9MM Subsonic

[Nick10Ring]

Does anyone have any experience loading 9MM subsonic rounds for pistols or subguns. I would be using cast and jacketed rounds, probably 147gr.

Would appreciate any infor or loading spec.

Nick10Ring@aol.com

[Bret4207]

They didn't work for crap as far as real world effectiveness on animals. Can't help beyond that.

[lastmanout]

I played around with 150-160 grain slugs inteneded for the 38/357. Had some success, but have gone back to the standard 120-130 grainer. Do like an oversize boolit -.357-.358". Now that my lead supply is limited, I am considering the 105 SWC Lee. As a defensive loading, the 147g subsonic has proven to be par with the 38 Special round nose (standard velocity) --- very, very poor.

[crabo]

Here's a thread on a group buy that might be what you need.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=20249

[9.3X62AL]

+1 to Bret's comments.

I used Winchester bulk 147 grain HP's atop 4.1 grains of WW-231 at 1.135" OAL to match our agency's duty loads in 9mm for my SIG P-226. Once I "crawled out from underneath that undercover rock" (thank you, Dan Ackroyd) and started working robbery/homicide--which included officer involved shootings--and saw that the sub-sonic 9mm rounds required several per customer to transmit the concept--I went Old School and carried a 45 ACP.

One advantage I saw with the 147 sub-sonic rounds--there were easily the most accurate factory rounds I've fired in service-grade semi-autos. The reloads duplicated that accuracy, too. THEY SHOOT, for darn sure--but downloading a 9mm does it no favors in the gunfight venue. ETA--these loads do great work on streetlights from MP-5's or Colt SMG's when cities or counties won't call out techies to shut them off. In suppressed SMG's, these loads were affectionately known as "Light Sabers". :)

Not trying to stir up a gunrag-type 9mm vs 40 vs 45 debate here.

[trickyasafox]

don't have much experience, but if your a class 3 guy and have a silencer i bet they are a hoot.

[kawalekm]

Hello Nick
I use my 358477 bullets sized to .356. It's a 38/357 SWC that casts out to about 147 grains with Lyman's #2 alloy, the same as the heaviest typical 9mm bullet. I load it to an OAL of 1.100" and it looks funny with a grease groove sticking out, but it feeds just fine in my Ruger pistol. I load it with 6 grains of Blue Dot which should be about 1000 fps, just under the speed of sound. It does not feed well in a Walther P1, but this load was not developed for this pistol, so it might work if tuned for it.
Michael