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Need 9mm Luger Plinking Load

snert

Silver $$ Contributor
Starting to grab up brass in anticipation of loading for daughters 9MM Sig.

I will NOT be pouring my own lead, so mold reference is not helpful...

I am looking for advice on a simple, "inexpensive" plink and practice load in 9MM. I will be loading on either a 550 Dillon or a Dillon press specific to that caliber. I need bullet suggestions (company and type or reference #) as well as load data.

Thanks in advance for your PET load for reliable plinking.

Thanks for the data guys.

Two more questions...700X? Anyone with experience throwing it in a progressive?

Secondly, anyone using the Lee 4000 progressive? I need useful, not fancy...

Snert
 
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I always shot 124 xtreme's.
Universal my #1
Tight group (careful, it doesn't fill the case, double charge possible)
Unique (metered poorly)

Load data is on the powder sites. Mid loads are a good starting point.
 
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I shoot 115gr coated bullets from either Missouri bullet Co or Blue bullets. Berry's plated bullets are great if you don't mind spending a little more.

VV - N320 or N340 is my choice of powder. Powder Valley had both in stock last time I looked. I tend to load on the higher end of the scale from information found on the VV web site.

Never thought I'd ever load 9mm because it was always so cheap to just buy. Not that way anymore. Dillon Square Deal cranks them out pretty fast, and I can choot'em up pretty quickly too!
 
I quit loading 9mm years ago due to the price of bulk loaded being what it was & the PITA those little cases were/are. The daughter didn't plan ahead for this recent shortage, so when they visit we've been building her practice (plinking) loads. I had more W231 than anything & with an upper mid-range load it's been working adequately for going into the 3rd year now. They're coming next week. W244 using a tenth or 2 more is almost the same, but was more available last year.

We've used Acme coated lead 115s, Berry's copper plated 115s, & Missouri Bullets plain old lead 115 with about equal results. No bullseye accuracy, her pistol isn't capable enough, but they work as well as the loaded bulk stuff I have for the swinging plate tree or other similar targets at ranges to about 50 yards.

Edit to specify this is all range pick-up brass from WW to Fed to Fiocchi to RP to S&B to whatever else is mixed in & is all LP. SP goes in the brass recycling bucket.
 
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I have shot a lot of the SNS bullets, cast a lot of my own too. Meister used to be cheap and readily available. If the bore leaded badly I would toss the commercial bullets in Lee liquid alox in addition to the lube that came on them and it does help. If it were me I would find a 115 to 125 grain bullet. Unique meters great in a Dillon and IMO is THE BEST lead bullet pistol powder out there. I assume the flame temp is low and the pressure rise is slower than most and that's why you will see less barrel leading with Unique than anything else but I have nothing to back that up. W231 is another good one. I have shot many thousands of 9mm lead and jacketed bullets with very fast powders like Clays and Bullseye too. Yes you can double charge and yes it will make for a very bad day. The other key is using a Lee U-die to prevent setback, setback on a fast powder charged load will also make for a bad day. When you crimp just roll the case mouth back straight, any more crimp than that is loosening the case grip on the bullet, the brass will spring back some and the lead won't.
 
243winxb said:
Speer 9mm load data- https://www.speer.com/reloading/handgun-data.html

Lists many different powders. The 125 gr lead data is what i used. The starting loads listed in Bullseye, 700X, HS-6 & Unique all worked well.
I cast my own.

Good company & bullets sold on Midwayusa also.https://www.missouribullet.com/

The lead bullet diameter needs to match your barrel. I use .356"

Does Sig have a fluted chamber? Does it work with lead?
Click to expand...
I will research the fluted chamber thing....
 
I have not seen a Sig pistol with a fluted chamber. My pistols go back to the early 80's to the early 2000's (220's 225's, 226's, 228's). I have seen some Sig and H&K rifles with fluted chambers though.
 
I’ve been using N330 for the last year or so. I use it with Berrys plated or any FMJ for that matter, Berrys have been easiest to get. My load is dead center between max and min on the Vihtavuori load data. It seems like you always see N320 and N340 but N330 sells out faster. I use it with both 124s and 147s and its pretty tame, my wife handles it well in a variety of nines.
 
I'm using, 5.1 grains of Win 231 powder "thrown" with, 124 grain Hornady XTP's at, a COAL of 1.057 - 1.060 inch, for 1,100+ FPS and producing, $.50 Cent sized, 5 shot ( 25 yds, Rested ) Groups from my Glock 34, 5.3" barrel.
It's a fairly Hot load from, an older, Hornady Book that shows this load, clocking 1,100 from, a 4" Barrel.
Since it shoots so "Well",.. I won't bother looking, further ! Might want to, Drop Powder charge back to, 4.5 grains for LESS Recoil and about, 990 to 1,000 FPS.
 
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Thanks guys!

As a followup question...

I have a pile of 700X. Anyone successful throwing it in a Lee or similar progressive?

Otherwise I will bite the bullet...and buy a ball powder.

Oh, and anyone using the Lee 4000 progressive? I don't need fancy, just suitable.
 
I load 3 grains of Promo & a Saeco 928 with whatever primer. Great pinker. And this flake power runs great in the Dillon measures.
 
snert said:
Thanks guys!

As a followup question...

I have a pile of 700X. Anyone successful throwing it in a Lee or similar progressive?

Otherwise I will bite the bullet...and buy a ball powder.

Oh, and anyone using the Lee 4000 progressive? I don't need fancy, just suitable.
Click to expand...
What bullets???
I always go by the bullets- for powder data…

Then I’ll show you some data for 700x..
 
I use Bear Creek Supply bullets. Moly coated; work well for me in 32SWL, 38Spl, and 45ACP (The first two, I think, are swaged rather than cast.)

www.bearcreeksupplybullets.com

Bullet Selection | Bear Creek Supply

Manufactures of Modern and Obsolete Cartridge Bullets
www.bearcreeksupplybullets.com www.bearcreeksupplybullets.com

For plinking, I wouldn't overthink the throw accuracy. Any charge within a couple/few tenths will probably do fine (though that does sort of depend on powder and charge - that variation in a small charge/low density load can be pretty big.)
 
My go to load for 9mm is 9mm is 124 gr FMJ Precision Delta, 4.4 gr, Win 231, COL 1.140. Accurate and soft shooting in all my 9's
 
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