The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old November 21, 2000, 02:16 AM   #1
mississippi_rifleman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 15, 2000
Location: Gautier, MS
Posts: 101
Anyone have a practice load and a defense load for 9mm? I'm using a Glock 17.
__________________
Ben Lee
Heed the man that owns only one rifle,
he likely knows how to use it.
- Anonymous
mississippi_rifleman is offline  
Old November 21, 2000, 08:36 AM   #2
WESHOOT2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 20, 1999
Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country)
Posts: 14,324
For practice suggest: any case, CCI500 primer, Rainier 124g TMJ-RN, OAL 1.150+.005/-.008", finish using the Lee Carbide Factory Crimp die.

Now you'd like to know about powders....

Best are Vihtavuori 3N37 and Alliant Power Pistol. Hodgdon HS6, Accurate AA5, and Winchester WSF all work well, too.

Made many thousands of 6.0g Power Pistol for Glocks. Flashy for night-fire practice, but very accurate from most Glocks.

Contact me direct for defense info.
__________________
.
"all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"
WESHOOT2 is offline  
Old November 21, 2000, 09:54 AM   #3
ea2
Member
 
Join Date: November 17, 2000
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 24
For practice rounds, I use the starting loads that came with my Lee dies (they are backed off max charges by about 10%).

I use small pistol primers (Winchester or CCI, whichever is available), Bullseye powder, and either 115 gr FMJ/RN or 125 gr hard cast RN for bullets.

I shoot a Beretta 92FS, and have had surprising good accuracy with the FMJ reloads (with 4.6 gr of Bullseye), and limited sucess so far with the cast loads (4.4 gr Bullseye).

Bullseye is a very fast powder, so one has to be extremely careful in verifying charge weights. However, pound for pound, I get more bang for the buck with it.
ea2 is offline  
Old November 21, 2000, 06:49 PM   #4
sundog
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 22, 1999
Location: Green Country, OK
Posts: 782
ea2, been down the road on lead loads in a 9mm, including in a 92. My favorite load is now RCBS 147 gr FBTC over a charge of HS6, sized .002 over and lubed with home made lube or Lyman Super Moly. Not sure the faster powder like BE are all that good for any of the lead bullets in the 9, at least I've not had any success with it. Heavier, tighter bullet, and slower powder. I noticed, too, that WESHOOT2 also mentioned HS6. You might want to consider a slower burn rate. You probably won't notice any difference in powder economy to speak of since the charges are so small to begin with. Just be sure to watch your seating depth as pressures rise fast in 9mm.

Self defense load [when I am forced to use a 9mm] is either Hydro-shocks or Golden Sabres. Same in .45 acp. sundog
__________________
safety first
sundog is offline  
Old November 21, 2000, 08:26 PM   #5
Stephen A. Camp
Staff In Memoriam
 
Join Date: April 16, 1999
Posts: 2,570
Hello. A decent practice load with either Rainier 124 gr PRN or cast LRN in the same weight consists of 6.9 gr. Blue Dot and WW or Fed cases using either Winchester Small Pistol Primers or Federal SP primers. Load to the same length as ball or about 1.169". Average velocity ~ 1160 ft/sec.

A warmer load that is accurate: 115 gr Sierra PJHP/6.2 gr Unique/Same brass as above/Same primers listed above. LOA is about 1.09". Average velocity ~ 1242 ft/sec.

The most accurate "warm" load I've found: 124gr Hornady XTP/6.0 gr Unique/Same brass/Same primer(s) LOA ~ 1.11".
Average velocity ~ 1244 ft/sec. If you moly the bullet, you get about about 1285 ft/sec.

These loads were chronographed from a Browning Hi Power with factory bbl.

Best.

Stephen A. Camp is offline  
Old November 22, 2000, 07:07 PM   #6
drothen
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 4, 2000
Posts: 104
I've been using Berry's bullets. They are similar to Rainier, but I can get them for about 10% less, at least locally. Quality has been good so far (about 3000).
drothen is offline  
Old November 23, 2000, 02:25 AM   #7
jtduncan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 5, 1999
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Posts: 1,686
115 grain Rainier or Montana Gold JHP with 4.5 grains of TiteGroup or W231 at 1.10" OAL with Federal/Winchester primers, any old range brass, for practice out of my Glock 19 or 26.

But for practicing with defense loads, 4.9 grains of a slower powder for higher velocities like Universal.

Haven't tried Power Pistol yet.
__________________
The Seattle SharpShooter
Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?
jtduncan is offline  
Old November 24, 2000, 10:34 PM   #8
Clark
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 4, 1999
Location: WA, the ever blue state
Posts: 4,678
I can only second the advice given above:

I think you will be happiest with Power Pistol powder and 115 or 124 gr. bullets in a Glock 17 chamber.

After that 3N37, HS-6, and AA#5 are very good.
Clark is offline  
Old November 26, 2000, 03:17 AM   #9
jtduncan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 5, 1999
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Posts: 1,686
I like my fireworks on the 4th of July. I prefer low flash powders.

Power Pistol just produces way too much muzzle flash for me.

The problem with the flash is that obstructs followup shots so accuracy on subsequent shots can and will drop.

May be a good powder but hitting my target repeatedly if necessary is most important to me.
__________________
The Seattle SharpShooter
Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?
jtduncan is offline  
Old November 26, 2000, 05:42 PM   #10
Swamp Yankee
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 26, 2000
Location: Northeastern Ct.
Posts: 1,019
Mississippi Rifleman
Looks like you've got some good recipes; I use Power Pistol for .357 Sig, looks like I'll have to try it in 9mm as well. My favorite practice load is:
124 gr. West Coast PRN
4.3 gr. W231
Winchester WSP Primer
OAL 1.120 +/- .005
I second WESHOOT2 and recommend the use of the Lee Factory Crimp Die.

My Beretta 92's & Glock 19 shoot this load to the same point of impact as Speer factory 124 gr. Gold Dots. Your pistol may or may not.


Swamp Yankee is offline  
Old December 2, 2000, 11:30 AM   #11
Socom18E
Junior Member
 
Join Date: November 26, 2000
Posts: 8


this is a load of bulls, at 4grns OAL 1.10 with 124 rainer, or IMI's...

shot at 25yrds, for the match I shot the longest target will be placed at this range....mild recoil, any thing under 15yrds is point blank....

Good luck....

Socom18E
Socom18E is offline  
Old December 2, 2000, 11:52 AM   #12
jtduncan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 5, 1999
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Posts: 1,686
Conccur on the Lee FCD. I use them for all of my pistol reloading.
__________________
The Seattle SharpShooter
Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?
jtduncan is offline  
Old December 14, 2000, 10:12 PM   #13
George Helser
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 25, 2000
Location: Scottsdale AZ
Posts: 242
9x19 defense load

I have fired thousands of the following load in S&W, HK & Glock pistols:
7.0 gr Herco powder
115 JHP bullet
1.08" O.L.
This delivers about 1350 fps (depending on barrel length) which gives 465 ft-lbs of energy. This velocity gives great expansion.
There is very little muzzle flash from this load and that flash is dark orange so it is almost insignificant.
This load has two weaknesses:
a) The deviation is velocity is about 2x worse than Power Pistol, for example.
b) The powder tends to fill the case completely. (The original published loads for Herco in the 70's speced a max of 7.2 grs of Herco but I found it difficult to load this much powder without spilling!)

Regards,
George
In sunny Arizona
George Helser is offline  
Old December 19, 2000, 02:45 PM   #14
Tree Rat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 7, 2000
Posts: 138
Finally got some Power Pistol for 9mm and .40 S&W. Worked up a 124gr FML load to just under max and went to the range for chrono. Very energetic! I invite all TFLer's who load to try some and make sure you shoot it in low light, no low light with a compensated firearm! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha......I'm back to Universal Clays. Tree Rat.
Tree Rat is offline  
Old December 21, 2000, 01:24 AM   #15
AlbertaCanada
Member
 
Join Date: November 2, 2000
Posts: 73
HI,
i LOAD 5.7GRNS. OF ALLIANT GREEN DOT AND HAVE NO TROUBLE WITH CYCLING IN BROWNING HI-POWERS. I'VE TRIED IT DOWN TO 4.0 GRNS AND IT CYCLES FINE. aT 5.7, THERE SEEMS TO BE A BIT OF PRIMER FLATTENING, HOWEVER, THE OL' BROWNINGS HAVE HAD A LOT OF USE. HAVEN'T GOTTEN MUCH NEWS FOR YOU AS FAR AS GROUPS, CAUSE LIKE I SAID THE BRONINGS ARE A BIT WORN- THE DARN GERMAN LOADS WERE CORROSIVE, SO THE BARRELS ARE TOAST. I HEAR THAT YOU CAN GO TO A .356" BULLET TO RESTORE ACCURACY, ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD AFFECT PRESSURE MUCH. bEST O' LUCK!
AlbertaCanada is offline  
Old December 23, 2000, 05:21 PM   #16
jtduncan
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 5, 1999
Location: Seattle, Washington, USA
Posts: 1,686
I must repent! Power Pistol is great! But you have to get used to the extra flash. My 9mm carbine loves it!
__________________
The Seattle SharpShooter
Reloaded .223 Rem, 9mm, 40SW, 357 SIG, 10mm, 44 Mag, 45 ACP Today?
jtduncan is offline  
Old December 24, 2000, 11:15 AM   #17
Cat
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 12, 1999
Location: Ohio, USA
Posts: 467
You might try Berry's Manufacturing for plated bullets.
They are usually cheaper than others, you can order on-line, and Berry's pays the shipping.
I have been real happy with their bullets.
Neil Casper

http://www.berrysmfg.com/
Cat is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06540 seconds with 10 queries