Observation and thoughts on 9mm loads

[Bullseye]

I'm fairly new to reloading 9mm so I get to thinking that
the Starting load vs Maximum load makes little difference in fps compared to other ammo.
For example, most all powders used with a 125 gr bullet in a 9mm luger average at a glance around 950 fps with the starting loads and 1050 fps with maximum loads. This amounts to roughly a 10% difference generally.
To me that isn't much difference for a handgun.

But in another calibers such as 38 spl, using a 125 gr bullet, there can be a very wide range difference depending on what powder is used , the same bullet could travel as slow as 475 fps or as fast as 815 fps using 700x.
Only a few +P loads exceed 1000 fps with this 125 gr bullet.
But with almost all, there is a significant rise in fps with more powder in this comparison. I am sure that there are other examples but the 38 spl projectile appears to be a close relative to the 9mm in size and weight.

So I was pondering this scenario looking at the 9mm and my handloading. There doesn't seem to be much need to max out my powder loads to get a fairly fast load in 9mm.
I suppose the only issues would be that my firearm feeds and ejects well and that accuracy is sufficient. The bullet at these speeds should do the job anywhere in between.

With some other cartridges, powder load seems to be much more of a factor.

 

[valleyforge.1777]

I backed off on my 9 mm WIN 231 loads a bit when I noticed my brass goes flying off into outer space. Now it just goes to the next area code. Did not notice change in point of impact or felt recoil by reducing from 4.8 to 4.6 grains.

 

[chris in va]

Min/max in 9mm has more to do with reliable semiauto function than real extreme spread. You can get away wih 475fps in a revolver as there is no slide to cycle.

 

[cheygriz]

Bear in mind that powder burning rate is a major consideration with max and/or +P loads. I load 115 grain to 1325, and 125 grain to 1200 with HS-6.

The difference between a "standard" or target load with 231 and a max load with HS6, Longshot, AAC#7, 800X etc is enormous.

 

[Bullseye]

My thinking on this started when I was deciding on how much Unique powder I should use safely in the batch of Nosler 115 gr JHP bullets I am going to load.
While looking at the difference in speed with the min load of 4.4 gr at 996 fps and the 5.8 gr max at 1233 found in my Lyman 49th edition, I noticed that was quite a spread in powder but not much in results. I have decided on using 5.2 gr. Unique.
It will probably shoot them at 1100 fps ( my best guess ) which is certainly plenty to make the firearm cycle and have the bullet perform as intended.
What I am saying is that in 9mm I noticed there isn't all that much difference for fps in manual data at min or max with this cartridge no matter what powder is used and projectile for that matter.
Compare the spread in 45 acp and there is quite a difference in fps with min and max.
This is just my observation, that almost any 9mm load will get to the target at a decent enough speed to do the job where other handgun calibers may be less effective.