Major 9mm Recipes

[jellyb]

Hello All,

I am starting to shoot major 9 in open division and need a few recommended loads to try out.

Thanks,
Jellyb

[XDRoX]

You should really have a chrono, and work up major loads. One typo could ruin your gun. But since you asked.

Barrel: Bar-Sto Precision Length: 4.25

Bullet 124 Jacketed Hollow Point Zero 0.355
Case: Winchester
COAL: 1.145

Powder Hodgdon Longshot

Chg High Low SD CV MAD CV ES Average PF
6.6 1287.2 1261.8 9.60 0.75% 8.00 0.62% 25.4 1273.4 157.90
6.8 1349.5 1302.9 16.90 1.27% 13.60 1.02% 46.6 1323.4 164.10
7.0 1361.7 1321.6 11.90 0.88% 9.00 0.67% 40.1 1338.4 165.96
7.2 1372.9 1326.9 17.90 1.32% 15.00 1.10% 46 1354.7 167.98
7.4 1396.8 1377.4 6.70 0.48% 5.60 0.40% 19.4 1387.9 172.10

Powder IMR 7625

Chg High Low SD CV MAD CV ES Average PF

5.0 1181.6 1136.5 13.50 1.17% 8.50 0.73% 45.1 1148.9 142.46
5.2 1184.3 1154.5 10.70 0.91% 29.80 0.76% 29.8 1170.9 145.19
5.4 1203.9 1180.2 8.90 0.74% 8.00 0.67% 23.7 1193.1 147.94
5.6 1241.6 1221.9 6.50 0.52% 5.40 0.43% 19.7 1230 152.52
5.8 1275.1 1224.9 14.70 1.17% 10.90 0.87% 50.2 1250.2 155.02
6.0 1297.8 1233.6 21.30 1.68% 17.00 1.34% 64.2 1265.6 156.93


Powder Vihtavuori N350

Chg High Low SD CV MAD CV ES Average PF

6.0 1244.7 1201.7 12.80 1.04% 10.50 0.85% 43 1222.1 151.54
6.2 1272.8 1224.5 14.40 1.15% 10.10 0.81% 48.3 1241.6 153.96
6.4 1305.6 1248.2 14.60 1.14% 9.70 0.75% 57.4 1277.3 158.39
6.6 1340.9 1297.0 12.60 0.95% 9.20 0.69% 43.9 1320.7 163.77
6.8 1383.8 1339.3 13.20 0.97% 9.80 0.72% 44.5 1357.2 168.29
7.0 1378.8 1342.4 10.90 0.80% 9.20 0.67% 33.4 1362.5 168.95
7.3 1402.0 1363.3 14.10 1.01% 10.80 0.77% 38.7 1385.7 171.83

UPDATE: Add Ramshot True Blue data
4-18-2004 Added loads from 7.4 - 8.0

6.2 1119.6 1089.3 9.4 0.85% 6.9 0.62% 1100.5 30.3 136.5
6.4 1145.4 1114.2 9.9 0.87% 7.0 0.62% 1137.2 31.2 141.0
6.6 1194.7 1157.0 11.5 0.98% 8.3 0.71% 1171.8 37.7 145.3
6.8 1204.0 1188.1 5.9 0.49% 4.6 0.38% 1197.4 15.9 148.5
7.0 1284.5 1213.9 20.4 1.66% 13.8 1.12% 1234.2 70.6 153.0
7.2 1288.8 1231.7 17.7 1.41% 14.0 1.11% 1259.3 57.1 156.2
7.4 1294.0 1266.0 10.5 0.82% 8.3 0.65% 1278.3 28.0 158.5
7.6 1329.0 1303.0 8.4 0.64% 6.7 0.51% 1314.0 26.0 162.9
7.8 1387.0 1356.0 11.1 0.81% 8.7 0.63% 1369.5 31.0 169.8
8.0 1398.0 1382.0 5.8 0.42% 4.3 0.31% 1390.7 16.0 172.4

UPDATED 7625 INFO Added 6/25/05
Note: The bullet and OAL are only for the following two 7625 loads only.

Bullet Hornady 124gr FMJ encapsulated
Cartridge OAL 1.178

Average Avg PF Hi Low AvDv StDev
7.0gr 1342.56 166.5 1355 1322 8.05 11.02
7.2gr 1372.6 170.2 1392 1358 10.72 12.75

[Bill Steele]

Gets hairy up there.

Hello All,

I am starting to shoot major 9 in open division and need a few recommended loads to try out.

Thanks,
Jellyb

I would look at 147gr Montana Gold CMJ and running VV-3N38 under it.

Check the VV loading guide for load information.

http://www.vihtavuori-lapua.com/

[jellyb]

Thanks for the info....it's a start. Wish me Luck!

[NotEnufGarage]

and just what is the purpose of Major 9? Kabooming your pistol, perhaps?

[sargenv]

Major 9 is for competition guns specifically set up for it.. it's not something you'd run in your standard Glock 17/34, Sig 229, or any other production pistol. It is a meant for usually a full sized 1911 widebody of some flavor or Specially built Glock 17/34 or other specially built widebodies for open division USPSA/IPSC shooting.. These guns generally have a fully supported chamber and enough ports/comps to make use of the gasses that the 9 major produces.. most people who shoot 9 major use once fired brass, and generally do not reload it more than once due to the pressures involved.. They utilize powders that are on the slower side so that pressures to do not spike as violently as the mid to fast burners do and they are generally loaded longer than a standard magazine will allow to fit in a standard pistol not set up for this specialty cartridge.. It is usually not a cartridge for a beginner..

The main reason for it's use is that the cost of the brass is generally cheaper than the longer 38 super/38 super comp/ 38 TJ brass that handles the same performance at generally a lower pressure.. 9mm brass can be had for as little as .02-.03 ea while super/super comp/tj brass can be as much as .12-.15 or more IF you can find it.. 9mm brass is generally available everywhere..

[noylj]

As Sargenv said, it's to KB your gun.
Why any organization would permit loads that exceed SAAMI requirements is hard to understand. I don't know a single IDPA group that hasn't had at least one KB--either trying to make a Super .38 Super out of the 9x19 or from 200-220gn bullets and very fast powders in .40.
It also means a lot of 9x19 brass that is no longer safe to shoot is falling into the hands of unsuspecting reloaders.
I figured I found one the other day. I picked up the case and the spent primer fell out. Maybe I could super-glue it back in?

[NotEnufGarage]

Major 9 is for competition guns specifically set up for it.. it's not something you'd run in your standard Glock 17/34, Sig 229, or any other production pistol. It is a meant for usually a full sized 1911 widebody of some flavor or Specially built Glock 17/34 or other specially built widebodies for open division USPSA/IPSC shooting.. These guns generally have a fully supported chamber and enough ports/comps to make use of the gasses that the 9 major produces.. most people who shoot 9 major use once fired brass, and generally do not reload it more than once due to the pressures involved.. They utilize powders that are on the slower side so that pressures to do not spike as violently as the mid to fast burners do and they are generally loaded longer than a standard magazine will allow to fit in a standard pistol not set up for this specialty cartridge.. It is usually not a cartridge for a beginner..

The main reason for it's use is that the cost of the brass is generally cheaper than the longer 38 super/38 super comp/ 38 TJ brass that handles the same performance at generally a lower pressure.. 9mm brass can be had for as little as .02-.03 ea while super/super comp/tj brass can be as much as .12-.15 or more IF you can find it.. 9mm brass is generally available everywhere..

But why, for competition, do you need the extra pressure/power? Are the targets made of thicker paper or something?

[GeoffLinder]

It has to do with scoring points. USPSA has two power factors, Major and Minor. Velocity x bullet weight in grains determines the power factor. Major get more points on paper targets with peripheral hits. To be competitive in USPSA Open division you pretty much have to shoot major power factor (same for Limited division)

I shoot major 9 in a specially built Glock, it is a valid mode IF you are a capable reloader and know WTF you are doing. If you are new to re-loading it is not recommended you try it without expert guidance.

That said, I use a 124gr JHP (Remington Golden Sabre) at .356" diameter. I load to max mag length for the Glock (1.155"). I use only one batch new or once-fired brass. Recipe uses HS-6 powder at 8.6gr (compressed load).

DO NOT just duplicate anyone else's load data. You MUST work this type of load up in YOUR gun VERY carefully.

[NotEnufGarage]

Why not just shoot a more powerful handgun, then? Seems like you wouldn't have to push a .45ACP past it's SAMMI spec to out "power factor" any 9MM load.

Doesn't sound like a type of competition I'd be interested in. Too much potential for catastrophic failure.

[GeoffLinder]

Why not just shoot a more powerful handgun, then? Seems like you wouldn't have to push a .45ACP past it's SAMMI spec to out "power factor" any 9MM load.

Doesn't sound like a type of competition I'd be interested in. Too much potential for catastrophic failure.

It's actually a very safe round to shoot once you have the recipe sorted out for YOUR gun. Catastrophic failure starts and ends with the person doing the reloading. Safe reloading practices are what make this a safe practice and vice versa

.45 ACP and .40 S&W are losers with a Capital L for Open division competition as these cartridges cannot develop the gas pressure needed to work a compensator and ports well enough to be worth using. Open guns work best in calibers like 9x19, .38 super and supercomp, etc... Also, the cartridge diameter of .45 and .40 will reduce mag capacity which is another strike against you in the competitiveness category.