Minimal 9mm Luger load?

Eleckster · May 1, 2006, 10:01 AM

My wife took a starting handgun class with me and the next step is going to the range. The only pistol she has ever fired is my Taurus PT99, and that was 10 years ago. She shot it OK but she was a little taken back by the recoil. She is planning on using the PT99 at the range, however I would like to tame it down for her.

Anyone ever tried to load down the 9mm have any suggestions how low I can go, and still have reliable cycling? I have some Power Pistol and some Bullseye at home. I will have to pick up some bullets.

Leftoverdj · May 1, 2006, 10:09 AM

Too much depends on the pistol. What will function one, won't function another. The lightest bullets are your best bet, though.

Eleckster · May 1, 2006, 10:43 AM

Yes I will get the lightest I can buy. It looks like I can get a 90 grain bullet. Wonder what the local reloading place will have?

I need to add that I have ordered a 9lb recoil spring.

Jim Watson · May 1, 2006, 11:25 AM

Actually I find that a heavy bullet at low velocity has less felt recoil. And less muzzle blast, which can affect you worse than the kick.
I shoot 145-147 grain 9mm and they are very comfortable.

Whatever the bullet and powder, the usual starting load is 10% below maximum. I found that 12% off would function most 9mm guns but a 15% reduction would not. Your lighter recoil spring might well allow it, though.

Use fast burning powder for reduced loads. Bullseye is fine. Look in the manuals.

918v · May 1, 2006, 12:01 PM

147's kick less than 90's. 124's kick the hardest.

The following load shoots under 1" at 50 feet from a tight pistol:

147gr. XTP @ 1.115" OAL
3.5grs. Universal Clays
FC or CCI primer

It hovers around 900 FPS and is very pleasant. It cycles the gun and locks the slide back on the last shot. It is also super clean.

A more accurate load uses the same bullet but 4.2 grains of WSF with a WSP. It shoots .5" at the same distance.

Your Power Pistol is very accurate at 6 grains with a 124gr. bullet, but the recoil will be harder.

Michaelm45 · May 1, 2006, 12:27 PM

A 147gr bullet with a fast powder. VV N320 or Clays.
So soft She'll think shes shooting a hot 22!

kart racer · May 1, 2006, 07:31 PM

I just loaded some 124 gr fmj zeros with 3.2 of clays-it's very soft.Don't know about accuracy,had tried it for that yet.I think the 124 gr is a good compromise in weight and recoil.

Eleckster · May 2, 2006, 08:11 AM

Thanks for the input.

I went to the reloading shop and returned with 95 grain bullets and plan on using 4.5 grains of Unique.

A couple of questions:

918v you mention Universal Clays, are the two powders interchangeable? I have not used either.

Is there any reasoning behind using a heavier bullet? It is common to use a lighter spring for lighter bullets, so the logic would be that the lighter bullet is pushing the slide less, hence less recoil.

I will get some 147 grain bullets, and probably some Clays, and try that out also.

918v · May 2, 2006, 11:03 AM

147gr. bullets have the softest recoil impulse. Reloading manuals warn that 147gr reloads may malfunction if loaded too light. That settles the recoil issue.

Universal Clays and WSF are not interchangable. UC maxes out at 3.5 grains in my gun, 3.3 grains per the manual, with a 3gr. starting load.

WSF maxes out at 4.4 grains in my Sig and 4.2 grains in my 952-2. Starting loads are 3.9 grains.

90 grain reloads are problematic. They seldom shoot tight groups. Unique is a great powder, but not for that bullet weight. It is terriffic in 124 and 147gr reloads.

JDG · May 2, 2006, 01:52 PM

I also like Clays... 3.6gr/ 115gr fmj , 1050 fps. Very clean, soft recoil

918v · May 3, 2006, 01:01 AM

Universal Clays and "Clays" are not the same powder. Clays is much faster.

Eleckster · May 3, 2006, 07:51 AM

I picked up some Clays and 147 grain bullets. I will make up some assorted loads and see how things shoot.

Thanks for the info.

Joe D · May 4, 2006, 06:39 AM

Be careful with the Clays. It is a very fast powder. As long as you stay with a light load you should be OK. Problem comes when some have tried to make major with Clays in the .40 or a hot load in 9mm. Loading Clays to a hot 9mm load would not be wise. A little bullet set back and you could have a problem.
The 147 gr bullets are the sofest shooting. Heck, I am getting ready to load some 160 gr bullets for IDPA. Not sure my barrel has a fast enough twist though.

May 1, 2006, 10:01 AM	#1
Eleckster Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2006 Posts: 8	Minimal 9mm Luger load? My wife took a starting handgun class with me and the next step is going to the range. The only pistol she has ever fired is my Taurus PT99, and that was 10 years ago. She shot it OK but she was a little taken back by the recoil. She is planning on using the PT99 at the range, however I would like to tame it down for her. Anyone ever tried to load down the 9mm have any suggestions how low I can go, and still have reliable cycling? I have some Power Pistol and some Bullseye at home. I will have to pick up some bullets.

May 4, 2006, 06:39 AM	#13
Joe D Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 1999 Location: Alabama Posts: 455	Be careful with the Clays. It is a very fast powder. As long as you stay with a light load you should be OK. Problem comes when some have tried to make major with Clays in the .40 or a hot load in 9mm. Loading Clays to a hot 9mm load would not be wise. A little bullet set back and you could have a problem. The 147 gr bullets are the sofest shooting. Heck, I am getting ready to load some 160 gr bullets for IDPA. Not sure my barrel has a fast enough twist though. __________________ Miss? That can't be a miss. Looks like a perfect double to me.

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May 1, 2006, 10:09 AM	#2
Leftoverdj Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2004 Posts: 934	Too much depends on the pistol. What will function one, won't function another. The lightest bullets are your best bet, though.

May 1, 2006, 10:43 AM	#3
Eleckster Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2006 Posts: 8	Yes I will get the lightest I can buy. It looks like I can get a 90 grain bullet. Wonder what the local reloading place will have? I need to add that I have ordered a 9lb recoil spring.

May 1, 2006, 11:25 AM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,528	Actually I find that a heavy bullet at low velocity has less felt recoil. And less muzzle blast, which can affect you worse than the kick. I shoot 145-147 grain 9mm and they are very comfortable. Whatever the bullet and powder, the usual starting load is 10% below maximum. I found that 12% off would function most 9mm guns but a 15% reduction would not. Your lighter recoil spring might well allow it, though. Use fast burning powder for reduced loads. Bullseye is fine. Look in the manuals.

May 1, 2006, 12:01 PM	#5
918v Junior member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Posts: 1,372	147's kick less than 90's. 124's kick the hardest. The following load shoots under 1" at 50 feet from a tight pistol: 147gr. XTP @ 1.115" OAL 3.5grs. Universal Clays FC or CCI primer It hovers around 900 FPS and is very pleasant. It cycles the gun and locks the slide back on the last shot. It is also super clean. A more accurate load uses the same bullet but 4.2 grains of WSF with a WSP. It shoots .5" at the same distance. Your Power Pistol is very accurate at 6 grains with a 124gr. bullet, but the recoil will be harder.

May 1, 2006, 12:27 PM	#6
Michaelm45 Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2004 Location: NV Posts: 215	A 147gr bullet with a fast powder. VV N320 or Clays. So soft She'll think shes shooting a hot 22!

May 1, 2006, 07:31 PM	#7
kart racer Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2005 Posts: 175	I just loaded some 124 gr fmj zeros with 3.2 of clays-it's very soft.Don't know about accuracy,had tried it for that yet.I think the 124 gr is a good compromise in weight and recoil.

May 2, 2006, 08:11 AM	#8
Eleckster Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2006 Posts: 8	Thanks for the input. I went to the reloading shop and returned with 95 grain bullets and plan on using 4.5 grains of Unique. A couple of questions: 918v you mention Universal Clays, are the two powders interchangeable? I have not used either. Is there any reasoning behind using a heavier bullet? It is common to use a lighter spring for lighter bullets, so the logic would be that the lighter bullet is pushing the slide less, hence less recoil. I will get some 147 grain bullets, and probably some Clays, and try that out also.

May 2, 2006, 11:03 AM	#9
918v Junior member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Posts: 1,372	147gr. bullets have the softest recoil impulse. Reloading manuals warn that 147gr reloads may malfunction if loaded too light. That settles the recoil issue. Universal Clays and WSF are not interchangable. UC maxes out at 3.5 grains in my gun, 3.3 grains per the manual, with a 3gr. starting load. WSF maxes out at 4.4 grains in my Sig and 4.2 grains in my 952-2. Starting loads are 3.9 grains. 90 grain reloads are problematic. They seldom shoot tight groups. Unique is a great powder, but not for that bullet weight. It is terriffic in 124 and 147gr reloads.

May 2, 2006, 01:52 PM	#10
JDG Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: West Michigan Posts: 673	I also like Clays... 3.6gr/ 115gr fmj , 1050 fps. Very clean, soft recoil

May 3, 2006, 01:01 AM	#11
918v Junior member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Posts: 1,372	Universal Clays and "Clays" are not the same powder. Clays is much faster.

May 3, 2006, 07:51 AM	#12
Eleckster Junior Member Join Date: January 4, 2006 Posts: 8	I picked up some Clays and 147 grain bullets. I will make up some assorted loads and see how things shoot. Thanks for the info.