Hi, would appreciate some advice. Considering purchasing & reloading my first 9mm. I've read pros/cons, not worth it w/ammo so cheap etc etc, but i'm retired, have the time, & enjoy reloading. Never worked with 9mm before. DO reload for a 1911 /45acp and was wondering if its the same technique, specifically, I use my .45 barrel as my gauge to determine my OAL. I slightly bell all cases, seat, and then apply enough crimp(taper) to remove my bell. Then recheck each loaded round to assure bullet has not been seated deeper. I use a lot of lead through the .45; will the 9mm tolerate that ? As an alternative, I've used Berrys fodder through the .45: ok in a 9 as long as I don't go over 12/13 fps? Any thing else I should be concerned with or need to know about reloading a 9 . Incidentally, considering something like the new S&W MP Shield in 9mm. Thanks for your time.
9mm reloading
- Thread starter beefyz
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LiveLife
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Berry's regular plated bullets rated to 1200 fps will be fine loaded with lead load data or up to mid range jacketed load data (I start to lose accuracy above mid range jacketed load data).
Here are 25 yard groups loaded with Berry's regular plated bullets and Titegroup using lead load data - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol
Here's M&P 9mm barrel with corresponding max/working OAL.
While M&P 9mm barrel with longer leade (distance from chamber before start of rifling) accommodated Berry's 115/124 gr RN and HBRN-TP to 1.169" max OAL, I usually load 115 gr FMJ/RN to 1.130" working OAL and 124 gr FMJ/RN to 1.135" working OAL unless powder and charge I was using would compress the powder charge - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...g-oal-col-for-reference.848462/#post-11068319
- Berry's 115 gr RN: 1.169"
- Berry's 115 gr HBRN-TP: 1.169"
- Berry's 124 gr RN: 1.169"
- Berry's 124 gr HBRN-TP: 1.169"
Regardless which pistol you end up with here are step-by-step process I use for load development from determining max/working OAL to powder work up - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/help-with-9mm-loads-and-oal.851180/#post-11126373
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Erief0g
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You've got a process that will serve you fine there. I'm certain others can delve deeply into each stage if need be.
As far as worth it? Heck yea. The ammo created on my machine far exceeds what I get when I buy the ammo you find on sale for .17-.19 per round.
I don't shoot a lot of lead through my nine mostly because when I buy my rmr match winners on seasonal sales at 3k per order I usually get them for 7.1 to 7.5 cents a piece. They have stellar accuracy.
I think you will do well!
As far as worth it? Heck yea. The ammo created on my machine far exceeds what I get when I buy the ammo you find on sale for .17-.19 per round.
I don't shoot a lot of lead through my nine mostly because when I buy my rmr match winners on seasonal sales at 3k per order I usually get them for 7.1 to 7.5 cents a piece. They have stellar accuracy.
I think you will do well!
LiveLife
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If you have a supply of 9mm brass or can collect them from the range, it is definitely worth your time to reload 9mm.
Consider these component prices:
- RMR 115 gr FMJ $71.25/1000 shipped (With 5% THR discount in 4000 quantity) - https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bul...rmr-full-metal-jacket-round-nose-bullets-new/
- Alliant Promo $119/8 lbs - https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/alliant-promo-8/
And if you want greater accuracy, you can use IMR Target, Alliant Sport Pistol or W231/HP-38
And since you shoot 45ACP/1911, Promo is pretty good with producing accurate light target load. These groups were produced with MBC 200 gr SWC (12 BHN Bullseye #1) and 4.0 gr of Promo shot from Sig 1911. Recoil is lighter than my 4.8 gr W231/HP-38 load and pleasant to shoot.
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I enjoy loading 9mm for my 1911 very much, it's a good 'grampa' gun, and I can coax some real accuracy out of it with a good bullet, sorted brass, and some W231.
The biggest pitfall in 9mm IME is crooked bullet seating. Very easy to to in 9mm.
Gotta have a seating stem that matches up well with your bullets.
The biggest pitfall in 9mm IME is crooked bullet seating. Very easy to to in 9mm.
Gotta have a seating stem that matches up well with your bullets.
AJC1
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I love rmr bullets and if your gun does not like lead, (glock) they are cheaper than a lot of other inferior choices. I like the flat point 115 grain bullets because they load so well with no seating stem fights. I never found a perfect fit for the round nose. 4 grains of tight group and primer of your choice and your done. Accurate low recoil range ammo.
I pretty much do as you have outlined BUT I also find it useful to put some powder in the case.
LOL! Sorry, I couldn't resist.
I have loaded tens of thousands of 9mm's and there isn't anything special about the 9mm that is any different that loading .45acp. I prefer the RMR FMJ bullets for practice but a lot of people use the plated. The choice of bullet type really isn't any different than with .45acp.
1911in9mm
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A 1911 in 9mm you say? I’ve shot a few of them from time to time. I know I know, Kimber. But I’ve got an Aegis Elite that is an absolute pleasure to shoot. Wilson Combat 10 round magazines and it loves em. More accurate than I’m capable of shooting it, just enough recoil to say you’ve shot something, and just plain fun. Give one a whirl, I doubt you’d regret it if you do.
Not much difference in loading 9MM and 45 ACP. The 9MM case is more tapered so the coke bottle effect is more pronounced in 9MM. I would not load any powder that doesn't fill a case more than half. It is a little harder, for me at least, to seat bullets straight in 9MM. Bought a Hornady seater die with sliding alignment sleeve to add to my RCBS set. Makes seating bullets easier and straighter. I do prefer the RCBS taper crimp die. I prefer jacketed bullets and FMJ round nose bullets are cheap enough for me to not mess with lead. Only plated bullets I load are Speer Gold Dots which are heavily plated . Only 9MM I have similar to a 1911 is a Sig 938 compact and it's a good shooter.
lordpaxman
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Your technique will work for 9mm, just keep in mind 9mm is a higher pressure round, and you’re loading a much smaller case. Pay attention to your COL and make sure you don’t have excessive setback.
I shoot a SA A1 and a DW pointman, both do much better than I. They’re very different than a Shield, and I would not be able to CC them efficiently. For that I employ a P365.
I shoot a RIA .22TCM/9mm 1911 and I find it great fun in .22TCM and very easy to shoot in 9mm.
9mm: very light recoil, fine trigger (as with most 1911s), good sight picture, easy to shoot quickly, frame fits my hand well, easily customized to your tastes. 9mm reloading is so inexpensive, you will feel free to shoot it much more than .45acp. My pistol is a double stack, 17rd capacity, the single stack model holds 10, I believe. To reiterate, recoil in an all steel frame pistol is quite a bit less than any polymer gun.
rfwobbly
Member
You'll use all your knowledge of 45ACP, but you'll need to add to that to be successful with 9x19 Luger. You'll be glad you started with 45.
45ACP being a low pressure cartridge and 9mm being a high, you'll need to get used to using smaller increments. Things can simply get out of hand much faster with 9.
45ACP being a low pressure cartridge and 9mm being a high, you'll need to get used to using smaller increments. Things can simply get out of hand much faster with 9.
This is a key point. Do not ignore it.
AJC1
Member
S and b and cbc cases are much harder. This is seen when sizing and seating. To control seating depth variations I separate into headstamp and get .001 easy. When I was loading mixed head stamp .005 was good and .007 not irregular. I never seemed to have these issues with 45.
Erief0g
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I've definitely noticed the S&B brass is harder. It's the only brass I reload that gets a bit extra of the case lube.
AJC1
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Rumor has it that the cbc cases "magtech" are made in the same factory. I have no proof...
sequins
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My loaded magtech ammo in the past yielded CBC headstamped cases. Fine for reloading in 44.
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AJC1
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My experience with them in 45 was a lot better. Strange.
LiveLife
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CBC owns Magtech - Brazil, S&B - Czech and MEN - Germany https://cbcglobal-ammunition.com/our-brands/
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