Reloading for Pistol

[ERC12]

Hey Guys im going to start reloading Pistols ammo. What do you guys Recommend for bullet weight if all im doing is shooting paper.

Going to start loading

9mm
.40
.45
.38 Spec

So far I have Bullseye powder and SPP CCI.

[ireload]

9mm -- 115gr. or 124gr.

.40 -- sorry I don't own one.

.45 -- 200gr. or 230gr.

.38spl -- 125, 148wc, 158rn or swc

With that in mind, try out different bullet styles to see which ones your particular handgun likes in terms of function and decent accuracy. No sense of buying bulk bullets and later finding out that it does feed in your handgun.
By the way the .45 majority of the cases uses large pistol primers but there are some cases that has small pistol primer.

[Bill Steele]

Lighter bullets are less expensive.

Lead is less expensive than jacketed and will work great with BE.

200gr LSWC's in 45 auto work pretty well.

[ERC12]

Thanks for the Info.
@ireload found out about the large and small primers when I was deprimming the cases

[MIAMIbaseballer]

If it's all target, then shoot the cheapest which would be the lightest bullet. I like the way heavier bullets shoot though...

[Nirrad]

I use Xtreme plated for all these.

9mm - 115gr RN
.40 - N/A
.45 - 200gr RN, FP, SWC
.38 Spec - 158gr SWC

[em9sredbeam]

Just what I am using at the moment:
40 cal - 180gr Berrys or Xtreme
38- 158 gr Xtreme
45 acp - 230 gr Xtreme
460 S&W mag - Hornady 200gr ftx, and 225 gr ftx.
9mm - 115 gr Xtreme

[blockfort]

124g plated flat point 9mm, 200g plated flat point .45

Not the cheapest, but I use them for competition, and practice with the same loads.

[Lead Waster]

YOu need to get a loading book, if you don't have one already.

For bullet weight, what I'd do is shoot some factory ammo and take note of what weight works well in your guns.

For instance, CZ-75s shoot well with 124 gn bullets because the twist rate was made for it, but then again, it also shoots 115 and 147 pretty well too.


If you are just punching paper, just try the lighter, cheaper bullets first if there is no other deciding factor.

[RugerNo1]

I shoot heavy bullets in my handguns, but I am not using super hot loads.

.40 is 200 gn. LTC
.45 is 230 gun. LRN.

I shoot VV N320 for both.

[Munk]

for paper punching, just go as cheap as you can. This means different things with different brands, but it usually means you'll be getting lighter weight bullets.

for a .40, I'd suggest a 155 grn. They're usually as light as you'll find, and are pretty cheap.

[NiteQwill]

Buy lead bullets if you want to go cheap. I suggest bayou bullets.

NiteQwill via Tapatalk

[ERC12]

Thanks guys good info

[blockfort]

YOu need to get a loading book, if you don't have one already.

For bullet weight, what I'd do is shoot some factory ammo and take note of what weight works well in your guns.

For instance, CZ-75s shoot well with 124 gn bullets because the twist rate was made for it, but then again, it also shoots 115 and 147 pretty well too.


If you are just punching paper, just try the lighter, cheaper bullets first if there is no other deciding factor.

You don't need a loading book. I've been loading for a year, for pistol competition and for my rifle, and I got all the information I use from the internet, from a few in-person conversations, and a few phone calls. You should do as much research as you need. If you don't understand something, search for information on it until you do. A book has a lot of information in it, but it is only one source, and may not be up to date.

[tangocharlie7]

9mm: 147 Lead FP
.40: 180 Lead FP
.45: 200 or 230 RN
.38 Spec

So far I have Bullseye powder and SPP CCI. : i also use SPP CCI in all but 45, I use LPP in those and chuck out the small pocket brass. I like Clays in 45, Unique for .40 and anything in 9mm (I usually use Trueblue for metering purposes) but also use power pistol, unique, titegroup etc. right now you will be constrained to what is availalbe and not what you want to use.