What's your recipe for loading 9mm NATO spec ammo...

[VaGunNut]

Other than the standard 124 grain FMJ projectile, what propellants and components do you use to get the sammi pressures and velocities.

 

[Walkalong]

The load books are full of good ones. What powders do you have.

 

[Load Master]

Other than the standard 124 grain FMJ projectile, what propellants and components do you use to get the sammi pressures and velocities.

With all do respect, this to me makes no sense. Each gun is different and what will work in mine most likely will not work in yours. The biggest advantage of reloading is developing your own recipe for your own gun. This is where the true advantage is in reloading. I have recipes that work better with my gun than any factory produced ammo on the market.

I'm not out to achieve a given pressure or velocity, I'm looking for the round that gives me the best group and cycles my pistol without an miss feeds. For most of my guns this is something more in the middle of the road on powder charge. As far as components, 9mm has one of the biggest groups to pick from in comparison to other calibers. Personally I like 124gr and 147gr better than 115gr. My favorite bullet source is Xtreme. This is because they are very consistent on shape and weight. For powders I like TiteGroup, Silhouette, and Accurate #5. My S&W full length barrel likes 124gr at about 1150fps.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You are asking about NATO spec ammo. What are you looking for? What velocity are you looking to generate?

I use W231/HP-38 for 9mm range ammo and for more serious work I use HS-6 or Longshot. Slower powders will allow you to generate higher velocities without blowing past the pressure limitations.

Just a note, velocity will mean nothing unless you hit what you are shooting at. Accuracy is much more important especially since a FMJ bullet is not meant to expand.

 

[Bart B.]

NATO specs differ from SAAMI specs. Their test methods and equipment is different and I don't know where they are detailed at.

The only way to know if any load meets SAAMI specs for speed and pressure is to use SAAMI spec test barrels and piezo strain gauge pressure systems with SAAMI spec ammo handling and shooting techniques. That'll cost a few thousand dollars. Equipment and techniques are well documented in SAAMI's web site.

Meanwhile, using printed load data and good skills and knowledge based on sound reasoning seems to do well for us. It's not important to match those specs exactly.

 

[Dog Soldier]

Load Master's post fits my reloading pursuits. I reload to fit my firearm. I of course use the parameters of published tested data to stay safe. For instance, I load many 9MM rounds for Lugers. The Luger sights and recoil system are built around the 124 grs. bullets. My loads for a Luger are tailored with that loading.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

5.8gr Unique with 124gr FMJ produces 1190 fps from my Glock 19, which matches US M882 velocity. This has been my standard 9mm handload for almost two decades.

 

[alexcue]

5.5gr BE86 124gr Bayou HiTek Coated RN 1209fps. Tack drivers. Glock 34

Too cheap to use FMJ, but if this performance is any indicator....

 

[LiveLife]

For those posting and thinking about using max+ published load data, consider using new brass and adhere to THR forum rules for posting "heavy" loads - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...e-posting-extra-heavy-load-information.27444/

Keep in mind that published load data recorded average max chamber pressures using new brass. We do not know what chamber pressures will be reached with once-fired or mixed range brass, especially if bullet setback occurs from insufficient neck tension, improper reloading procedures and compressed powder charge.

I prefer verified once-fired brass for near max/max loads.

For mixed range brass with unknown reload history and condition of brass, I prefer to use mid-to-high range load data to give me some pressure buffer to prevent case wall failure/rupture.

Why?

Because with higher pressure cartridges like 9mm, small changes in reloading variables can spike chamber pressures in a hurry way over max. If I am loading near max or at max load data, I also check to ensure the bullet and OAL I am using will not compress the powder charge.

There have been too many "Funny thing happened at the range today" threads over the years where OP claimed published max was not exceeded yet their barrels/pistols blew up.

Be safe.

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/9mm-kaboom-yesterday.811544/

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/m-p-40-kaboom.732981/

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/so-i-blew-up-a-1911-kaboom.703863/

 

[Sunray]

The SAAMI(American. CIP is European and slightly less pressure) pressures and velocities don't apply to anything NATO. NATO spec for 9mm ammo lists the bullet weight as 108 grains to 128 grains at 36,550 PSI at around 1200 fps. U.S. factory "NATO" like Winchester's, runs 1185 fps.
There is no such thing as "SMG ammo" either.
US M882 is not using a 124 grain bullet. M882 uses a 112 grain bullet at about 1263 fps.
All that aside, just load according to your manual and you'll be fine. Data in American manuals is to SAAMI specs.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

US M882, when tested by Fackler some years ago, was indeed loaded with 124gr FMJ. It may now be loaded with something different - that I don't know.