160gr Lead in a 9mm

[bruce drake]

I'm still waiting for my "new" FEG Hi-Power to be delivered from the distributor to my gun dealer and I got to thinking the other day after reading some posts on another forum that deals with IDPA/IPSC shooting.

Has anyone on the forum used a 160gr Lead Boolit in the past in their 9mm Para chambered pistols?

I have a Lyman 358311 160gr RN mold that I think would be a nice heavy boolit to mess with and was wondering if anyone else has ever done this experiment of a heavy-for-caliber bullet. Once I size the bore of the barrel, the .358 boolit would be sized to fit if needed. The boolit's RN should eliminate any feed issues and the plain base would cut down on the cost. I'm looking for a nice 15yd load to start and then maybe expand it out from there if the accuracy continues.

Bruce

[Wally]

I have used a Lee 155 RN in my Taurus 99AF...3.5 grains W-231 940 FPS MV..shot just fine.

[bruce drake]

Thanks! I had a 99Af for a while. Loved that all-steel pistol. I figure that it is a better design than the current Beretta 92. I kept most of my loads in the 120gr weights with that pistol but I figured that the 160 would be a nice boolit to try.

Bruce

[bruce drake]

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=66911

A further search finds this has been reviewed by others on this forum before. It looks like I've got a project to load for in the future.

Bruce

[Wally]

Thanks! I had a 99Af for a while. Loved that all-steel pistol. I figure that it is a better design than the current Beretta 92. I kept most of my loads in the 120gr weights with that pistol but I figured that the 160 would be a nice boolit to try.

Bruce


I tried the 155 RN and IMHO you are better off using a 120TC. No sense to waste lead; I gained nothing with the heavier bullet.

[bruce drake]

Wally,

Well, its a project for later to find out what the FEG likes more. I went into the garage/man cave this afternoon and its over 110 degrees in there. I made a quick inventory of my lead supply and went out and scored a 5 gal bucket of wheel weights at my local tire shop instead.

The weathermen here in Kansas are talking about dropping out of triple digits sometime next week. I might explore the loading then.

Bruce

[Artful]

Careful with Hi-Power's some of the slides are soft and can distort/crack with heavy loads +P or +P+ loads. I quit trying to set up for suppressor after I found that out.

this should be an interesting read for ya

http://feghp.blogspot.com/2010/02/decoding-feg-hi-power.html

[bruce drake]

Artful,
Thanks for the advice on the Hi-Power slides. I just recently read that page when I was thinking about ordering the FEG in with the local dealer.

I'm not attempting to make a +P load. I just want to make a load that cycles the action while being accurate. I've got a bunch of the 358311s already cast from other projects and can't see a reason why I can't use them if I load a light load with the proper OAL to fit the chamber.

Bruce

[little willie]

Bruce,

Many years ago I played with 158 grain RN in 9mm loads for my suppressed UZI SMG.

The idea was to get good reliable subsonic loads for maximum suppressor efficiency.

It worked after a fashion, it has been so long ago, I no longer have any of the loading data. It all went with the UZI when I sold it.

little willie

[45 2.1]

Lyman manual #44 lists what you want for the 9mm.
Lyman 358311:
Bullseye 3.0 869, 3.5 961
Unique 3.5 840, 4.5 1,039
Red Dot 3.0 858, 3.6 963
Herco 3.6 840, 4.6 1,010

[HiVelocity]

Oh well, thought I'd throw in my .02 worth-

In both 9mm "and" 38 Special, you can't beat Al Nelson's 358-135-BB/HP.

This bullet drops at .3585 and sizes down nicely for 9mm, 38 Super, as is for 38/357.

Oh, did I mention that this mold comes with a hollow point option?

Check out NOE's mold list, it may still be listed. You won't be sorry.

HV

[bruce drake]

Lyman manual #44 lists what you want for the 9mm.
Lyman 358311:
Bullseye 3.0 869, 3.5 961
Unique 3.5 840, 4.5 1,039
Red Dot 3.0 858, 3.6 963
Herco 3.6 840, 4.6 1,010

I guess I need to pick up Lyman's manual as well since my LEE (both versions), RCBS and Alliant manuals stop at 130gr.

Thanks for the information. I have 2 of the 4 powders already on the shelf.

Bruce

[45 2.1]

I guess I need to pick up Lyman's manual as well since my LEE (both versions), RCBS and Alliant manuals stop at 130gr.

Thanks for the information. I have 2 of the 4 powders already on the shelf.

Bruce

That #44 & the #45 from the 60's listed those loads. The current #49 does not. I think it goes up to a 147gr. 'ish boolit. The loads I listed were the only ones for that 358311 in 9mm.

[bruce drake]

I just loaded 36 test loads with 3.5gr of Red Dot to see what it does with the 358311 in a week or so when the FEG Hi-Power gets delivered. 900fps at 160gr should be just fine for a 15 yard load but the proof is in the shooting.

I appreciate you pulling the older manual out for the reference. My manuals are 15 years old or younger so that older data is nice to reach back for.

I'm expecting this load to be a stage between a 38S&W and a 38 Super. I'm not wanting to hot rod the cartridge with the heavier bullet. I may even drop the powder charge once I shoot it. I'm looking for something that is accurate while cycling the action without straining the pistol.

Bruce

[bruce drake]

Cruising through an old 1973 Handloader Digest last night and I saw and article on reloading 9mm Luger with cast and jacketed. Two of the suggested loads for a Lyman 358311 was 4.4gr of Unique for 1041fps as well as 3.3gr of Bullseye at 940fps.

[bruce drake]

The FEG Hi-Power finally arrived at my gunshop on Wednesday from the distributor. SARCO may take their sweet time filling order requests but when they do, they send out a good product for the money.

I picked it up yesterday from the dealer and I had enough free time last night to get it into mancave to break it down and reassemble it once with a few experimental trigger pulls. It's going to need a good strip down of the shipping grease before I take it out to the range to try those 160gr loads.

Now I just need to find some free time!

Bruce

[bobthenailer]

If your so inclined you can get a better trigger pull ? you can remove the magazine disconnecter part /spring ? but now the gun will fire with the magazine removed ! which is the way most semi autos work.

[bruce drake]

I did that with my previous FEG Hi-Power and I intend to do it with this one as well. It's a relatively simple procedure and it does help the trigger pull a lot.

Bruce

[terry]

years ago i loaded lyman 358156 over a light charge of unique. worked and functioned very well in my s&w 39 and 59. left nice sharp holes in paper targets and fed well from the magazines. may not feed in all auto loaders, tho.

[bruce drake]

Finally got to the range today. 3.5gr Red Dot is a little warm for the CCI SP Primers as they were cratered a bit.

Accuracy was great with the new pistol though as I ran it through both 120gr RN and TC bullets in addition to the 160gr RN boolits.

I'm going to drop the charge back a bit to keep experimenting with the 160gr. Now its just a quest to find another time on the calendar for another trip to the range.

[Artful]

So where's the pic's - the FEG usually were a pretty looking Hipower.

[bruce drake]

Its on my profile page! but I'll add it to this as well.

[Artful]

Doh, I feel like Homer - looks good, has darker wood than mine - I like it.

[bruce drake]

I restained the grips. She had blond birch-colored stocks when I got her out of the wrapper at the gunshop.

[LIMPINGJ]

Bruce is that a new production pistol or one from previous imports. I have been looking for a nice one but most I seem to run across seem well used. If new please tell me who is stocking them.

[bruce drake]

Its not new. Its just been in storage for a long time.

SARCO.COM has the pistols. This is one of the VERY GOOD category pistols.

Bruce