9mm reloading

REDCELL · September 2, 2006, 06:12 PM

what are some good setups you guys use for 9mm handloads. I have Titegroup an Unique right now.

918v · September 2, 2006, 06:23 PM

Unique shoots well with all bullet weights. I use it with 124gr bullets. My favorite loads, however, use Universal Clays and WSF with 147gr. XTP's. No crimping or belling of the case mouth is necessary. I'm lazy.

Ammo Junky · September 2, 2006, 07:36 PM

wsp, mix cases, 5.0 W231 or HP38, win 115hp. 1150fps. If you need a hoter load 5.5 gr W231 or HP38 runs 1250 and is a book load. This is the olny 9mm load I stil load. I do still have some 124hp over 8.5 HS7 @1250fps, but probably will stick with the 115hp from now on.

Good luck and start 10% down from any load.

caz223 · September 2, 2006, 09:38 PM

I use bullseye for 124 and power pistol for 147.
I've tried almost a dozen powders over the years, and those seemed to work the best.
Honorable mentions go to unique, hs-6, and wsf.
If you work at it, you can find good accurate loads for plated bullets.
I recommend the egw undersize sizer/decapper, the redding comp seater, and a standard crimp die, no factory crimp band-aid.
I get best accuracy with WIN cases and hollow point bullets, loaded out to 1.142 on my dillon 550.
Rainiers work fine unless you seat them with excessive runout, deform them when seating or crimping, or push them too hard.

flyinbrian · September 3, 2006, 10:19 AM

I use 5.4g of Unique under 115g FMJ. Win brass is all that I bother to pick up at the range and I load to 1.165 oal in my Dillon 550. Accurate and cycles through all of my Glocks.

Toney · September 3, 2006, 02:09 PM

I,ve had good results with Power Pistol. It's got a lot of blast, but is very accurate.
I really like Tight Group for plinking loads

Wrangler5 · September 6, 2006, 06:34 PM

I used Accurate #5 until I ran out and couldn't get any more (it looks like it's finally available again) at which point I switched to Universal Clays. But I had occasional light charges with my Lee disk measure, and so switched to PowerPistol (5.4g w/124g FMJ for IDPA work.) I may go back to AA#5 when I run out of PP, just because I have and use all of the other AA pistol powders.

hodaka · September 6, 2006, 07:55 PM

I use both Unique and 231 and they work great but I notice the WW factory brass I pick up at the range is much cleaner than mine. What do you think they use for powder?

silicon wolverine · September 6, 2006, 08:30 PM

red dot, blue dot, 231

SW

REDCELL · September 7, 2006, 08:17 PM

i have been using 4.3 gr of Titegroup with 115gr fmj at COL of 1.135 It seems to be a very light "range round" Now could i go lower to where it would just cycle.. and if it didn't that wouldn't damage anything right. Like would the slide just come halfway back.. wouldn't it jam?

HSMITH · September 7, 2006, 09:02 PM

caz, try some Clays with your 147's. Talk about SOFT!!!!

REDCELL, if the gun doesn't cycle it won't hurt a thing. TiteGroup is not a good powder for very light loads, it needs pressure to be consistent and you need to be above the middle range of printed data to get it to perform. Switch to a faster powder if you want to slow them down any more.

caz223 · September 8, 2006, 06:17 AM

Will clays push a 147 JHP to 1050 fps safely?
I haven't seen any load data that sez it will (At least from hodgdon).......
I just like safety, big noises and loud flashes, and a little recoil doesn't bother me in the least.....

REDCELL · September 8, 2006, 06:45 AM

HSMITH. I have Power Pistol, Clays, HS-7 , Unique and Titegroup, whch would be the fastest burning?

HSMITH · September 8, 2006, 09:45 AM

caz, I have only taken them to about 950, but there were no pressure signs. You may not like the load though given your last statement. The Clays loads are soft recoiling, VERY quiet compared to most powders, and no flash to speak of at all.

RED, the fastest powder you list is Clays, make sure is is plain Clays and not Universal Clays.

Wrangler5 · September 8, 2006, 12:29 PM

Here's where I go for powder burning rate questions:

http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html

FJC · September 8, 2006, 12:47 PM

My favorite is 5.3gr of VV N340 powder under a 124gr Montana Gold JHP. Shoots nice, accurate, and is amazingly clean. I put just over 500 rounds of it through my Glock 19 without cleaning...went to clean it and was surprised and amazed at how little gunk was in the gun. It looked cleaner than 100 rounds of WWB would have made it!

REDCELL · September 8, 2006, 07:05 PM

HSMITH, thanks for the info.
I have Lee's, Speers, and an older Nosler manuals, but none of them list 'clays' for 9mm loads, whats the deal, i know thats you need like 6 books to cross reference.. what are the loads you use. Right now i only have 115gr copper plated round nose bullets.

HSMITH · September 8, 2006, 10:40 PM

With a 115 start at 3.5 with standard primers and load to 1.135", it is a light target load but should cycle a standard gun decently. Load data tops out at about 3.8 for a jacketed bullet depending on what manual you use. Your plated bullets should run a little lower pressure and a little higher speeds than a jacketed bullet would.

Lately I have been shooting Zero 124 FMJ-FP with 3.7 at 1.135", nice and soft but accurate and still makes power factor for gun games.

REDCELL · September 9, 2006, 03:27 PM

thanks HSMITH. The local range carries Zero, i think i might pick up some, but for know i have like 800+ 9mm's so i'll be be busy for a bit.

Dave R · September 10, 2006, 12:25 AM

I have shot a lot of lead bullets in my 9mms. I use 115 gr. Laser-Cast bullets over 5.6gr of Unique.

I have not tried Titegroup with lead bullets in my 9mm, because I get significant leading with Titegroup and lead in my .45acp. I have heard that Titegroup burns hot enough to contribute to leading. Dunno if that's the explanation or not, but I get leading with Titegroup and lead in my .45, but no leading with Unique and lead in my 9mms.

mjrodney · September 10, 2006, 04:31 AM

Interesting comment.

I ran out of Clays recently and picked up a small can of Titegroup.

My last 3 or 4 cleaning sessions found me struggling a bit with lead buildup in both .38 and .45 loads. It added 20 minutes to my usual cleaning time, in any case.

Not to say Clays is "lead free", but it just seemed like it leaded less.

Now that my supply of Clay's has been restored, I will keep a close eye on any perceived differences. And I'm off to the range today.

Thanks.

HSMITH · September 10, 2006, 05:44 PM

TG just sucks, I hate the stuff. I have also had MUCH worse leading with TG with the same bullets loaded to the same velocites compared to Clays. Unique is the best I have found for reducing leading, it cleans most loads up amazingly well though it does leave quite a bit of soot. Soot is a lot easier to work with than leading.

mjrodney, search for 'chore boy' on here, it takes all the work out of getting lead out of the barrel.

mjrodney · September 11, 2006, 04:24 AM

As a followup to my previous post, and after a visit to the range today, I feel comfortable in saying that use of Clays resulted in less leading than my previous use of Titegroup.

I do use a wrap of Choreboy as a mechanical deleader and it works well enough, although I will eventually try a Lewis Lead Remover from Brownells.

Mikke · September 11, 2006, 04:58 AM

5,6gr VV N340 for 124gr bullets. Slightly higher load when using VV 3N37.

6gr N340 for 95gr bullets, my favourite load for my CZ-75, using a Magtech bullet or a similar 95gr JSFP (TC-like).

bkysr · September 19, 2006, 08:42 AM

I am new to this forum and saw your post about using clays powder and 147 gr 9mm bullets. I had thought about using clays from a purely economical stand point. But I am trying to work up some loads for my wife to shoot in her 9mm. Can you give me the spec for the load you are using? From the way you describe the load as being light recoil, quiet and little to no flash it should work out great for her in the little local league we shoot.

Thanks for your time,
RAKyser

September 2, 2006, 06:12 PM	#1
REDCELL Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 174	9mm reloading what are some good setups you guys use for 9mm handloads. I have Titegroup an Unique right now. __________________ HK: No Compromise Sic vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war

September 2, 2006, 07:36 PM	#3
Ammo Junky Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: IL Posts: 537	wsp, mix cases, 5.0 W231 or HP38, win 115hp. 1150fps. If you need a hoter load 5.5 gr W231 or HP38 runs 1250 and is a book load. This is the olny 9mm load I stil load. I do still have some 124hp over 8.5 HS7 @1250fps, but probably will stick with the 115hp from now on. Good luck and start 10% down from any load. __________________ Will work for brass. I apologise in advance for spelling errors.

September 2, 2006, 09:38 PM	#4
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	I use bullseye for 124 and power pistol for 147. I've tried almost a dozen powders over the years, and those seemed to work the best. Honorable mentions go to unique, hs-6, and wsf. If you work at it, you can find good accurate loads for plated bullets. I recommend the egw undersize sizer/decapper, the redding comp seater, and a standard crimp die, no factory crimp band-aid. I get best accuracy with WIN cases and hollow point bullets, loaded out to 1.142 on my dillon 550. Rainiers work fine unless you seat them with excessive runout, deform them when seating or crimping, or push them too hard. __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

September 7, 2006, 08:17 PM	#10
REDCELL Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 174	i have been using 4.3 gr of Titegroup with 115gr fmj at COL of 1.135 It seems to be a very light "range round" Now could i go lower to where it would just cycle.. and if it didn't that wouldn't damage anything right. Like would the slide just come halfway back.. wouldn't it jam? __________________ HK: No Compromise Sic vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war

September 8, 2006, 06:17 AM	#12
caz223 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,429	Will clays push a 147 JHP to 1050 fps safely? I haven't seen any load data that sez it will (At least from hodgdon)....... I just like safety, big noises and loud flashes, and a little recoil doesn't bother me in the least..... __________________ I'm not just a gun. I'm YOUR gun. (Hold me.)

September 2, 2006, 06:23 PM	#2
918v Junior member Join Date: September 25, 2005 Posts: 1,372	Unique shoots well with all bullet weights. I use it with 124gr bullets. My favorite loads, however, use Universal Clays and WSF with 147gr. XTP's. No crimping or belling of the case mouth is necessary. I'm lazy.

September 3, 2006, 10:19 AM	#5
flyinbrian Junior Member Join Date: June 22, 2006 Posts: 10	I use 5.4g of Unique under 115g FMJ. Win brass is all that I bother to pick up at the range and I load to 1.165 oal in my Dillon 550. Accurate and cycles through all of my Glocks.

September 3, 2006, 02:09 PM	#6
Toney Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2005 Location: Stillwater Oklahoma Posts: 790	I,ve had good results with Power Pistol. It's got a lot of blast, but is very accurate. I really like Tight Group for plinking loads

September 6, 2006, 06:34 PM	#7
Wrangler5 Senior Member Join Date: September 18, 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 326	I used Accurate #5 until I ran out and couldn't get any more (it looks like it's finally available again) at which point I switched to Universal Clays. But I had occasional light charges with my Lee disk measure, and so switched to PowerPistol (5.4g w/124g FMJ for IDPA work.) I may go back to AA#5 when I run out of PP, just because I have and use all of the other AA pistol powders.

September 6, 2006, 07:55 PM	#8
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	I use both Unique and 231 and they work great but I notice the WW factory brass I pick up at the range is much cleaner than mine. What do you think they use for powder?

September 6, 2006, 08:30 PM	#9
silicon wolverine Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2006 Location: South dakota Posts: 674	red dot, blue dot, 231 SW

September 7, 2006, 09:02 PM	#11
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	caz, try some Clays with your 147's. Talk about SOFT!!!! REDCELL, if the gun doesn't cycle it won't hurt a thing. TiteGroup is not a good powder for very light loads, it needs pressure to be consistent and you need to be above the middle range of printed data to get it to perform. Switch to a faster powder if you want to slow them down any more.

September 8, 2006, 06:45 AM	#13
REDCELL Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 174	HSMITH. I have Power Pistol, Clays, HS-7 , Unique and Titegroup, whch would be the fastest burning? __________________ HK: No Compromise Sic vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war

September 8, 2006, 09:45 AM	#14
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	caz, I have only taken them to about 950, but there were no pressure signs. You may not like the load though given your last statement. The Clays loads are soft recoiling, VERY quiet compared to most powders, and no flash to speak of at all. RED, the fastest powder you list is Clays, make sure is is plain Clays and not Universal Clays.

September 8, 2006, 12:29 PM	#15
Wrangler5 Senior Member Join Date: September 18, 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 326	Here's where I go for powder burning rate questions: http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html

September 8, 2006, 12:47 PM	#16
FJC Member Join Date: September 26, 2002 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 84	My favorite is 5.3gr of VV N340 powder under a 124gr Montana Gold JHP. Shoots nice, accurate, and is amazingly clean. I put just over 500 rounds of it through my Glock 19 without cleaning...went to clean it and was surprised and amazed at how little gunk was in the gun. It looked cleaner than 100 rounds of WWB would have made it! __________________ --FJC NRA Life Member

September 8, 2006, 07:05 PM	#17
REDCELL Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 174	HSMITH, thanks for the info. I have Lee's, Speers, and an older Nosler manuals, but none of them list 'clays' for 9mm loads, whats the deal, i know thats you need like 6 books to cross reference.. what are the loads you use. Right now i only have 115gr copper plated round nose bullets. __________________ HK: No Compromise Sic vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war

September 8, 2006, 10:40 PM	#18
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	With a 115 start at 3.5 with standard primers and load to 1.135", it is a light target load but should cycle a standard gun decently. Load data tops out at about 3.8 for a jacketed bullet depending on what manual you use. Your plated bullets should run a little lower pressure and a little higher speeds than a jacketed bullet would. Lately I have been shooting Zero 124 FMJ-FP with 3.7 at 1.135", nice and soft but accurate and still makes power factor for gun games.

September 9, 2006, 03:27 PM	#19
REDCELL Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 174	thanks HSMITH. The local range carries Zero, i think i might pick up some, but for know i have like 800+ 9mm's so i'll be be busy for a bit. __________________ HK: No Compromise Sic vis pacem, para bellum. If you want peace, prepare for war

September 10, 2006, 12:25 AM	#20
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	I have shot a lot of lead bullets in my 9mms. I use 115 gr. Laser-Cast bullets over 5.6gr of Unique. I have not tried Titegroup with lead bullets in my 9mm, because I get significant leading with Titegroup and lead in my .45acp. I have heard that Titegroup burns hot enough to contribute to leading. Dunno if that's the explanation or not, but I get leading with Titegroup and lead in my .45, but no leading with Unique and lead in my 9mms. __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).

September 10, 2006, 04:31 AM	#21
mjrodney Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2006 Location: SW Florida Posts: 435	Interesting comment. I ran out of Clays recently and picked up a small can of Titegroup. My last 3 or 4 cleaning sessions found me struggling a bit with lead buildup in both .38 and .45 loads. It added 20 minutes to my usual cleaning time, in any case. Not to say Clays is "lead free", but it just seemed like it leaded less. Now that my supply of Clay's has been restored, I will keep a close eye on any perceived differences. And I'm off to the range today. Thanks. __________________ Proud supporter of the NRA

September 10, 2006, 05:44 PM	#22
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	TG just sucks, I hate the stuff. I have also had MUCH worse leading with TG with the same bullets loaded to the same velocites compared to Clays. Unique is the best I have found for reducing leading, it cleans most loads up amazingly well though it does leave quite a bit of soot. Soot is a lot easier to work with than leading. mjrodney, search for 'chore boy' on here, it takes all the work out of getting lead out of the barrel.

September 11, 2006, 04:24 AM	#23
mjrodney Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 2006 Location: SW Florida Posts: 435	As a followup to my previous post, and after a visit to the range today, I feel comfortable in saying that use of Clays resulted in less leading than my previous use of Titegroup. I do use a wrap of Choreboy as a mechanical deleader and it works well enough, although I will eventually try a Lewis Lead Remover from Brownells. __________________ Proud supporter of the NRA

September 11, 2006, 04:58 AM	#24
Mikke Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2000 Location: Ume?, Sweden Posts: 154	5,6gr VV N340 for 124gr bullets. Slightly higher load when using VV 3N37. 6gr N340 for 95gr bullets, my favourite load for my CZ-75, using a Magtech bullet or a similar 95gr JSFP (TC-like).

September 19, 2006, 08:42 AM	#25
bkysr Junior Member Join Date: September 17, 2006 Posts: 2	147gr. and Clays I am new to this forum and saw your post about using clays powder and 147 gr 9mm bullets. I had thought about using clays from a purely economical stand point. But I am trying to work up some loads for my wife to shoot in her 9mm. Can you give me the spec for the load you are using? From the way you describe the load as being light recoil, quiet and little to no flash it should work out great for her in the little local league we shoot. Thanks for your time, RAKyser

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search