Howdy! I just started reloading .223 last month and this month I made my first batch of 9mm. In working up my 9mm load, I noticed some low pressure signs half way through (I was too busy looking for signs of high pressure in the first half to notice the low pressure). There is fouling on the outside of the cases starting at the neck and collecting on the head of each case. When I moved up to my my next load the problem persisted. My Hornady manual gives a range from 4.0-5.0gr of Unique for a 124gr LRN. All the rounds fit in my LE Wilson C.O.A.L. checker and feed through the gun fine.
Should I be getting low pressure signs when I am this close to a max load, or am I doing something wrong? Should I go up to the max and continue over until I no longer get the low pressure signs?
What I'm using:
Gun: Sig p228
Brass: WIN 9mm LUGER on it's first reload
Primer: Winchester Small Pistol
Bullet: 124gr LRN from
www.zcastbulletz.com
Powder: Unique (4.1gr, 4.3gr, 4.5gr, 4.7gr, 4.9gr)
Average Cartridge Overall Length: 1.157 inches
The pictures below show a case from each powder test in order from left to right (4.1-4.9). The two cases on the far right are factory ammo cases shot through my gun that day to use as a comparison to the reloads.
These are the cases in the same order, just turned around 180 degrees
This is the head of each case... No signs of high pressure that I see...
