Tested Some 9mm Loads

[DMW1116]

So in my search to find a more accurate load in my 9mm pistols, I tested some Lehigh bullets, the Xtreme Defense 90 grain versions. I started at the bottom of Lehigh load data for CFE Pistol and went up a few tenths, but I stopped below the max. I used a box of gold, aka CCI small pistol primers. I tested in 4 shot groups at 25 yards.

First the good news. These are indeed more accurate than the XTP bullets I’ve been using, but not by much. I have a load which printed a sub 2” group rested from 25 yards from my M&P9 and another under 3”. I don’t have a chronograph but I’m guessing somewhere around 1300 fps.

Now the bad news. From my Shield, things go the opposite direction. The best groups are at the minimum load while the M&P9 has the best at the highest load. So I guess I have a decision to make. Do I load specifically for the M&P9 or try to split the difference? Before doing either I have to confirm the best shooting group.

 

[BigBore44]

If you don’t have a good supply of various bullets and weights to try, I’d just split the difference and worry about a good test when supplies come back.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As long as your shots hit within a 8" paper plate I wouldn't worry much. Center or mass is the goal. I agree, split the difference.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

So in my search to find a more accurate load in my 9mm pistols, I tested some Lehigh bullets, the Xtreme Defense 90 grain versions. I started at the bottom of Lehigh load data for CFE Pistol and went up a few tenths, but I stopped below the max. I used a box of gold, aka CCI small pistol primers. I tested in 4 shot groups at 25 yards.

First the good news. These are indeed more accurate than the XTP bullets I’ve been using, but not by much. I have a load which printed a sub 2” group rested from 25 yards from my M&P9 and another under 3”. I don’t have a chronograph but I’m guessing somewhere around 1300 fps.

Now the bad news. From my Shield, things go the opposite direction. The best groups are at the minimum load while the M&P9 has the best at the highest load. So I guess I have a decision to make. Do I load specifically for the M&P9 or try to split the difference? Before doing either I have to confirm the best shooting group.

I’ve got five 9mm’s to feed. I’m kind of in the habit of splitting the difference. If you only have two, load for them and label the boxes clearly. Best advice I can give.

 

[Walkalong]

Now the bad news. From my Shield, things go the opposite direction

I would suggest that y just remember that the little guns are harder to shoot great groups with and be happy, that's what I do with my P-365.

I have no trouble hitting 8/10 inch plates with it at 25 yards, and so hitting center of mass on a bad guy 25 and under should be doable (I know, more variables than size), so I just accept that the gun is going to shoot bigger groups with me shooting it, and I judge it against its self, and not my red dot assisted 5" 1911 or 4.5" XDm, etc.

I have a couple of 9MM loads that shoot great in the bigger pistols, but they also tend to shoot the smallest in the P-365, just not as small. Great 9MM loads tend to shot well in multiple guns. Same goes for other pistol calibers.

 

[drband]

Unless shooting from a Ransom rest, group sizes from a pistol are not very reliable (statistically speaking). As noted by a few posters, minute of paper plate or bad guy is plenty good from a pistol.

 

[lordpaxman]

So I guess I have a decision to make. Do I load specifically for the M&P9 or try to split the difference?

Indeed.
Specific loads for each gun - you’re a reloader, it’s not hard to do, it’s more difficult to keep track of though.
One load to rule them all - is it “acceptable” precision and accuracy for you?
There are still lots of bullet/powder options that may have a “one load to rule them all” characteristic.
For me, I’m with the others that minute of paper plate for the gun, hopefully I’ve got it together enough to do my part. But I’d also add don’t ever discount the psychological aspect, if you believe you’re confidence is increased with your gun specific ammunition, by all means reload on. Good luck.

 

[DMW1116]

My current thinking is to see if those really tight groups are repeatable and if so, reload for specific pistols. If it was just luck I’ll do a more generic load for both. I loaded up another set of test rounds last night so I can confirm or deny the best load this weekend.

 

[DMW1116]

I suppose I should try some other loads I’ve tried in the past for comparison. Maybe a control group with some factory ammo or something?

 

[Airborne Falcon]

Unless competing from a bench for some particular reason ... with a micro compact no less ... the object is just about always to load for 3 inch groups at 7 yards while delivering the heaviest well-designed expanding projectile at the fastest speeds with manageable recoil without causing excessive pressure spikes.

For me, for personal defense, thats either GDHPs or Speer SiG V-Crowns both in 147 grains delivered at around 950-1000 fps.

124s in either design and I'm up around 1150 fps.

3" groups out of any good semiauto you own, standing, at 7 yards. (I carry a Shield in the summer and a P320 in the winter but my Son, who is sitting here in the room with me now, carries a MP9 in the winter and a Shield in the summer and that's the standard we live by. We're about to head out the door to ring steel here in a little while as a matter of fact.)

If your splits are good that's all the custom rolled designer ammo you'll ever need ... work-up that recipe and you'll be golden.

 

[DMW1116]

And it was just luck. Generic loads it is. They still got good groups but not the stellar ones from last trip. They are better than the plated round nose I use for range ammo, but they’re also twice the price.

 

[DMW1116]

I also tested the 147 grain XTP loads I’ve been using, as well as some factory and home made 115 range ammo. The Lehigh was the most accurate of the 4, but only beat the XTP by a bit. I’ll be getting some more of these Lehigh bullets and loading them up.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

I also tested the 147 grain XTP loads I’ve been using, as well as some factory and home made 115 range ammo. The Lehigh was the most accurate of the 4, but only beat the XTP by a bit. I’ll be getting some more of these Lehigh bullets and loading them up.

The Lehigh 90 grain extreme defense?

 

[DMW1116]

Yep. That’s the ones.

 

[Airborne Falcon]

That's actually one of the better micro and even subcompact bullets out there. I bought a bunch of them when they were going for something like 20 cents a piece when Lehigh Defense came out with that to replace the Extreme Penetrator ... which was notorious for over penetration.

I used to think they were a real niche projectile until I saw the gel tests on them out of a subcompact and they are fairly impressive performers if you get the speed up enough. Sweet spot is supposed to be around 1100 fps if I remember correctly.

I actually talked to one of the Lehigh engineers about those one time while I was working up a load for my 300 BLK using their 30 Cal Maximum Expansion and Controlled Fracturing designs ... because I had bought quite a few of those 90 grain .355s and he told me it is probably the most underrated 9mm bullet out there but that people just don't trust small lightweight 9mm bullets.

I really need to go back to working up a load for my Shield with those things. They've just been sitting there doing nothing. I do remember them being very accurate the last time I worked with them.

I'll bet the price is through the roof on them now. I thought they were expensive at 20 cents each ... that was a few years ago.

 

[jmorris]

Now the bad news. From my Shield, things go the opposite direction. The best groups are at the minimum load while the M&P9 has the best at the highest load.

Not all guns, loads and people shoot the same.

You might be able to get a machine rest that a given load shoots great in a number of firearms but if your hand held results are not the same, is that worth anything to you?

 

[Airborne Falcon]

The only way to get lab level accuracy data, especially in terms of accuracy for a pistol, is by keeping copious records, exact load data through every temperature variant, sorted new brass, perfect repeatable consistent seating and crimping, etc., etc., etc., and then every single round fired from a Ransom Rest or similar ... and, even then, there are so many variables when it comes to pistols.

https://ransomrest.com

 

[DMW1116]

Yes unfortunately the real take away from yesterday might just be that I can’t shoot pistols well enough to compare different loads, even from a rest. Or maybe I can’t shoot these pistols well enough. My Victory 22 will cut playing cards and shoot q-tips at 10 yards off hand. If I tried that with either of these 9s, I’d be able to do it faster if I waited for the range to go cold then ran down range with a pair of scissors. I realize the Victory is meant for that sort of thing, but still. To be honest, I sorta sucked with the Victory yesterday too.

On another happier note, the cost of the Lehigh bullets I’m shooting is about the same as any other SD bullet. These are not individually lathe turned. These are still solid copper, but are cold formed to make them more affordable. The turned bullets and the cold formed bullets have a different SKU number. I had to call Lehigh to be sure because the load data is different.

 

[Bartojc]

Count me in for splitting the difference. It’s a compromise but it’s easier to load one load and use it on both pistols. I use one load in 3 pistols. Without a ransom rest or some other rest it is extremely difficult for me to tell a difference. When I am working up a load I just try to get something that functions in both firearms and shoots decently in all. I’m not trying to shoot .5 inch groups with them.

Jeff

 

[DMW1116]

I went ahead and loaded up the rest of the Lehigh bullets and ran them through the M&P 9 for a function check. 3 shots in a 10 ring size group from 10 yards. This pistol always shoots just a bit low so they weren’t all actually in the 10 ring. I plan to definitely get more. POI/POA matches, they’re accurate, available, and easy to load.

 

[DMW1116]

Oh, and I did wind up splitting the difference. This was at or close to the minimum load recommended by Lehigh, which shot pretty well out of both 9s.