9mm Short Barrel

amathis · January 8, 2012, 09:07 AM

I have a good predicament to be in. My wife, as soon as she saw it in the magazines, asked me for a Beretta Nano. Unfortunately it took me 4 months to get due to the gun shops not getting it in and the distributors jerking several gun shops in my state around. Nevertheless, I finally got it and we took it out yesterday. We put probably 100 rounds through it.

My issue is that when I broke it down to clean it I found what I considered excessive amounts of unburnt powder. I am looking to find a suggestion for a faster burning powder to use in this 3 inch barreled 9mm.

Crankgrinder · January 8, 2012, 12:21 PM

The Lyman 49th book lists for 120 gr#2 alloy 3.4 to 4.2 gr of bullseye powder and 3.0 to 3.9 gr of red dot for the same bullet. also 3.5 to 4.8 gr bullseye for jhp and 4.4 to 5.8 unique powder also jhp

amathis · January 8, 2012, 01:14 PM

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm currently using HS6 for most of my handgun loads but I'm open to picking up some new powders.

spacecoast · January 8, 2012, 01:18 PM

Both HS-6 and Unique would be considered medium burn rate powders. You might want to look for some loads using something like Bullseye or Titegroup.

http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

jepp2 · January 8, 2012, 04:38 PM

The 9mm can be very sensitive to changes in bullet seating depth affecting peak pressure.

If you loaded your rounds to a longer OAL than the load was developed with, the peak pressure could be considerable less. Lower pressure can result in unburnt powder in some types. So you might consider making some changes in either load or OAL before you change powders.

5R milspec · January 8, 2012, 09:03 PM

I have a EMP in a 9mm that is only a 1/2 inch longer and like to use HP38.it not only burns clean it all so burns 100% I even load my loads a little long for this pistol.I cannot say right now to what the OAL is but it's longer than a SAAMI load.

my load is with a 124gn XTP and 4.8gn's of HP38.again I cannot at this momment say what the OAL is.

kalevatom · January 10, 2012, 09:08 AM

I would look at shortening your OAL. My 9mm's are short barrels. I load at 1.135 and use WSF. Very clean.

January 8, 2012, 09:07 AM	#1
amathis Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2009 Location: Champlain Valley, Vermont Posts: 161	9mm Short Barrel I have a good predicament to be in. My wife, as soon as she saw it in the magazines, asked me for a Beretta Nano. Unfortunately it took me 4 months to get due to the gun shops not getting it in and the distributors jerking several gun shops in my state around. Nevertheless, I finally got it and we took it out yesterday. We put probably 100 rounds through it. My issue is that when I broke it down to clean it I found what I considered excessive amounts of unburnt powder. I am looking to find a suggestion for a faster burning powder to use in this 3 inch barreled 9mm.

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January 8, 2012, 12:21 PM	#2
Crankgrinder Senior Member Join Date: July 24, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 917	The Lyman 49th book lists for 120 gr#2 alloy 3.4 to 4.2 gr of bullseye powder and 3.0 to 3.9 gr of red dot for the same bullet. also 3.5 to 4.8 gr bullseye for jhp and 4.4 to 5.8 unique powder also jhp

January 8, 2012, 01:14 PM	#3
amathis Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2009 Location: Champlain Valley, Vermont Posts: 161	Thanks for the suggestions. I'm currently using HS6 for most of my handgun loads but I'm open to picking up some new powders.

January 8, 2012, 01:18 PM	#4
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Both HS-6 and Unique would be considered medium burn rate powders. You might want to look for some loads using something like Bullseye or Titegroup. http://www.hodgdon.com/burn-rate.html

January 8, 2012, 04:38 PM	#5
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	The 9mm can be very sensitive to changes in bullet seating depth affecting peak pressure. If you loaded your rounds to a longer OAL than the load was developed with, the peak pressure could be considerable less. Lower pressure can result in unburnt powder in some types. So you might consider making some changes in either load or OAL before you change powders.

January 8, 2012, 09:03 PM	#6
5R milspec Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 360	I have a EMP in a 9mm that is only a 1/2 inch longer and like to use HP38.it not only burns clean it all so burns 100% I even load my loads a little long for this pistol.I cannot say right now to what the OAL is but it's longer than a SAAMI load. my load is with a 124gn XTP and 4.8gn's of HP38.again I cannot at this momment say what the OAL is.

January 10, 2012, 09:08 AM	#7
kalevatom Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2010 Location: northwestern Michigan Posts: 198	I would look at shortening your OAL. My 9mm's are short barrels. I load at 1.135 and use WSF. Very clean.