Anyone want to help me with a starting 9mm load?

DaveInPA · February 29, 2008, 07:36 AM

I'm going to load my first batch of 9mm this weekend. I have brass, W231 powder, and WSP primers.

Now, I need help choosing a bullet, and I'd be more than willing to try another powder if something other than 231 is best suited for light-medium 9mm target rounds. I'd prefer a ball powder since I'm a relatively new reloader and ball powders seem to meter the most reliably. I also need info on a good starting OAL, since my reloading manuals just list minimum and maximum OAL.

These rounds will be fired through two glocks, a 19 and a 26. I've fed them both plenty of 115gr FMJ ammo in the past, so I'm guessing it would make sense to go with 115gr FMJ bullets? But if anything else can be recommended, I'm all ears.

Thanks!
Dave

wncchester · February 29, 2008, 10:18 AM

For the 9mm/115, Lyman #46 lists what sounds like a good starting load with 4.4/Unique.

The Sierra #3 shows 4.6/231.

The Nosler #5 suggests starting at 5.5/SR4756, their most accurate powder.

Don't think you will find much difference between FMJ and anything else for common use but they may feed better in a Glock.

DaveInPA · February 29, 2008, 12:13 PM

Anyone else? Headed to the gun shop after work to pick up supplies . .haha

zxcvbob · February 29, 2008, 02:18 PM

Just don't buy too many bullets until you've tested them to make sure they feed OK (probably not a problem in a Glock). Maybe get some 124's too.

231 should be a great powder. WSF or WAP for heavier loads. I've used a lot of Green Dot powder for 9mm cast bullet loads, but Green Dot is trickier to measure, and Glocks don't like cast bullets.

somerled · February 29, 2008, 04:36 PM

I've used 5.1 grains of 231 under the bulk 115 FMJs and HPs by Winchester and Remington for many years. That is the maximum load listed online at www.hodgdon.com. Hodgdon distributes Winchester ball powders now.

The Lovemaster · February 29, 2008, 05:07 PM

One thing I learned the hard way was to be sure to get a good taper crimp on 9mm ammo. My pistol didn't like my rounds and wouldn't cycle right until I ran them all through the seat/crimp die again and crimped them a little more.

Walkalong · February 29, 2008, 05:18 PM

I've pretty much settled on 115 Gr Raniers for my 9MM plinking. They feed great in everything, shoot straight, and are relatively cheap. I load them at 1.130/5 O.A.L. & use WSP primers. Any primer will be fine though.

WSF & AA #5 are my favorite powders for plinking loads. N330 works well too. I tried some in 9MM because I had some to use up.

A light taper crimp is all I use.

DaveInPA · February 29, 2008, 05:26 PM

I'm headed to the gun shop now. As far as the taper crimp, I have the Lee 4 die set that includes the factory crimp die so I'm set there. What do you crimp your 9mm rounds to? I'm going to pick up a box of the factory ammo I've been feeding my Glocks and just match my OAL to that to start. I'm also going to pick up a pound of Titegroup and load up some rounds with that as well as some with the W231 I have on hand.

Reloading is fun

CrustyFN · February 29, 2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

What do you crimp your 9mm rounds to?

I have never measured the crimp. I crimp 9mm enough to get rid of the flair that the powder/expander die put in and no more. Never had any feed problems. I use Titegroup in 9mm and it meters very good in the pro auto disk.
Rusty

somerled · February 29, 2008, 10:00 PM

The max. dimension at the case mouth for the 9mm is .380. Mine run at .379 and work well in several different pistols.

Ozzieman · March 2, 2008, 12:56 PM

For autos I never use any other than 231 because it’s the cleanest powder that I can find. I have reloaded using it from 380 to 45acp and it works very well and powder measures like it also. I get very constant weights when using 231.
As far as bullets for 9mm, since I shoot thousands per year I only buy the best, spelled CHEEPEST.
One suggestion for reloading, it will make reloading much easier and reloads MUCH more reliable. It’s not that expensive and only requires one more time through the rockchucker.
I will NOT reload any auto ammo with out using a taper crimp die,,, NONE.
Once you use one you will never be without one again.
You can get a very tight fit from case to bullet and no matter the length of the case the edge of the case is sharp and straight.

DaveInPA · March 2, 2008, 05:47 PM

115 FMJ with Titegroup worked great at the range today

CrankyCrash · March 4, 2008, 04:14 PM

I've got 3 loads I run through my Glock 17 right now.

KEAD FP 147 gr bullet, WSP, Blue Dot @5.2gr

Rainier FP 124 gr bullet, WSP, Blue Dot @6.7gr
Rainier FP 124 gr bullet, WSP, Accurate #7 @7.0gr

I have not tested the Rainiers on steel yet. That'll come during my match this weekend.

I've got a Jarvis barrel so the only thing it likes to eat so far must have an OAL less than 1.100". For a good feed I keep my OAL at 1.079.

February 29, 2008, 07:36 AM	#1
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	Anyone want to help me with a starting 9mm load? I'm going to load my first batch of 9mm this weekend. I have brass, W231 powder, and WSP primers. Now, I need help choosing a bullet, and I'd be more than willing to try another powder if something other than 231 is best suited for light-medium 9mm target rounds. I'd prefer a ball powder since I'm a relatively new reloader and ball powders seem to meter the most reliably. I also need info on a good starting OAL, since my reloading manuals just list minimum and maximum OAL. These rounds will be fired through two glocks, a 19 and a 26. I've fed them both plenty of 115gr FMJ ammo in the past, so I'm guessing it would make sense to go with 115gr FMJ bullets? But if anything else can be recommended, I'm all ears. Thanks! Dave Last edited by DaveInPA; February 29, 2008 at 10:25 AM.

February 29, 2008, 10:18 AM	#2
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	For the 9mm/115, Lyman #46 lists what sounds like a good starting load with 4.4/Unique. The Sierra #3 shows 4.6/231. The Nosler #5 suggests starting at 5.5/SR4756, their most accurate powder. Don't think you will find much difference between FMJ and anything else for common use but they may feed better in a Glock.

February 29, 2008, 12:13 PM	#3
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	Anyone else? Headed to the gun shop after work to pick up supplies . .haha

February 29, 2008, 02:18 PM	#4
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Just don't buy too many bullets until you've tested them to make sure they feed OK (probably not a problem in a Glock). Maybe get some 124's too. 231 should be a great powder. WSF or WAP for heavier loads. I've used a lot of Green Dot powder for 9mm cast bullet loads, but Green Dot is trickier to measure, and Glocks don't like cast bullets.

February 29, 2008, 04:36 PM	#5
somerled Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Location: eastern Kansas Posts: 603	I've used 5.1 grains of 231 under the bulk 115 FMJs and HPs by Winchester and Remington for many years. That is the maximum load listed online at www.hodgdon.com. Hodgdon distributes Winchester ball powders now.

February 29, 2008, 05:07 PM	#6
The Lovemaster Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 416	One thing I learned the hard way was to be sure to get a good taper crimp on 9mm ammo. My pistol didn't like my rounds and wouldn't cycle right until I ran them all through the seat/crimp die again and crimped them a little more.

February 29, 2008, 05:18 PM	#7
Walkalong Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2007 Location: Al. Posts: 196	I've pretty much settled on 115 Gr Raniers for my 9MM plinking. They feed great in everything, shoot straight, and are relatively cheap. I load them at 1.130/5 O.A.L. & use WSP primers. Any primer will be fine though. WSF & AA #5 are my favorite powders for plinking loads. N330 works well too. I tried some in 9MM because I had some to use up. A light taper crimp is all I use.

February 29, 2008, 05:26 PM	#8
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	I'm headed to the gun shop now. As far as the taper crimp, I have the Lee 4 die set that includes the factory crimp die so I'm set there. What do you crimp your 9mm rounds to? I'm going to pick up a box of the factory ammo I've been feeding my Glocks and just match my OAL to that to start. I'm also going to pick up a pound of Titegroup and load up some rounds with that as well as some with the W231 I have on hand. Reloading is fun

February 29, 2008, 10:00 PM	#10
somerled Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Location: eastern Kansas Posts: 603	The max. dimension at the case mouth for the 9mm is .380. Mine run at .379 and work well in several different pistols.

March 2, 2008, 12:56 PM	#11
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	For autos I never use any other than 231 because it’s the cleanest powder that I can find. I have reloaded using it from 380 to 45acp and it works very well and powder measures like it also. I get very constant weights when using 231. As far as bullets for 9mm, since I shoot thousands per year I only buy the best, spelled CHEEPEST. One suggestion for reloading, it will make reloading much easier and reloads MUCH more reliable. It’s not that expensive and only requires one more time through the rockchucker. I will NOT reload any auto ammo with out using a taper crimp die,,, NONE. Once you use one you will never be without one again. You can get a very tight fit from case to bullet and no matter the length of the case the edge of the case is sharp and straight.

March 2, 2008, 05:47 PM	#12
DaveInPA Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2008 Location: Berks County, PA Posts: 1,106	115 FMJ with Titegroup worked great at the range today

March 4, 2008, 04:14 PM	#13
CrankyCrash Junior Member Join Date: February 23, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 6	I've got 3 loads I run through my Glock 17 right now. KEAD FP 147 gr bullet, WSP, Blue Dot @5.2gr Rainier FP 124 gr bullet, WSP, Blue Dot @6.7gr Rainier FP 124 gr bullet, WSP, Accurate #7 @7.0gr I have not tested the Rainiers on steel yet. That'll come during my match this weekend. I've got a Jarvis barrel so the only thing it likes to eat so far must have an OAL less than 1.100". For a good feed I keep my OAL at 1.079.