Lightest 9mm loads

[splattergun]

How low you can go depends much on your pistol. As mentioned before, springs etc.
4.3 gn W231 under a 124 gn bullet is a sweet shooter. Easy recoil, 100% reliable feed and extraction, accurate, and the brass falls in a predictable area. I don't want to give up any of those factors to go to a lighter load. I have found the sweet spot with this load and don't care to use anything lighter.
But for XTPs I go up to 4.4 gn W231 for just a bit more power to expand the HP. Still very accurate but the brass landing area is less predictable.

 

[Dudedog]

Across my range of 9s (all guns are different of course)
I have found that 100gr bullet at about 1000fps is about the low magic number for my guns.

Never dug deep in to how low I could go with 124s but when doing load workups 900fps always seemed to work.

As noted some competition requires meeting a power factor.

This worked well for me when looking for something really light.
String: 7
Grains: 100 (bullet)
Hi Vel: 1031
Low Vel: 1005
Ave Vel: 1017.6
Ext Spread: 26
Std Dev: 11.2
4.2 HP38 100gr RN 1.043 Function fine Sig, 1911, XD
Velocity Power Factor Ft/Lbs
1016 101.6 229.187
1031 103.1 234.96
1027 102.7 234.176
1009 100.9 226.039
1005 100.5 224.251

If I remember correctly the 1911 would run a 4.0grs but the other two were not happy that low.

Really only you can know how low you can go.
If you have multiple 9mms, pick one a do a load workup downwards.
That will get you how low you can go for that gun. (I would say add .1 gr of powder to give you wiggle room once you find that charge weight)
Then test in you other guns and see if they are happy. You may need to adjust up you may not.

 

[peeplwtchr]

What's the lightest you've gone with 9mm loads?
(With 100% reliable cycling)
I'm sure this is an area of interest with competition shooters. (I'm not a competition shooter, yet)

The lowest I've made it is 4.3 gr. WIN 231 with 124gr Xtreme HP and they are very accurate and reliable.

What is the goal you wish to achieve by loading light?

 

[Palladan44]

What is the goal you wish to achieve by loading light?

I'm mostly just curious about it.
I do enjoy shooting my lighter W231 loads more than loads of "factory" power or equivalent.
I'm wondering if I can get even more of what I like out of the accuracy and the speed of follow up shots I get out of light loads.

 

[peeplwtchr]

I'm mostly just curious about it.
I do enjoy shooting my lighter W231 loads more than loads of "factory" power or equivalent.
I'm wondering if I can get even more of what I like out of the accuracy and the speed of follow up shots I get out of light loads.

Not sure how much training you've had, but if you are looking for faster/more accurate burst shots, proper stance and grip will yield far better results than light loads.

Also long slides (Like on a competition gun), sometimes won't cycle reliably with min. loads, especially if they are new.

Squibs could be a concern too. I load to make sure the bullet leaves the barrel, and do the rest with stance and grip.

The pic is mid-max loads, approx 150-200 rounds, Failure To Stop practice, from a holster, in <1.5 seconds total. Good trigger control, but mostly stance and grip.

 

[shamfrod]

I've loaded 9mm with 3.8 grn of Winchester 231 and 124gr round nose plated projectiles and they functioned just fine out of a stock Glock 19. However, I don't normally load them this low.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

I've still got a bunch of Xtreme 100gr RNFP that I load over 4.4 grains of Titegroup. Nice side benefit is they're also my most economical load as well.

I use the same bullet over 4.3 gr HP-38 for a soft shooting training load.

 

[41 Mag]

Berry or RMR 115 or 124gr RN loaded over 3.8-4.2gr of Bullseye. They run good outta my Sigs and cases usually drop about 3' from the gun. Usually just stick with 4.0 cause it's easier since I shoot the same load with my HG 130, 68, & 78 in 45 ACP.

The plus is you get a BUNCH of rounds per pound of powder. Downside gets a bit sooty with the cast and lubed bullets.

I've used AA 2 and 231 but they were usually harder to get and I like to buy bulk.

 

[RockRat64]

2.8 gr Bullseye over 147gr cast and coated