I fired my first handloads today.

[ireload]

Dubious Win 231, Unique, Action Pistol are other good powders for the 9mm. The Blue Dot is more towards magnum loads. Congrats by the way on a successful first batch.

I have the basic Chrony F1. It's decent and works for it's intended purpose.

Invest on a "case gauge". Good way to cull any reloads that may not chamber.

[Dubious_Beans]

7.1 grains of Blue Dot is getting into the maximum load range for the 125 grain bullet, proceed with extreme caution.

Hmm... My Speer reloading manual (#14) lists the range for Blue dot and a 124 grain bullet as 7.1 gr (start) to 7.7 (max)
I figured I was starting at the "safe" end of the spectrum.

The general opinion here is that's too much?

[Dubious_Beans]

On the question of what chrony...

I did some research and chose the CED Millennium II. I've only used it in good daylight so far, and it's caught pretty much every shot. I really like the remote display with the big numbers. Easy to read with just a glance.

Thanks! Sounds like a good review for the CED millenium II.
I'll do some online shopping this weekend.

[Dubious_Beans]

The Alliant website has a recipe for 124 bullet in 9mm. It uses a maximum of 7.9 grins Blue Dot, with a recommended starting load 10% less (7.1gr).

So hopefully I'm not too far out of line with 7.1 grains of Blue Dot... ??

[Fyathyrio]

Thanks! Sounds like a good review for the CED millenium II.
I'll do some online shopping this weekend.

www.manventureoutpost.com has the best prices on just about everything reloading...but they don't carry the CED stuff unfortunately.

[Malthusian]

Powder = 7.1 grains Alliant "Blue Dot"
Primer = Federal "Magnum"
Bullets = Bear Creek Supply 125 gr. "Truncated Cone Flatpoint" coated lead.
CAOL = 1.115"

This data is for a fully metal jacketed bullet not lead.

Hmm... My Speer reloading manual (#14) lists the range for Blue dot and a 124 grain bullet as 7.1 gr (start) to 7.7 (max)
I figured I was starting at the "safe" end of the spectrum.

The general opinion here is that's too much?

I have the same book and I agree with you data. However your are using data for a "124gr bullet" that is fully plated for the bullets you are using that are coated lead and 125gr.

Typically the "high" load for a lead load is the starting point for a fully metal jacketed load

I was unable to find data utilizing your powder for a comparison. Here is an example using WSF. Data is from the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center

124gr Lead Round Nose
Powder WSF
Start 4.0
Max 4.7

124gr Full Metal Jacket
Powder WSF
Start 4.7
Max 5.3

Their is a similar example using a 147gr bullet as well.

I would switch to one of the other powders listed by other posters. Get at least one other reload manual and compare them with data from Hodgdon and also Handloads.com
Ask other members what they use and formulate your own conclusions

Welcome to reloading, I have been reloading for 20+ years. I just got my XL650 and wonder why I waited so long

Load safe!

[Dubious_Beans]

Well I walked up to the range this afternoon and killed some more paper targets with the XD9.

I fired off another 80 rounds from my first handload batch, plus 30 rounds of RUAG 124g FMJ and 10 rounds of WIN 115g FMJ. NO problems at all.

The handloads did feel like they have more recoil and are a bit louder than the 124 RUAG or the 115 WIN. Certainly not enough to make me worry, but enough to be noticeable.
I examined a bunch of the spent brass under a magnifying glass and gave the XD9 a good exam when I cleaned it at the end of the session and everything looked fine.

I would feel comfortable loading up this particular recipe again, but I think I would consider it to be "plenty hot" already and use 7.1 grains of Blue Dot as "upper mid to near maximum".

I just fired freehand today at 25 feet and I shot at least as good or better than most days, but my poor skills are going to swamp any ammo inaccuracy issues.
I need to get a bench rest so I can see what kind of grouping I really get, and a chronograph so I can keep track of velocity. And a couple more powder types to experiment with also. Sigh... more stuff to buy...

I've obviously got a lotta learning to do before I'm up to speed, but so far I've fired off a total of 110 "homebrew" cartridges without blowing up my gun or myself and I'm feel pretty good about it.

Will probably shoot off another 100 rounds tomorrow if the wife doesn't find too many chores for me to do.

And another 100 rounds of ammo through the XD will make it officially over 1000 rounds I've put though it since I got it (less than 2 months ago). Absolutely no failures or problems of any kind. Only smiles.

And thanks very much to all the folks who posted advice and safety warnings. It's really appreciated.