What’s your lead 9mm load ?

[Pvtpile]

Hi everyone

I have been using Hodgdon’s website for my load data since I started loading, and wandering around the internet I noticed different manuals seem to have a higher max load than Hodgdon.

I primarily load Brazos Hi-tel bullets
My question is: what do you guys use/have for lead loads using WIN231/HP-38?

Also, I hear to use FMJ data, and to drop the max load by 10% for lead bullets, is this correct?
TIA

[kcstott]

I powder coat and load 4-5gr of 231 with a 125gr lead.

[G-forceJunkie]

Is the price difference over plated that much? It wasnt when I was loading by the thousands at a time it wasnt. 4.4gr of 231 under a plated 124g

[sigstroker]

I don't use lead bullets. Grunges up my friend's machine gun and my MPX. Lead is also much smokier.

['ol shooter]

115 gr. Xtreme plated over 4.5gr. Titegroup for plinking rounds, 115 XTP's with same loading for house guns.

[Che762x39]

125 grain LRN over 3.8 grains of W231 in a Browning Hi-Power.

[eaglemike]

Couple of thoughts - find someone using the same bullet as you, meaning weight and mold number. Most places will sell only 1 or 2 125 grain 9mm bullets, so be sure you are using the same one. This other person might be willing to offer some guidance. Cast coated bullets can vary a fair bit. Same weight and mold number/shape from a different maker will give you some info, but start low. 10 percent down is a reasonable rule of thumb.
Pay attention to overall length. Most modern 9mm pistols will feed pretty much any load that is reasonable. Loading shorter than the data sample used will give higher pressures. Pressures can go up quickly with fast powders.
Bullet diameter can also make a difference, especially in regard to accuracy.
Get all the load data you can. Be careful. Double check everything.
What pistol are you loading for?

[Kokopelli]

My WW231 load for 9mm is 4.1 grains, a 124 grain, blue powder coated Lee TL cast bullet, Remington case and a CCI500 primer. I think I got the recipe from the Speer #8 manual.

However I get better accuracy using Unique and great accuracy using AA#5.

[ysr_racer]

From my 16" PCC, so maybe add a 1/10th for a pistol

Name: 9mm: 124gr Hoosier RN: Win 231 4.1gr: Mix Case: OAL 1.090 PCC
Notes: CMMG RDB Radial PCC 16"
Shots: 3
Average: 1167 ft/s
SD: 7 ft/s
Min: 1159 ft/s
Max: 1177 ft/s
Spread: 18 ft/s
Power Factor Average: 144
Power Factor Low: 143
Power Factor High: 145
Barometric Pressure: 30 in Hg
Temperature: 78 F
Weight: 124.0 gr.
Powder/Wt: Win 231 / 4.1
Bullet/Wt: Hoosier / 124
Primer: CCI SPP
OAL: 1.090
Gun: CMMG RDB Radial PCC 16"

-----

Name: 9mm: 124gr Zero RN: Win 231 4.1gr: Mix Case: OAL 1.125 PCC
Notes: CMMG RDB Radial PCC 16"
Shots: 5
Average: 1100 ft/s
SD: 14 ft/s
Min: 1082 ft/s
Max: 1119 ft/s
Spread: 37 ft/s
Power Factor Average: 136
Power Factor Low: 134
Power Factor High: 138
Barometric Pressure: 30 in Hg
Temperature: 78 F
Weight: 124.0 gr.
Powder/Wt: Win 231 / 4.1
Bullet/Wt: Zero / 124
Primer: CCI SPP
OAL: 1.125
Gun: CMMG RDB Radial PCC 16"

[ysr_racer]

Oh, and always plunk test.

[broadside]

I use 4.6gr CFE Pistol behind 125gr poly coated RN from Bear Creek Supply seated to 1.085".

132-137 PF out of all three of my pistols I use for competition.

[MuayThaiJJ]

[TomReloaded]

Keep in mind that load data is simply a data point and not a maximum. It's just the max they list.

For 231, 4.4gr under a 125gr lead/hitek at 1.125" gives 31,200 CUP... Or about 29,400 psi. You could go higher, that's not even saami max much less +p.

There's also very little reason to go hotter, especially with 231. 3.9 min to 4.4 max picks up hardly 80 fps. Id just dump 4.0gr in and call it good. That's good ammo.

[Pvtpile]

I really appreciate everyone input, looks like I have a bit to look at. Thanks!

[kcstott]

Keep in mind that load data is simply a data point and not a maximum. It's just the max they list.

For 231, 4.4gr under a 125gr lead/hitek at 1.125" gives 31,200 CUP... Or about 29,400 psi. You could go higher, that's not even saami max much less +p.

There's also very little reason to go hotter, especially with 231. 3.9 min to 4.4 max picks up hardly 80 fps. Id just dump 4.0gr in and call it good. That's good ammo.

Close but I think load manuals need to be treated as Lab reports. Meaning: Unless you use the exact same of everything listed your results will vary.
Manuals are not cook books. they are more like general guidelines demonstrating how one lab came up with the published results. Far to often a new reloader assumes the data is a recipe. Well yes an no.
Yes it is a recipe but you are most likely not in possession of all the exact ingredients.