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Loading 9mm. This sound right?

DocDoc Member Posts: 13,898 ✭✭✭
edited September 2018 in General Discussion
My Speer manual says 5.8 grains of Unique is max with a 125 grain bullet. I threw 5.6 grains and the cases are nearly full and the powder is compressed with the bullet seated. Normal? OK? I am generally war of compressed loads but I know the 9mm Luger is a fairly high intensity cartridge.
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Too old to live...too young to die...

Comments

  • Bottom GunBottom Gun Member Posts: 232 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Unique is a fluffy powder and a real case filler in 9MM. My cases were so full that I had to be careful rotating my shell plate so I wouldn?t slosh powder out of the cases.
    I?ve been using Bullseye and Win 231 for my 9MM lately and I like it better. For my usage, Unique is better used in larger capacity cartridges like .40, .45, .357, etc.
    By the way, my Lyman book lists a 125 gr bullet with a max load of 5.0 gr of Unique.
    It shows 5.8 gr of Unique as max load for 115 gr bullets.
    Mechanical engineers have their moments.
  • hunter86004hunter86004 Member Posts: 1,222 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    My Lyman 49th edition shows 4.5 grains of Unique as a starting load and 5.0 as a max at 30,700 cup. 5.6 might be a tad hot.
  • jimdeerejimdeere Member, Moderator Posts: 26,285 ******
    edited November -1
    My old Speer manual says 5.4-5.9 grains Unique for 125 gr. jacketed soft point.
    4.1-4.5 gr. for lead round nose.
    What?s your O.A.L.?
  • grumpygygrumpygy Member Posts: 48,464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have heard this before on here. But did a web search and like you were told above.

    quote:most likely yes. Unique is considerd a medium burning pistol powder which means you typically use more of it. It is most commoly used in reload for big cases like the 45 Colt because it takes up more space in those big cases. Typically you use a fast burning pistol powder for the 9mmm which fills up the case allot less.

    This dates all the way back to 2000.


    I would almost swear I saw something on here in about the last year. But searched and could find nothing.
  • truthfultruthful Member Posts: 2,143 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Unique has relatively large granular size leaving more empty space between them than other smaller granular, more dense, powders.
  • bustedkneebustedknee Member Posts: 2,001 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have 3 primary considerations when choosing a powder:
    1. It will give me the velocity I'm looking for
    2. It will launch the range-of-bullet weights I plan to shoot
    3. It will fill the case when loaded to max.

    It is impossible to overload a cartridge when it is physically impossible for the case to hold "too much" powder.


    I knew a guy who managed to double load a 357 Mag -- Shredded a brand S&W revolver!


    Try tapping the cartridge to settle the powder before seating the bullet.
    I can't believe they misspelled "Pork and Beans!"
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Doc
    My Speer manual says 5.8 grains of Unique is max with a 125 grain bullet. I threw 5.6 grains and the cases are nearly full and the powder is compressed with the bullet seated. Normal? OK? I am generally war of compressed loads but I know the 9mm Luger is a fairly high intensity cartridge.


    Unique will fill the cases up. Your load is on the warm side but fine. I love Unique in 9MM.
  • chiefrchiefr Member Posts: 14,115 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    No problem at all. Compress Unique as well. I actually think it helps in the accuracy dept.
  • Sam06Sam06 Member Posts: 21,244 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Get some RL 2 or 3 much better for 9mm even RL5 will work ok.

    Unique is better in Revolver rounds.
    RLTW

  • remingtonoaksremingtonoaks Member Posts: 26,245 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have you not loaded this combination before? Are you starting at maximum Load right off the bat?

    If you have never loaded this combination, I would start on the low end and work up your loads to make sure your firearm can handle the maximum load to be on the safe side.

    So many people start out at the maximum load and end up showing signs of overpressure if not having a catastrophic failure... Start at the minimum and work it up

    besides that, maximum power is not always the most accurate. And if you skip working up the load, you may miss the preferred load for your firearm.

    Just remember, reloading is never cheaper, you just get to shoot more to find the perfect load for your gun...

    If I were you I would load up 3-10 sample Rounds at the minimum, then gradually stepping up with the preceding 3-10 rounds until you hit maximum load, then take them all out to the range and shoot them until you find that you're overpressuring your firearm. And then choose the load that shoots the best to load the rest with

    Just my honest opinion.
  • DocDoc Member Posts: 13,898 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm starting at 5.6. Max was given as 5.8 so I am starting 2/10ths below max. Likely end there, too as I usually eschew top powder charge.

    OK, seems like I am probably OK.

    Different books show differing load levels. Very recent manuals are much more conservative than the ones published a few years ago. I have never had ant trouble with using loads from older books.

    Yes, I am new to loading the 9mm. First time was using lead bullets and target loads. This is first experience with JHPs.
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    Too old to live...too young to die...
  • remingtonoaksremingtonoaks Member Posts: 26,245 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Doc
    I'm starting at 5.6. Max was given as 5.8 so I am starting 2/10ths below max. Likely end there, too as I usually eschew top powder charge.

    OK, seems like I am probably OK.

    Different books show differing load levels. Very recent manuals are much more conservative than the ones published a few years ago. I have never had ant trouble with using loads from older books.

    Yes, I am new to loading the 9mm. First time was using lead bullets and target loads. This is first experience with JHPs.


    You will find that older books show Hotter loads possible. That's because as a cartridge age, so do the original firearms Chambered in it now has age These older firearms may not be able to withstand the original hotter loads and the new books take that into consideration. That's why it's important to update your books every couple of years, so that you know what the maximum safe load is on these older fireearms are. I would never use outdated reloading data.

    But then people claims that I'm overly redundant about firearm and reloading safety

    Happy reloading
  • SoreShoulderSoreShoulder Member Posts: 3,148 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Why not check Alliant.com?
  • DocDoc Member Posts: 13,898 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Lawyers and fear of lawsuits caused the reduction in published loads. Unless terribly abused a 60 year old gun is just as strong today as when it was made.
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    Too old to live...too young to die...
  • hillbillehillbille Member Posts: 14,459 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    to each their own, but never saw the need to max a load out just to plink with, I allways go to the light end, easier on the weapon and the had/shoulder.
  • remingtonoaksremingtonoaks Member Posts: 26,245 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by hillbille
    to each their own, but never saw the need to max a load out just to plink with, I allways go to the light end, easier on the weapon and the had/shoulder.


    Yep, and as long as you're not carrying something SMALLER than a 9 mm, it's plenty good enough for self-defense also..
  • dreherdreher Member Posts: 8,891 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    When I was loading for my nines I loved Blue Dot.
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