Nube to 9mm Luger reloading

[Elric]

Well, someone from the Ruger forum is sending me a replacement firing pin blocking spring for a P85 after I lost it through a hole in my pocket... Finished installing a white outline Millett Accu-Set rear and reached into my pocket for the small spring... and stuck my finger tip out...

Loading Cast Bullets In the 9mm Luger/Parabellum by Ed Harris

So you think you reload cast on the ragged edge, huh? Read the story from a manly-man who was there!
http://www.grantcunningham.com/2014/05/ed-harris-loading-cast-bullets-in-the-9mm-lugerparabellum/

But I digress. After years of jacking the handle of a single stage press, it looks pretty apparent I need a progressive. Lee seems to have an interesting three holer, but I cringe reading about the little nylon cog or whatever that actuates the movement.... Help me, Obi Wan Progressive! You are my only hope!

Depriming and priming will be done off-press, as will charging.

I want to load lead... BB bullets. What dies will I need?

 

[Brad]

My 9mm loads are all mid range. Most of mine are a 120 gr bullet around 1000-1050 fps. I like Red Dot in the 9mm. I have used 3.5-4 gr. I think fiver runs 3.5 gr or so with his bullet from an identical mould, the HM2 120 RN

 

[358156 hp]

We run heavy (135 gr) powdercoated bullets, fairly hot. I use the same mould to feed a 357 SIG. My powder choice is usually AA #7, but I go pretty hot for the SIG.

 

[RKJ]

Lee seems to have an interesting three holer, but I cringe reading about the little nylon cog or whatever that actuates the movement....

Elric, I used the LEE 3 hole turret press years ago and found that if I didn't push the speed of the press, the plastic cog worked fine. I went ahead and got a few of the cogs (just in case) from LEE as I'm pretty heavy (Ham) handed. I loaded rifle & pistol on that thing for about 2 years. It's a pretty good press for the money.

 

[Winelover]

I load for half dozen different nines. Three different conventionally lubed cast bullets. RCBS 125 RN, Lyman 120 TC and NOE's 115 RNFP in RG configuration. All done on a RCBS JR single stage press with their carbide dies. Unique and Bullseye are the powders I use the most, but lately, I've gone to AA #7.

 

[Dusty Bannister]

It seems that of the various calibers to reload with cast bullets, some have a terrible time with the 9MM.. Some find it beneficial to sort brass by head stamp so that the crimp and bullet fit is consistent. Many seem to have problems when they load the Lee TL bullet styles and are not careful to keep the bullet diameter a little on the fat side. Others can trace their trouble back to the Lee Factory Crimp Die, which might also relate to bullet diameter, and alloy selection.

I am a single stage reloader and never had some of these problems with the 9MM. I always used the standard carbide dies and did not try to shoot as cheaply as possible and do use a decent alloy. For those that are entering reloading cast bullets and have little experience, I would suggest that they read through the following thread. Never take anything for gospel and be open to considering the experience of others. And keep in mind that some will state their opinions rather strongly, but that does not necessarily make them correct.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?121607-Setting-up-for-boolits-in-a-new-9mm

 

[Pistolero]

I have had excellent results with Lee 105 SWC, a mini H&G 68 type design, and now mostly use
the Lee 120 TC conventional lube. I size to .358 which works in everything from an Astra 600 to
a BHP and a Walther P1 (P38 alloy frame). B92, Sig P6 and Star B also like it.

Bill

 

[fiver]

Bill's write up there is a good one to get you going.

I use pretty much what Brad mentioned.
I'm somewhere around ww+some [1ish?%] tin alloy.
3.2-3.5 grs. of the red-dot, bulls-eye, 700-x type powder speed has been the better ones for me.
I really have never had much trouble with the 9mm.
I don't sort cases, I don't get all wrapped up about primers either.

the only thing I really pay attention to is if I am squeezing the bullet down somewhere in the loading process.
and if the load has enough oomph to operate the pistol in the cold.


you probably don't want my comments on the LEE, I will say Ian is the only person I know that has one that works and AIRC it is a Frankenstein of parts from a couple of different models.
the one and only one I ever tried got mostly beat/stomped off the bench with a metal stool and a steel toed boot.

 

[KeithB]

I've had good luck with the 9 in my HP using slightly below max charges of Blue Dot (6.8grs I think) with several different 125-135gr bullets.

 

[Winelover]

I've had good luck with the 9 in my HP using slightly below max charges of Blue Dot (6.8grs I think) with several different 125-135gr bullets.

A blast from the past. My HP Bluedot load was Speer's 125 RN over 8.0 grains. Book maximum....still have some loaded around here. They will get your attention, especially in a sub-compact....shot that load while breaking in my Nano. Couldn't get that powder to work with 125 RN cast, though. Switched to Unique.

 

[Cherokee]

I found 9mm no harder to load for than other cartridges if you learn its characteristics. My primary bullet now is the Lee 120 TC (conventional) cast from a 3/3/94 alloy and HS6 is the power. I have used Power Pistol (flashy power), 231, WST, AA7, Unique, Bluedot. I settled on HS6 for near factory level loads and WST for lighter loads. I do sort cases by HS, I can tell a difference. One characteristic of 9mm is getting the inside diameter such that it does not size down your carefully cast/sized/lubed bullets from your desired diameter (for me .357); To accomplish this I use a Lyman 38AP expander plug that extends deeper into the tapered wall case. CCI is my primary primer but Win, S&B and Tula have worked the same. Read the above referenced posts.

 

[freebullet]

Long as you don't size down the bullet when seating or crimping it's the easiest caliber to load for imo. It may well be easier than 38spcl since double charging the cases is less likely.

 

[358156 hp]

Carbide pistol dies size brass down too far anyway. I've switched over to using my 38/357 powder funnel in my Dillon because the standard 9mm funnel is too short for the heavier bullets I favor.

 

[KHornet]

Partial to Unique and Tight Group in 9's.

Paul

 

[Hawk]

I had the Lee progressive and pretty much agree with Fiver.
Now use a Dillon and will never look back.

I'm pretty much sold on Unique for all my 9mm cast loads.

 

[Ian]

I have five of the Lee Pro-1000 progressives, including this one, which you won't find in stores:







The Pro-1000 is a good press, but you must operate the handle very deliberately and carefully. Seating primers takes some effort and I find it easier to grab the back of the turret head with my left hand as leverage when pushing the handle home to seat a primer. You'll want to peek in each case with a pen light to ensure correct powder drop before seating a bullet. The case feeder works extremely well once adjusted. If you're priming off the press, none of that is an issue. From what I understand, all new Lee equipment comes with the STUUUUPID white plastic folding triangle thingy for a primer tray, I advise just throwing it in the trash and using an older tray if you have one. Small primers are especially problematic with the new style trays.

I've never loaded for the 9mm, but have loaded extensively for the .40 S&S, same challenges (hard brass for high pressure, most expanding dies have a spud way too small for cast bullets, Lee carbide post-sizing seating die squishes cast bullets too small). As others have repeatedly mentioned, use a bullet that's big enough to not lead but will still reliably chamber, and make certain your equipment is preparing the the brass with adequate case tension, but not so much that it squishes your bullets down too small when you seat them.

FWIW, I've found Titegroup to be very spooky in small cases, giving sudden pressure spikes as the load is worked up or if you have even the slightest change in bullet seating depth.

 

[fiver]

I seen all those red containers and was like holy cow that is a lot of Herco.
[I initially thought they were the old red metal can's Hercules used to use]

I agree with the titegroup in the 9mm it scares me to death in the small cases.
I have used it in the 40 short and was a bit leery there until I looked at the case volume versus powder volume and even if the bullet moved back a bit I still have a comfort factor there.

 

[Winelover]

I recognized the Folger's containers, right away. Anything but.......except for Hill's Brothers.

 

[Ian]

Actually.....there's a 16-lb cardboard drum full of Herco about eight feet away from the press.

The plastic coffee cans all contain loaded die plates and shell holders, ready to drop in the turret press for a 10-second caliber change.