Reloading for 9mm Largo

[Skofnung]

Hello.

I have a problem. I own a carbine chambered in 9mm Largo (Bergman-Bayard) and finding ammo for it has become a problem. CCI used to make Blaser ammo, but they do not anymore. So, my only option seems to be to reload.

I have not yet set myself up for loading, but I am in the process of getting a bench set up. I figure this cartridge would be as good as any to start with. The problem is, I can't seem to find any dies on Lee's website for this caliber. In addition to this, I have no idea where to find brass for this oddball caliber.

So, what do you think.? Any ideas or experience in this area?

Thanks.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

im not completely positive but im thinking 9 largo and 9x23 are the same ....
that's what the sierra manual wants me to think anyway...

so for brass you can buy 9x23 winchester from midway, or the 9mm super comp from starline....

as far as dies go i think the 9 luger dies will work...

 

[Jim Watson]

I, too, think 9mm P dies can be adjusted to load Largo.

Starline makes properly headstamped 9mm Largo brass; although 9x23 or 9mm Super Comp will work.

Laser Cast has load data; I think Lee does, too.

 

[Mike Irwin]

I THINK but am not 100% certain that you can use .38 ACP (NOT SUPER) loading information for the 9mm Largo.

 

[Ross]

9mm Largo

There is a website devoted to the subject: Sociedad Largo Homepage.
Cheers from Darkest California,
Ross

 

[RON in PA]

I have loaded 9mm Largo using 9x19 dies. I used 124 grain bullets and powder charges for 9x19. As the Largo has a larger case these loads are on the light side.

 

[BillL223]

The 9 mm Largo and 9 x 23 have similar external dimensions but the 9 x 23 case is much stronger. Do not use 9 x 23 data. You can use 9mm dies but you will not be able to fully resize the case. I used 9 mm for 9 x 23 for a few years but since got a Nowlin/RCBS 9 x 23 size die. I use 9 mm dies for the rest of the stations.

 

[David4516]

I too have taken an interest in loading for this caliber recently...

If you still need brass they sell it here:

9mm Largo Brass

The same site also has dies, but they are priced pretty high if you ask me:

RCBS 9mm Largo Die Set

Anyway, I am wondering if anyone here has some load data for it? My Speer manual has loads for it, but they are super-light, because some guns in this caliber are blow-back and can't handle hot loads...

However, I've got a Star Model "A" (1911 clone) in this caliber, and I'd like to get more out of it (124 gr bullet at 1000 FPS is not impressive). Would it be possible to load it closer to .38 Super ballistics, or is that un-safe?

I've got some .355 diameter 124 gr Hornady XTPs, I think they might work well in this caliber. If I can get them up to 1200 FPS I'd be very pleased...

 

[Gewehr98]

9mm Largo is pretty close in dimensions...

to 9mm Steyr, too. For my 9mm Steyr, I use Winchester 9x23 brass, then size it using 9mm Luger dies, and load on the light end of the 9mm Luger data chart. The Largo should do pretty well in that respect, too. Check Starline Brass, they offer 9mm Largo headstamped brass.

 

[1911WB]

.38 Super dies

Wouldn't .38 Super dies be a better match for the Largo since it is also 23mm? Obviously, don't use loading data for the Super!

 

[Gewehr98]

Believe it or not...

9mm Luger dies have no problem with the extra 4mm of case length. Just like those .38 Special/.357 Magnum dies, and .44 Special/.44 Magnum dies.

 

[grendelbane]

I barely remember chronographing an Astra 400 with Spanish 9mm Largo ammunition years ago. As I recall, the velocity was just barely over 1200 fps, and I can not remember the bullet weight to save my life, but it was not a lightweight.

I just got up and looked at a surviving box. It was loaded in 1977, but does not list a bullet weight.

Anyway, the 9mm Largo can be quite a performer. If I was reloading for my old, blow back Astra, or one of the carbines that you describe, I believe I would settle for reloads less powerful than the factory 9mm Largo stuff. Those old guns have been around a long time. Better to treat them to a diet of powder puff loads in their elder years.

 

[David4516]

I made up a couple test batches of ammo to try in my Star 9mm Largo. Below are the results of my chorograph tests, but before I post that, I want to remind everyone that I fired these from a Star pistol (similar to a 1911), not a blow-back Astra. If you use these loads please be careful, as they may be too hot for some 9mm Largo pistols...

All loads were with 124 gr Hornady XTPs, CCI Primers, and Starline brass. All were loaded a length of 1.240

5.6 gr Unique, 1070 FPS, 315 Energy
6.0 gr Unique, 1144 FPS, 360 Energy
6.6 gr Unique, 1130 FPS, 351 Energy

4.2 gr Bullseye, 1001 FPS, 275 Energy
5.0 gr Bullseye, 1177 FPS, 381 Energy
5.4 gr Bullseye, 1165 FPS, 373 Energy

As you can see, this doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Why do the hotter loads shoot slower? The only thing I can figure is that I used two different guns for testing. I used my Star "A", and my Dad's Star "Super". I didn't think that it would affect the results much, if at all, because they both have the same length barrel. But I used the "Super" to test the 6.0 Unique and the 5.0 Bullseye loads... and the "A" for the 6.6 Unique and 5.4 Bullseye loads...