My first reloads for 9mm

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MikeO89

New member
I just got back from the range to try out my new Ruger SR9. Shot some factory 115 gr loads from both Remington and Brown Bear. Both worked fine with no issues at all.

Then to try my reloads. I had reloaded two batches of reloads, both using Berry's 115 gr plated bullets, one batch with 800-X and one with Titegroup. I used starting powder loads for both.

Neither one worked well at all. Neither batch would cycle the slide. It was like firing a 9mm single shot.

I am going to work up another batch with Titegroup, this time using the max powder load off the Hodgdon chart instead of the starting load. Hope I can get some cycling action this time.

Any comments? The reloading rookie is all ears!
 
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RidgwayCO

New member
Wow! Your comment about going straight from the minimum load to the maximum load made me flashback to my wife and daughters... they don't believe in "intermediate settings" either when adjusting the car's inside temp... they use either full cold or full hot and nothing in between (just a little impatient)...

You don't say what the spread is between the minimum and maximum loads for these powders, but I'll bet it's more than a half a grain. Why not go up in 0.2gr increments from the minimum load and see what each increment does for functioning (remembering to stay below the max)? This is usually what reloaders mean when they refer to "working up" a load.

Enjoy your 9mm reloads. I find them very satisfying (and at least half the cost of factory).
 
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hornady

New member
Just my opinion ,but bad idea. Yes a min, load is most likely the problem. But work up to the load you want. Try going up a grain or two at a time. But I would not start out with a max load. Berry tells you on there sight to only shoot mid- range load with there bullets.
 
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Waldog

New member
Your gonna' find that the best accuracy and slide performance is somewhere around 75-85% of MAX LOAD. I have four 9mm's and each one works best at about 80% of max.
 
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azar92

New member
MikeO89 said:
I had reloaded two batches of reloads, both using Berry's 114 gr plated bullets, one batch with 800-X and one with Titegroup. I used starting powder loads for both...I am going to work up another batch with Titegroup, this time using the max powder load off the Hodgdon chart instead of the starting load.
Click to expand...
:eek: You realize that there exists an entire range of charges between the start and max loads, right? ;)

It's not that uncommon for a starting load to not cycle the actions on some guns properly, to cause stove piping, etc. That doesn't mean you should jump straight to a max charge. Which "min" charge did you use the one for lead or the one for jacketed bullets?

Hodgdon shows data for a 115g LRN and 115g Speer GDHP in 9mm Luger.
Titegroup 115g LRN 3.9g to 4.3g
Titegroup 115g GDHP 4.5g to 4.8g

If you started at 3.9g why not load 10 rounds at 4.1g of Titegroup, 10 rounds at 4.3g of Titegroup, 10 rounds at 4.5g of Titegroup, and 10 rounds at 4.7g of Titegroup. And if you'd like 10 rounds at 4.8g of Titegroup.

I bet you'll find a load that you are happy with somewhere in the middle...
 
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MikeO89

New member
Thanks guy, good advise. I was previously thinking that these loads didn't even drive the slide back enough to even begin to eject the rounds. That's why I was thinking of going to max. I'll try as suggested to load a few of each increment in between.
 
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80viking

New member
If what you want is to just load some blasting ammo that goes bang every time then look in a Lyman manual for a factory duplication load. If you can't match your bullet weight then go with the next one heavier.

If your looking for the most accurate or light recoiling loads, then work up your loads as suggested by RidgwayCO.
 
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MikeO89

New member
Just went out and shot two clips of titegroup 4.3 gr. My gun likes it, nice and crisp, no jams. Mikey likes it!
 
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