first of a new caliber

[WestKentucky]

Finally got my dies in after a long snowy delay forcing the UPS man to avoid my house like the plague. Got right down to it today though... punched/sized, primed, belled, charged, and seated the first 50 115gr fmj 9mm rounds. Powder ranges from 4.2 to 4.6 gr of bullseye. I seated a bit deep but they dry cycle very VERY smoothly in both the beretta 92fs and taurus pt99. Not looking for a powerhouse, just a functional accurate inexpensive load to use for target shooting.

And yes I did stagger them for cosmetics. They are back in order now and I know for sure what is what. 10 of each charge weight.

 

[Blue68f100]

I have learned to take sharpy pen and write on the case, like 2 for 4.2. This way when I examine the case I know what the load is at.

 

[WestKentucky]

I put them in rows from lightest charge on the left to heaviest on the right. When I took picture I moved even other shell in the columns 1 space to the right. When I fire I will catch brass in a cardboard box beside me on the bench to inspect primers and cases. I will put them back in just as they came out so I will still know what each is. Basically the same routine I do with my revolver and rifle loads when I test them. Try 10, pick best, try another 20 or do another batch of 10 depending on load range and accuracy. Then run 50 for final test before accepting it as a good load. I will post more pictures if I ever get to the range.

 

[Conservidave]

Bullseye is a great powder for the 115g bullet, it's been very accurate and fun to shoot. Keep us posted on your results.

Awesome tag line!

 

[gamestalker]

I actually log the load groups in my book in numerical order. Then using a sharpie, I number the cartridges by load group, #1, #2 and so on.

But what ever works for you, is what works for you.

GS

 

[Dudedog]

I used colored sharpies. You can get the pack with about 7 different colors for about $9 at Wally World. I make a colored mark on the bottom of the case and a mark of the same color on the label I put on the plastic box.
The ones I have are the bigger oval ones with the angled tips.

Orange = 4
Light Blue = 4.2
Purple = 4.4
etc.
(fill in the blanks for the colors)

I use the red one for any cases with primer pockets that are getting loose or any brass I don't wish to save for a reason.

 

[Walkalong]

I have learned to take sharpy pen and write on the case,

I have done it that way.

Most times I mark the primers and note it on the sticky. That way if identical looking rounds get dropped and mixed up (Yes, I have done that), I can sort them and still do my testing.

 

[BigBore45]

I have done it that way.

Most times I mark the primers and note it on the sticky. That way if identical looking rounds get dropped and mixed up (Yes, I have done that), I can sort them and still do my testing.

On a side note, be careful to not go in .5 grain increments at the top end of the load spectrum on small cased rounds. .2 Grains would be better served. just my opinion. also do not load way down below min. because it can cause squibs, and in rare cases pressure spikes.

 

[Walkalong]

There is a story behind that.

 

[Rule3]

Bullseye is a great powder for the 115g bullet, it's been very accurate and fun to shoot. Keep us posted on your results.

Awesome tag line!

"Spellchecker and autocorrect is ran by anti-gun people who think that a "hi-point" should be "hip ointment" and a "parabellum" is a "parable lump" and so forth. Please excuse idiotic things that the electronics think I said that I never said."

But shouldn't it be are instead of is

Spellchecker and autocorrect is ran

or is it are run?

Only messing with ya.

I think BE is to fast for the 9mm. Yes lots of folks use it, JMHO

Enjoy loading your 9mm.

 

[BigBore45]

There is a story behind that.

Good Thread on cycling and light loads could help someone when working up test loads as far as where to go with a powder charge. The soot and cycling is brought up a lot on THR. Your thread just shows that most powder does not burn clean at the bottom of the load data very good indicators you talked about. Did not think anyone ever loaded out of the book on THR for Curiosity or Real World Applications. Good to know some people still test limits for knowledge

 

[rfwobbly]

I seated a bit deep but they dry cycle very VERY smoothly in both the beretta 92fs and taurus pt99. Not looking for a powerhouse, just a functional accurate inexpensive load to use for target shooting.

115gr, being a very short bullet, should be seated deeply. 9mm needs some case engagement to burn the powder properly and keep from getting knocked out of line when it hits the feed ramp. You should probably have an OAL around 1.120 to 1.130". RN will feed just fine as long as they're longer than 1.000". For your best target loads, next time get some 124/125gr. Most 9mm pistols are designed for that weight. I highly recommend Rocky Mountain Reloading's 124 RN for accuracy and value.

 

[WestKentucky]

Suffice it to say these were "priced right"...open box in a bench buy, I have used then in unbelievably low 38spl loads for a couple years. I have about 200 left, no reason not to use them. Depending on accuracy I may purchase more, or I may buy different. I'm not expecting 9mm to be a huge volume load for me since I can buy JHP factory reloads for 11 bucks within walking distance of my house.

 

[Dudedog]

Here are pics of my Sharpied ones. I can't hit small targets (the primers) like Walkalong, but I can hit the whole bottom of the case.

(pics from two different boxes, the one to go with the open box was fuzzy,can't hold steady to take pics either )

 

[WestKentucky]

Finally got around to shooting a bit today. All rounds were exceptionally accurate. I shot 5 of each single loaded into a hunk of scrap plywood with spraypainted dots about 2 inches across. At 7 yards each batch grouped to the right about 2 inches, and typically about an inch low. I could easily feel a difference in recoil from light to heavy, with the heaviest charge bulging primers a touch but not enough to get concerned about. I will keep the 4.5 grain load simply because it shot closest to POA which is typically right on with most factory ammo. For my last 30 rounds fired I ran the gun in a rhythm of a shot every 3 seconds with a quick mag change with all of the rounds mixed up together and I shot a 3" ragged hole in the wood cutting the bullseye out and dropping low and right. As well as the gun fed the rounds, I actually plan to keep them short. They have a little play in the mag but not enough to concern me. No pics, was too dark by the time we got picked up and scavenged for brass in my dad's yard. He even brought out his (my) llama minimax 380 and tried to keep up with my wife who tried out her g42. They had fun with the lysol can I threw out to about 15 yards.