Author Topic: 9mm reload advice. (Read 548 times)

HappyHunter · « **on:** June 19, 2003, 02:04:39 AM »

I have ordered dies and caliber conversion kit in 9mm luger for my dillon press.

Any suggestions for bullets and powder? I will be getting the usa loadbook for 9mm as well. I already have Lyman, Hornady, and AA books.

The gun is a Browning HighPower, Belgium about 1980.

Is there a problem with using lead bullets (non-jackected)?

Thanks for any comments.

Fred

Graycg · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2003, 02:20:24 AM »

I have had many failures with commercial cast bullets in my 9mm, lots of leading and tumbled bullets in the target. I then tried using lighter 38 special bullets sized to .358 and the problems went away. I use the 105 grain lee SWC bullet and the 120 grain Lyman 358242 and they both work very well in my Beretta 92. I have lots of Unique around and that's all I've used. Honestly, there are so many deals out there on bulk jacketed and plated bullets out there that I gave up on casting for the 9mm. I still use my cast bullets in longer range guns as they generally are more accurate in them, but for the plinking I do with the 9mm, the jacketed and plated bullets work just great.

regards,

Graycg

richp41 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2003, 09:14:22 AM »

Many of the 9mm pistols have bores that are cosiderably larger than .355" and as a result lead bullets cast .355" fail miserably and lead like crazy. Jacketed bullets are more forgiving and more accurate in big bore 9mms. A good reloading manual will give you all the load info you need. Rich P

KN · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2003, 01:03:43 PM »

Winchester 231, 5grs. 115gr winchester ball, wincester small pistol primer.

Havn't found a more accurate load yet. KN

Flint · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2003, 09:46:11 AM »

The problem with lead bullets in 9mm is not the diameter, it's the very shallow rifling and fast twist the Euros put in the bore. The Browning Hi-Power needs a SS Bar-Sto barrel for the deeper rifling and slower twist, then it shoots very well with lead bullets. With the stock barrel, lead will strip off in the bore and the bullet will be tumbling at 50 yards. Very shallow rifling is fine with a jacketed bullet, but lead is too soft for it. I also noted how badly a S&W 45ACP Model 29 revolver leads due to rifling designed for jacketed bullets. If Graycg had luck with 357/8 diameter bullets, it's because of the oversize tightness, but that can raise pressures, and a 9mmPara is already high. My BHP with a Bar-Sto barrel shot very accurately at all ranges with all bullets. However, Bar-Sto has a match grade chamber, so resizing is critical, and so is the need for a chamber check with the reloaded ammo.

Louis Farrugia · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2004, 08:57:01 AM »

HI RICHP41
I HAD THE SAME THING WITH MY 9mm LUGER I USED TO SHOOT CAST BULLETS AND HAVE LEADING PROBLEM THEN I BOUGHT A SWAGING PRESS FROM REC AND SWAGE MY BULLETS WITH GAS DISC AND MY PROBLEM WAS GON.SO IF YOU SHOOT LEAD BULLETS WITH BASE DISC
YOU SHOOD HAVE NO PROBLEMS.

LOUIS

Quote from: richp41

Many of the 9mm pistols have bores that are cosiderably larger than .355" and as a result lead bullets cast .355" fail miserably and lead like crazy. Jacketed bullets are more forgiving and more accurate in big bore 9mms. A good reloading manual will give you all the load info you need. Rich P