Dangerous Load for 9mm?

[Sommerled]

I have 200 rounds of 9mm that I loaded years ago (7) when I just started this great hobby, but I think they may be too hot so I have never tried them.

Before I disassemble them I'd like to get the opinions of this forum.

They are: new R-P brass with WSP primers, 115gr Remington FMJ ahead of 5.5gr of 231.

Winchester data has max load of 5.1gr 231.
Speer has max load of 5.0gr 231.
Hornady has max load of 4.7gr 231.

Do you think that this is +P+? I screwed up thinking I had WSF in the hopper but had 231 instead:banghead: Of course it is the ONLY time I EVER made an error.

 

[welshgrouser]

This is just one persons opinion... If you think enough to ask--- you have already answered your own question.

I'd pull bullets and start over. Sure as hell is better than hurting your gun or yourself.

 

[robctwo]

If you want to see how things look working up to that load at one tenth at a time you could try that. I'd pull them. I rarely load over max, especially with the higher pressures of the 9mm.

 

[evan price]

Bear in mind that 9mm has been way undercharged lately from what it used to be, pressure-wise. That is only .4 grains over what Winchester calls a max load. They will in all probability be warm type loads, but I personally would not worry about them. I frequently run my 9mm at +10% OVER book max to get the performance I want.

I would hazard a guess that this will be about 1200 fps and 32k cup or in that ballpark, SAAMI says 9mm para should be 35K and +P is 38.5k.

The powder makers typically under-rate by a good margin from what already has a built-in margin, the SAAMI specs.

 

[GaryL]

If you want to see how things look working up to that load at one tenth at a time you could try that. I'd pull them. I rarely load over max, especially with the higher pressures of the 9mm.

If you insist on taking the chance, you could do this. If it was me, and I had verified I could safely work up to that load, I'd probably put just a little Imperial Sizing wax on each bullet to reduce the friction and peak pressure. But not until after I took a few apart at random to assure myself that the powder charges were exactly as expected and not more.

As far as being a high pressure round, the diameter of the round factors into the actual amount of pressure exerted on the case walls and the chamber. I'm sure it happens, but you seldom hear about 9mm guns getting grenaded.

 

[rcmodel]

If you are 100% sure they are 5.5 grains of 231 & a 115 bullet, shoot them.

5.1 grains was a starting load and 5.6 was max in the Speer #10 manual.

With a 125 grain JSP bullet!

As Evan Price already noted.
9mm loads just ain't what they used to be!

rcmodel

 

[DMZ]

Speer #10 and CW in 1979

I started researching reloading and reloading when Speer #10 came out. I seem to recall that one of the conventional reasons for reloading back then was to develop high performance loads. Loads that were not available in factory fodder. Handgun hunting and silhouette shooting was getting popular and many were loading some pretty hot stuff. So I think that Speer #10 reflected that thinking back then.

Mine is great reference for lead bullets and loads that are not listed any more, but I do not use it to develop loads for jacketed bullets.

 

[The Bushmaster]

My Sierra Manual lists a 115 gr FMJ at 5.3 grains of W-231(maximum). Pull'em and start over...

 

[Jim Watson]

I screwed up thinking I had WSF in the hopper but had 231 instead

As a matter of self discipline, I think you should pull them down and start over.

If you shoot them, they will not blow up your gun. As said, it was not an unusual load at one time; I have it in one other manual... but no recent editions.

 

[David Wile]

Hey Sommerled,

Even if your gun does not blow up, the hotter the load, the sooner your gun wears out. And guns do wear out and parts break from hot loads. You have 200 rounds of hot loads that you probably will not enjoy shooting anyway. Why waste the bullets and the powder? Pull the bullets and reload them to a load you really want to shoot.

Best wishes,
Dave Wile

 

[evan price]

OK, for Grins 'n giggles about 7 pm tonight I loaded up ten rounds of Winchester brass with Winchester FMJ 115-grain bullets, a WIN sp primer and 5.5 grains of HP38 (same as W231).

Shot all ten in my Springfield XD-9 Service with 4" barrel.

No muss, no fuss, no deformation of the brass or primer, and they felt like decent 9mm loads, not even as hot as what I am loading for my carbine as a matter of fact...

All my fingers are still connected to my hand. My gun is not showing any damage or wear and it did not Kaboom.

According to what I can tell they are still below the SAAMI max for regular 9mm luger/parabellum/9x19, let alone +P territory.

9mm used to be a real high velocity load back "in the day" tm but those days are gone and lawyers rule the roost.

Shoot the G-D things already.

 

[forquidder]

Old School

My Speer number 11 lists 5.2 grains min and 5.7 grains max of 231 for 115 grain jacketed. This book definitely has loads which are heavier than more current volumes but more times than not, it's my go to book for load development. If you're sure that the load is 5.5 gr., I'd pull the bullets by striking a hammer on the primers after loading them into my favorite 9mm.

 

[forquidder]

They also say in Number 11 that no load listed exceeds 35,700 and velocity for 5.7 grains of 231 is 1191 fps.

 

[Sommerled]

I shot a few in my service pistol (Beretta 92) and no problems.

The rest I think I'll donate To Diane Fienstien's bodyguard for when he teaches her the modifed er.. Weaver stance.

THanks for your thoughtful responses!