Nervous about testing 9mm Major Loads

[ironhorse1]

I have followed the formulas from a few veteran shooters but just the sight of a 9mm case almost full to the brim with powder as it comes around the shell plate makes me nervous. Should I be?
Here's what I'm doing:

IMR 7625- 7.0 grains
Sierra JHP- 125 grains
Seating- 1.18

U R INSANE. I have found no data for this powder that exceeds 5.2 grains.

Expect a hefty chunk of slide in your forehead if you shoot this load.

But have fun and let us know how it works out for you!

irh

[Rac97crawford]

Eww weeee! 1.7 grains over max! I recommend a vice, blast shield, and string for this test.

[Bumslie]

Id like to know what gun you plan to shoot this out of?

[rm1911]

This is why I hate the whole "major" power factor thing. I shot IPSC like over 20'years ago. A 45 200gr swc sitting on top of I think 5.5 gr bullseye and chugging along at about 900fps made major. Nice easy and fun round to shoot. But a 9mm 115 at what?? 1200fps was still minor. WTF!!!

Shoot 9mm major and make sure you have good medical insurance as well as good life insurance. Power factor BS is overrated.

9mm is a well proven effective defensive round and with quality bullets that are produced today should put an end to the whole power factor crap.

Good thing you're nervous. I'd be. Well actually I wouldn't be because I'd never even attempt it. 20+ years reloading and never had an
Issue. Am I that talented? Nope. Just not as dumb as I look.

My honest opinion? You're a fool (I'd use harsher but won't) if you shoot them. Pull the bullets and try some sane loads. Make major and play their stupid numbers game with a bigger caliber.

[sargenv]

I know men and women pushing 9 major in several pistols built for it.. Usually Limcat or other custom built platforms with fully supported barrels, springs, and the like that will put up with the pressure.. but my advice would be to use something a bit denser than SR7625.. Something more in the range of HS6.. SAAMI MAX OAL for 9mm luger is actually in the range of 1.135".. Or about the max length that a Glock, Sig, or other standard 9mm uses.. 1.180" is very long and generally required.. Either way, I'd actually go for the heavier 124 gr HP over the 115.. 124 need 1371 fps for a 170 PF and 115's need 1480fps for a 170 major (I re-read it and see he was going for 125's, good ).. Quite a bit more velocity needed for a generally 5" tube.. Yes, I know, 165 is major.. but most good shooters build in a few PF for chrono's that are not their own.. just in case. Also SR7625 was a bit inconsistent.. I was able to score a nearly full can of it because it wasn't performing to the shooter's needs.. it was a little slow from a previous batch.

SR7625 is also a powder that is supposed to cease production at the end of this year.. Along with PB and SR4756. Some of the Vitt powders are also good for 9 major.. but can be pricey.. Most 9 major shooters buy once fired 9mm brass, fire it once and leave it.. since pressure is likely over the SAAMI max pressure limit anyway...

The idea of shooting 45 major is sort of another animal.. the reason for 9 major is generally that they can stuff 30-31 rounds in a double stack magazine as opposed to a max of 14-17 - 45's in a double stack.. It's just not all that competitive anymore for most action games.. The 45 acp does fine for Major Revolver, L10 or Single stack but is generally more expensive to load for and at a disadvantage for other divisions..Most notably for Open division USPSA/IPSC..

[JMP]

I'll bet it works, but, just in case, you should wear protection and shoot a Glock (so you don't care that much if you destroy it).

[the86d]

U R INSANE. I have found no data for this powder that exceeds 5.2 grains.

Expect a hefty chunk of slide in your forehead if you shoot this load.

But have fun and let us know how it works out for you!

irh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_SwD7RveNE

[J-cat]

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=129345

[JaeOne3345]

OP: What pistol are you planning to shoot 9 major out of?

[krwada]

Why???

Why do people do this?

I really do not get it!

[CalTeacher]

This is why I hate the whole "major" power factor thing. I shot IPSC like over 20'years ago. A 45 200gr swc sitting on top of I think 5.5 gr bullseye and chugging along at about 900fps made major. Nice easy and fun round to shoot. But a 9mm 115 at what?? 1200fps was still minor. WTF!!!

Shoot 9mm major and make sure you have good medical insurance as well as good life insurance. Power factor BS is overrated.

9mm is a well proven effective defensive round and with quality bullets that are produced today should put an end to the whole power factor crap.

Good thing you're nervous. I'd be. Well actually I wouldn't be because I'd never even attempt it. 20+ years reloading and never had an
Issue. Am I that talented? Nope. Just not as dumb as I look.

My honest opinion? You're a fool (I'd use harsher but won't) if you shoot them. Pull the bullets and try some sane loads. Make major and play their stupid numbers game with a bigger caliber.

9mm major is actually pretty common in open division and can be safely loaded, but not with this powder. I know people who shoot it in $5k S_I race guns and in their open Glocks (usually KKM barrels). The game (USPSA) is played with minimum power floors and it's all part of the competition. Let's not start calling people names when you don't fully comprehend 9mm major loads and the reason people load 9mm to such velocity. 9mm can be safely loaded, but is not for the faint of heart. Loads must be worked up carefully with the aid of a chrono.

[krwada]

I see!

9mm major is actually pretty common in open division and can be safely loaded, but not with this powder. I know people who shoot it in $5k S_I race guns and in their open Glocks (usually KKM barrels). The game (USPSA) is played with minimum power floors and it's all part of the competition. Let's not start calling people names when you don't fully comprehend 9mm major loads and the reason people load 9mm to such velocity. 9mm can be safely loaded, but is not for the faint of heart. Loads must be worked up carefully with the aid of a chrono.

You are talking about full custom guns. A couple of questions...

1. How do these competition shooters know what their firearms are capable of ... (safe chamber pressure)
2. Do these folks carefully work up the loads from published to these major loads ... while carefully looking at pressure and chrono data?
3. How much, on average, do these firearms cost? You stated $5000. What is the reasonable range on the cost of these guns?
4. I suppose using an off-the-shelf Glock would not be a good idea for this type of shooting no?

Talk about experimental ... uncharted territory.

Thanks;
krwada

[the86d]

[Carpasteis]

OP: What pistol are you planning to shoot 9 major out of?

STI matchmaster 9x19

[Carpasteis]

Why do people do this?

I really do not get it!

Guess there's not too many open division shooters on this page.