Question about my 9mm load-any thoughts?

[johnny1290]

I'm looking at the manual and it says 4.9 grain max load of bullseye for 125 grain lead to get 1165 fps from a 4" barrel.

I've been using 4.3 grains of Bullseye, but for fun I tried 4.0 grains and I like the lighter recoil and my groups appear to be tighter.

Is there any reason I shouldn't continue using 4 grains? The gun cycles fine and I enjoy shooting it more, I just thought I'd ask in case maybe there's something I'm missing.

I'm mostly shooting 124 grain cast lead bullets with deeeelicious smelling alox for lube! with a 1.10 OAL

[Clownpuncher]

If it's within the min/max of your manual and your gun cycles fine then it shouldn't be a problem. I typically run on the low/mid range with plated bullets. I seem to get better accuracy out of them when I load in that range.

[XDRoX]

No reason to load hotter if you're getting better accuracy with the light loads.

The only possible problem you come across when loading lighter with uber fast powders like BE is a double charge, so just be careful.

If you ever want to go even softer try 3.3gr of BE under 147gr bullet. One of the softest 9mm loads I've ever shot. Velocity was 841fps out of a 4" Glock using plated bullets. And they functioned a pretty stiff new Glock just fine.

I enjoy shooting light loads as well. As long as they're accurate.

[grant22]

Yup, no where in the manuals does it say "Max load is best." It simply isn't true. Most of my favorite loads are toward the min load.

[johnny1290]

Thanks, fellas!

I've only been reloading for under a year. I bought 8 pounds of Bullseye because I was too dumb to ask somewhere what I should get, and 5,000 rounds later, well, I still have pounds of it left! hah!

Next powder buy I'll try other stuff. Unique or BlueDot have been on my radar.

Anyway looking through my reloading book I think I had been trying to get a load that felt more like the commercial reloads I'd been shooting.

How cool I can dial in the ammo to help compensate for my girlish wrists and pooor shooting technique?!? ;-)

Seriously though I saved my target because the grouping was the best I think I've ever shot.

Thanks for the heads up about double charging. Can't ever take that for granted.

[XDRoX]

IME the best powders for 9mm are WST, WSF, and W231. Unique is alright it just doesn't meter well.

[Bill Steele]

I have loaded a lot of 125gr lead for my 9's. I have used anywhere from 4.0-4.8gr of Bullseye for these loads and I have to say the closer I get to 4.0gr the more accurate the rounds. For whatever reason with Bullseye, above about 4.4gr's the accuarcy gets worse and worse. This is with both LRN and LFP 125gr lead bullets. The gun seems to make little difference, whether a G26 all the way through a Kimber Target 9mm 1911, the accuracy when loaded hotter is just plain poor.

I have since quit loading Bullseye for 9mm lead rounds.

[enzo357]

Interesting load data. Was testing 124 montana gold win 231 today. 4,0-4.5 grains. in a 9mm 1911. 4.3 was far better. Funny how a grain up or down can makes such a difference. Next time will try bullseye.

[Bill Steele]

The best powder I have ever shot in 9mm is VV-3N37. I get superior accuracy out of this powder, regardless of whether I am using start loads or max pressure.

Now that PD is selling those 124gr JHP so cheap, all I load nowadays for 9mm is Precision Delta 124gr JHP over 6.5grs of VV-3N37. Amazing accuracy and very clean.

[G60]

As long as your gun functions, no reason to go higher unless you're required to in order to meet power factor etc.

[damndave]

As long as you are within the min/max and it functions in your gun you should be fine. But if you have other 9mm pistols you wish to shoot them out of, they might now function.

[jdogg2000]

I think some powders will run kind of dirty if you run loads that are too low. I've been kind of amazed how low I can go and still have my guns function perfectly fine. I ended up loading my Bullseye loads kind of in the middle because I felt like they had too little recoil hahah. My WSF loads feel a little snappier though I think.

[johnny1290]

Thank you, fellas! I actually brought the load down to 3.8 grains and it worked fine. After more shooting, the jury is out whether or not its in my head or I actually do any better with less powder. The lower charge is easier on my girlish wrists.

I took your advice, xdrox, and ordered some WSF I believe along with a bunch of primers from Grafs. I'm glad I did,as they sem to be running low on lots of stuff.