9mm loads for steel plates?

GoGators · March 2, 2009, 10:13 PM

What is your favorite load for steel plates with a 9mm? I never loaded 9mm before but have loaded lots of 40 and 45. I haven't bought any bullets yet but was thinking of 147 gr plated bullets. I have 231, Unique, Bullseye, #2, #5, WAP, WSL, WSF, Power Pistol and Titegroup. I prefer to load with something I have unless there is an overwhelming reason to buy more powder...

D. Manley · March 2, 2009, 11:39 PM

Every one of those powder will do fine with 147's. Since you probably will have a low (or none at all) PF requirement, I'd look to the faster powders to keep the gun as flat as possible. 3.2 to 3.4 grains TG is very nice, 3.5 grains +/- of W-231 should work or generally any book starting load for the other powders. Most people agree that the faster powders combined with the heavier bullets produce a lot less muzzle rise.

arizona98tj · March 2, 2009, 11:45 PM

I shoot plates with the same 9mm load I use for the rest of my range activities....that being 115 gr plated RN. I put a charge of Unique behind it that pushes it about 1130 FPS. Seems to work well for all my range practice needs.

zxcvbob · March 2, 2009, 11:45 PM

They'll all work, but I vote for Bullseye. It works great for me with 135 grain bullets.

45Marlin carbine · March 3, 2009, 04:16 AM

4" barrel and less Bullseye or Red Dot does well with cast slugs - cheap too. I don't know about plated slugs.

jdscholer · March 3, 2009, 09:01 AM

It's kinda funny, after a hundred or so years and all the advancements, if all we had was Bullseye Powder we'd still do just fine.

jd

WESHOOT2 · March 3, 2009, 09:15 AM

Suggest minimum bullet weight of 120g, figure the 124s.
Decide on lead (might 'smoke'), or plated (Rainiers), or jacketed (ka-ching! But look at Zero and Montana Gold).
Work with Power Pistol (first) and WAP (man I gotta lotta WAP; I mean a lot....).

Figure a start load of 5.4g Power Pistol under a 124g/.356" lead bullet; bump to 5.6g start for plated/jacketed.

Sort cases by headstamp.
CCI500 or WSP.
Ensure sufficient neck tension.
Finish using a LEE Carbide Factory Crimp Die.

I use bullets of varied weights and materials, from 115g up to 151g; I use bullets sized from .354" to .357"; I use numerous case and primer brands; I load to (wildly) varied velocities; I do so from three guns/four barrels (two guns are 'custom').

March 2, 2009, 10:13 PM	#1
GoGators Junior Member Join Date: January 16, 2009 Posts: 10	9mm loads for steel plates? What is your favorite load for steel plates with a 9mm? I never loaded 9mm before but have loaded lots of 40 and 45. I haven't bought any bullets yet but was thinking of 147 gr plated bullets. I have 231, Unique, Bullseye, #2, #5, WAP, WSL, WSF, Power Pistol and Titegroup. I prefer to load with something I have unless there is an overwhelming reason to buy more powder...

March 2, 2009, 11:45 PM	#4
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	They'll all work, but I vote for Bullseye. It works great for me with 135 grain bullets. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

March 3, 2009, 09:01 AM	#6
jdscholer Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2008 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 1,197	It's kinda funny, after a hundred or so years and all the advancements, if all we had was Bullseye Powder we'd still do just fine. jd __________________ "We're all dummies, just in different ways." Old Okie Philosopher

March 3, 2009, 09:15 AM	#7
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	practiced experience Suggest minimum bullet weight of 120g, figure the 124s. Decide on lead (might 'smoke'), or plated (Rainiers), or jacketed (ka-ching! But look at Zero and Montana Gold). Work with Power Pistol (first) and WAP (man I gotta lotta WAP; I mean a lot....). Figure a start load of 5.4g Power Pistol under a 124g/.356" lead bullet; bump to 5.6g start for plated/jacketed. Sort cases by headstamp. CCI500 or WSP. Ensure sufficient neck tension. Finish using a LEE Carbide Factory Crimp Die. I use bullets of varied weights and materials, from 115g up to 151g; I use bullets sized from .354" to .357"; I use numerous case and primer brands; I load to (wildly) varied velocities; I do so from three guns/four barrels (two guns are 'custom').

March 2, 2009, 11:39 PM	#2
D. Manley Senior Member Join Date: July 13, 2008 Posts: 299	Every one of those powder will do fine with 147's. Since you probably will have a low (or none at all) PF requirement, I'd look to the faster powders to keep the gun as flat as possible. 3.2 to 3.4 grains TG is very nice, 3.5 grains +/- of W-231 should work or generally any book starting load for the other powders. Most people agree that the faster powders combined with the heavier bullets produce a lot less muzzle rise.

March 2, 2009, 11:45 PM	#3
arizona98tj Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 980	I shoot plates with the same 9mm load I use for the rest of my range activities....that being 115 gr plated RN. I put a charge of Unique behind it that pushes it about 1130 FPS. Seems to work well for all my range practice needs.

March 3, 2009, 04:16 AM	#5
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	4" barrel and less Bullseye or Red Dot does well with cast slugs - cheap too. I don't know about plated slugs.