pew" sessions.

[winelover]

Going on four pages of loading the nine, and no one using AA#7.

Accurate's Smokeless Powder manual (Number 1) powder description:

No.7 A double base, ball propellant, originally designed for the 9mm NATO carbine ammunition. It has become a favorite propellant for IPSC shooters who shoot the 38 Super Auto. Somewhat more specialized in application than N0. 2 or No. 5, it is well suited to high intensity cartridges. The popularity of No. 7 has increased dramatically since it's introduction in 1983. It is a good choice for magnum handgun cartridges (such as .357, 41 and 44 Magnum) when slightly less than full power loads are preferred.

I've been using it for a while now in 9mm, 357, 44 Spl & Magnum. Accurate's manual has lots of data for a variety of cast bullet weights.......usually lacking in other powder manufacture's load data. For the 9mm, they list loads for the following lead bullets: 115 (L) SWC, 125 (L) RN, 130 (L) RN and 145 (L) RN. Same variety with the other aforementioned cartridges. Accurate also list cartridge length for their load data.

With a 125 (L) RN, and a COAL of 1.1" they list a starting load of 7.5 grains of AA#7 (1017 fps) to a maximum of 8.3 grains (1156 fps). I use this data for the RCBS 125 RN and Lyman's 120 TC (356402) bullets.


Winelover

[ioon44]

I used AA#5&7 a few years ago and I thought it did not run as clean as some other powders, I currently use CFE Pistol for 9 mm for 130 gr and 147 gr Hi-Tek coated bullets.

Winelover do you shoot IDPA at the ACPL in Berryville?

[Panman213]

Guns: Ruger P89
Rock Island CS 9mm
Chiappa M1 Clone in 9mm
Ruger LC9s

All function well and are accurate with Lee 120grTC powder coated and sized to .356 in front of 4.0 grains of w231 or HP38.

[therealhitman]

I would always attempt to find a pistol load for each cartridge that would cycle all my semi autos and be reasonably consistent in my PCCs at 100yds. I also tend to stay at midrange velocity wise as I shoot mainly close quarters drills on steel. My most current 9mm load cycled in G19s and 26s, multiple Colt 9mm 1911s, Shields, Kahrs, CZ75, and M9 pattern weapons before the boat accident.

Lee 356-120 over 4.2 gr of WSF with S&B or CCI standard SPPs.

[Boolseye]

My current go-to is 4.2 gr 231 over a 120 TC. Same load over Ranch Dog’s 135 gr. RF. These are lower-mid level loads, but plenty steamy for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[winelover]

Winelover do you shoot IDPA at the ACPL in Berryville?

No, I do not. Only shoot at my rural backyard range.

Winelover

[6bg6ga]

My favorite load is a 160gr RN and 3.2 gr of Unique or 231. It hits with authority and seem to be accurate in my Glock with a Lone Wolf 9mm conversion barrel.

[John Van Gelder]

Here is an interesting article about cast bullets in the 9mm.. And some load data..

http://www.grantcunningham.com/2014/...gerparabellum/

[John Van Gelder]

6bg6ga

Sounds like a pretty substantial load, from the Lyman #44 manual the range for Unique and the 158 grn RN bullet is: 3.5 grn for 883 fps and 4.5 for 1039 fps. The test gun was a mod 39 S&W with a 4" barrel.

The upper load sounds a bit heavy to me, but for occasional use it is close to the old S&W .38-44 loading. A good field load if you might have occasion to walk up on a bear.

[greenwart]

Argentine High Power
Tanfaglio

Lee 358-125-RF
S&B Small Pistol Primers
Red Dot 3.9g
OAL 1.060"
50/50 Lube
Sized 0.357"
50% range lead 50% WW.

If I am only shooting the High Power I have loaded up to 4.1g RedDot and OAL of 1.070, but these may not seat in the Tanfaglio or other 9mm.

[Walks]

Just because there are new powders out there, doesn't mean you have to use them. I've tried out most new powders when they've come out. When I start loading again next month, after a 10yr hiatus. I'll stick with the old powders. They've always worked for me and I'd rather use what I know, then go experimenting anymore. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[6bg6ga]

6bg6ga

Sounds like a pretty substantial load, from the Lyman #44 manual the range for Unique and the 158 grn RN bullet is: 3.5 grn for 883 fps and 4.5 for 1039 fps. The test gun was a mod 39 S&W with a 4" barrel.

The upper load sounds a bit heavy to me, but for occasional use it is close to the old S&W .38-44 loading. A good field load if you might have occasion to walk up on a bear.

It is a pleasurable load to shoot. Not much recoil and it seems to be ok pressure wise. When it warms up I will get the chronograph set up and get a measurement as to the speed.

[John Van Gelder]

Over time I have loaded 158 gr, bullets in the 9mm, the first lads I produced back in the 60s used that bullet, we were loading for a WW11 Luger, using 3 gr. of BE. A pleasant load.

Here is the link to an article about loading 158gr and heavier bullets in the 9.. http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloadi...-in-9mm-luger/

[redhawk0]

German P-08 Luger 1917 (1920)

Lee 124gr SWC (TL design)
Cast from W-W water dropped
Liquid Alox lube
Hodgdon HS-6 6.0gr
Win SP Primer
OAL 1.15"

Great plinking load. Feeds well. I never have shot anything but paper with this gun...I figure it has probably shot (at) enough flesh already ....its retired from its original function.

redhawk

[loadmak]

Lee TL356-124TC, 45-45-10 lube, sized .358
Mixed brass, using 38 S&W expander
Unique 4.2 gr
1.045 OAL
Smith & Wesson SD9VE

[KrakenFan69]

Lee 356-125 2R cast with 92/6/2 lead and Hi-Tek coated
4.gn Vihtavuori WSF
OAL 1.110
CZ-75 SP-01 (not a Shadow)
soft recoil and 130PF for IPSC
Cheaper than the Vihtavouri load I used to use and just as good.

[fralic76]

German P-08 Luger 1917 (1920)

Lee 124gr SWC (TL design)
Cast from W-W water dropped
Liquid Alox lube
Hodgdon HS-6 6.0gr
Win SP Primer
OAL 1.15"

Great plinking load. Feeds well. I never have shot anything but paper with this gun...I figure it has probably shot (at) enough flesh already ....its retired from its original function.

redhawk

What mold is it? I looked at the 9mm molds and don't see a SWC mold.

Sent from my SM-G955W using Tapatalk