9mm 115 SWC loads

[dokamoto]

Hi,

Finally getting ready to reload. Have all components and setting up my press/bench now.

For kicks, I bought 1,000 Penn Bullets 115 grain semi-wadcutters. I have Win 231 and Clays powder, Federal small pistol primers. Does anyone have a recipe for this combo, for a soft shooting load. I'll be using either a Glock 34(with KKM barrel), or a Springfield 1911 in 9mm.

I'd appreciate a starting point. Also interested in a recommended COL.

Thanks in advance,
Dave

[iareConfusE]

From my Lymans 49th:

With W231 pushing a 115gr bullet, starting load is 3.5gr, max load is 4.9gr. The 3.5 will be very light, and may not even cycle your Glock.

I probably wouldn't have gone with SWC bullets, not sure why you didn't just go with traditional round nose bullets.

Max OAL for 9mm according to the book is 1.169, but you should try and "customize" your OAL to your barrel. Figure out when the bullet is hitting the lands when you drop the finished round in your chamber. If the round drops in and falls out smoothly, you're good. If you encounter any sort of "sticky" resistance, the bullet is touching the lands and you need to decrease OAL little by little.

Buy your own reloading manual. It will come in handy. At first I didn't think I would use my manual much at all except to just get recipes every now and then, but now I find myself reading load data almost everyday for different loads.

[dokamoto]

Thanks! I also have the Lyman's manual and that load is for a jacketed bullet and I thought loads were different for lead...that one or the other created more pressure and used less powder for the same bullet weight.

I bought the SWC's because I shoot action pistol silhouette cardboard targets and these cut cleaner holes that are easier to score the higher score if close!

I appreciate the tip to drop in my chamber. I also thought to load up a mag full of dummy round without primer/powder and hand cycle to the slide to see if they'll load reliably.

If you can help me with the jacketed vs. cast lead question, I'd appreciate it.

Best,
Dave

[iareConfusE]

Thanks! I also have the Lyman's manual and that load is for a jacketed bullet and I thought loads were different for lead...that one or the other created more pressure and used less powder for the same bullet weight.

I bought the SWC's because I shoot action pistol silhouette cardboard targets and these cut cleaner holes that are easier to score the higher score if close!

I appreciate the tip to drop in my chamber. I also thought to load up a mag full of dummy round without primer/powder and hand cycle to the slide to see if they'll load reliably.

If you can help me with the jacketed vs. cast lead question, I'd appreciate it.

Best,
Dave

They don't let you shoot round nose in competition? Yes they cut nice holes, but are you willing to potentially sacrifice reliability just for nice looking holes?

Also, I usually load my plated bullets using jacketed data. Technically, I should be used lead data for it, but even using jacketed data, I'm not pushing the bullets fast enough to be melting them or causing any decreases in accuracy. Max load for 115gr 9mm with W231 will bring you to 1253fps according to Lyman. General rule of thumb is that you don't shoot cast bullets past 1200 FPS. Even at max load, I'm sure you will be just fine. If you're worried about it, load under max and everything will be golden.

[Bill Steele]

I would start with 4.3gr of W231 and not exceed 4.8grs. You may find that 4.3 won't even cycle, I load 4.7grs and it cycles everything and is still a pretty light recoil.

Somewhere in there your gun will probably like it. If you seat the SWC's to the line just under the shelf that is the wad cutter you should be fine.

W231 is one of my favorite powders for 9's, Bullseye being another.

[Fishslayer]

GENERALLY A SWC is seated to just about a thumbnail width from the shoulder. That's what I do with .45 & .38/.357 anyway.

Let us know how those 9mm SWC work out. It's my favorite bullet profile.

[GeoffLinder]

+1 to both previous posts as to how to seat a SWC.

4.3 to 4.8 grains of WW231 is a very good range to work in.

SWC profiles should function just fine at most any OAL from 1.110 to 1.155 that you wind up at. I ran LSWC's for years through several Glock barrels and had no function issues whatsoever from the SWC profile. Still use them too.

[Bongos]

W231 ....4.3-4.6 will work in most autos, 4.7-4.8 noticeable in recoil felt

[dokamoto]

Many thanks to all for your posts and recommendations. I was out of town for a couple of days due to a family emergency. I should have my bench and press up and running this weekend and will load a few with your recipes and try them out. I am prepared to try reduced power springs to get the guns to cycle with the lightest reasonable load.

I'll post my results with various loads.

Thanks again.

Dave