My New favorite 9mm Load, 173gr SWC.

[ThompsonCustom]

I just thought I would share my success with you guys. I loaded up a 173gr SWC to 1.100 OAL under 2.4grs of unique and man is this a great shooting, very soft recoil round. I took my CGW recoil kit with me thinking it wouldn't cycle the slide but to my surprise it ran flawless and was way more accurate than I am.

Shot it out of my CZ 75b, this load should make minor not that I compete but I figure it would be a good place to start with working up a load tho I'm not sure i'll change anything.

Some data:
OAL: 1.100
Bullet length: .745
Bullet weight: 173gr
Case length: .754

Quickloads velocity output(no chrono)
FPS:743
LBS:212
propellant burnt: 95%
IPSC factor: 128.6
Max chamber pressure: 27k

Also if you do compete this bullet could be used to make major but you would have to have a gun that could accept a OAL of 1.160 my 75b will take this round at 1.145 tho I think with a OAL under 1.160 your pressure levels would be to high, just something for you to think about. Looks the best at 1.100 as it's just passed the crimp groove and I figure it's less likely to get hang up.

[777TRUTH]

HOLY COW! That's one HEAVY bullet for a 9mm.

Glad it works for you though.

[jwc007]

Very Interesting!  Have heard of, but never seen, of very heavy bullets for the 9mm Major.  Would be interested in knowing what brand/mold or Bullet Caster made them.

Back in the Major 9 days, we played with 158 grn LSWC's and 158 grn LRN's resized to .356 from .358 (.38 Special) and 150 grn Competition Products 9mm (.355) 150 grn RN's to get as heavy a bullet possible with HS6/W540 and Alliant Herco and Blue Dot.  Ended up making Major with a 135 grn FMJ-RN and 9x21mm.

[Wobbly]

[ThompsonCustom]

Well I cast all my bullets the mold for this one is the lyman #358429, and as requested here are some pics.




Ran some more numbers through quickload and it looks like you could hit major at 43k psi loaded to 1.145. Tho if it was me(I don't compete)I would have the chamber reamed to the longest my mag would accept as if loaded .024 longer 1.169 you could make major at ~38450 psi which is right under the +P ceiling.

[Wobbly]

Overall I'm very impressed with your cartridge. That's really neat stuff. However, due to the broad flat tip, I don't think you can load those to 1.169". That's because all auto pistols slant the grip and magazine back at some angle, meaning the front mag wall presents itself at an angle to the axis of the cartridge.



So while the fully loaded cartridge can measure 1.169" along it's central axis, the nose of the bullet had better be rounded away from that point to keep from scrubbing the inside of the mag. Obviously, some testing would deliver the optimal OAL in short order.

Good stuff! 

[armoredman]

Wow. I don't think I would try that myself, but kudos for pushing the envelope!

[jwc007]

Very Interesting!  Reminds me of my earlier 158 grn LSWC experiments.

I'm thinking HS-6/W540, Herco, or Blue Dot might get USPSA Major with considerably less pressure.  I would probably choose an LRN version if there is one, for feed reliability.

[ThompsonCustom]

Oh I should have mentioned that the major loads I calculated were using power pistol not unique as I believe that's one of the lower pressure/higher velocity powders.

wobbly,
Not sure if 1.169 would work or not, the inside of my magazine measures from front to back 1.205 but like you said there are at a slant I'll load some up latter and see if I can get them to feed from the mag to the chamber.

[1SOW]

That is a good looking bullet.  It sits mighty deep into the case with the Bullet length: .745".
It's .12" longer than the Berry's 124HBRN. and doesn't have the hollow base--wowee.

You need about 950 fps for a reliable  9mm major load.  Did you run Silhuoette through quickload?  Likes being compressed, but maybe too hot for lead?.
Many mags will accept over 1.169", but haven't checked my 75B (shortie unreemed) for longest possible/usable with the mags.

Sure is an interesting option though.

[ThompsonCustom]

I've ran a few different ones through and so far pistol power comes out the best.  Silhuoette at 4.05grs put out 953 fps but the pressure is just over 44k and pistol power at 4.2grs puts out 949fps at just over 37k so there's a 7k difference and a lot of the other powders I put through are in that 42 to 44k area, not that wouldn't work it's just the lower pressure makes me fell better less chance of surprise hand grenade. 

[jameslovesjammie]

Tossin' the old Keith in a nine?  Sounds like fun!  Have you pulled any of the bullets?  I would be curious since the 9mm case tapers towards the base if the case is swaging down the back of the bullet.

What are you using for lube?  Looks like Carnuba Red.  Good stuff.

[ThompsonCustom]

Ya I did pull a few and yes they are swaging down a little but I don't remember how small it was pushing them down but no signs of leading yet. lube? lol I was afraid someone would ask that as I don't really have a name for this lube it's kind of everything left over melted down and made into one lube tho so far it seems to work very well but there is no carnuba in it that I can remember, the red probably comes from the lucas red N tacky.

I loaded up some dummy rounds at 1.169 not only did they feed from the mag they feed into the chamber and fully closed, one of them did not want to extract but the second one was fine, so it might be possible to run it at 1.169 as is, the only thing I worry about there is seating the bullet deeper when chambering the round.

[Twmaster]

Dayum. That is a big bad boolit. Very interesting load for 9MM.

[1SOW]

I loaded up some dummy rounds at 1.169 not only did they feed from the mag they feed into the chamber and fully closed, one of them did not want to extract but the second one was fine, so it might be possible to run it at 1.169 as is, the only thing I worry about there is seating the bullet deeper when chambering the round

I'm not surprised one hung up.  I'll bet it was into the leade, but it doesn't sound like it's far into the cone.  1.16 or even 1.165 might just run.   .