Looking for Load info 9mm
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I am checking to see if any or if many of you load for your handguns? I broke down and bought a new 9mm pistol. If you do please share some info of what tools you use and components. (Dies,Powder,Brass,Bullets,Primers etc.) Any load data would also be helpful.
I have had 2 Glocks for years but never really liked either so rarely shot either. I now have something I am excited about and plan on practicing.
Any input greatly appreciated.
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I will break the ice. I was pretty reluctant to get into pistol ammunition reloading, lots of bargains in bulk buys. Then we had a dry spell, that passed but there's always a chance it will happen again. The dry spell wasn't the reason I bought dies and more stuff mostly curiosity got to me. I bought 9mm dies and some components first just to see and slowly got the rest of the other calibers later. A friend of mine has a Dillon progressive but I wasn't that curious not saying anything against Dillon. If you are really serious about it go all blue, get a Dillon. First, Lee Deluxe Pistol Dies. They have all you need. I can't comment on any other brand because I never used any other. I trickle and weigh one at a time and use the powder through expander die. Adjust the case mouth expander just enough to set a bullet in easily without it tipping over. After crimping you want the case mouth nice and square not where it bites into the bullet especially on rounds like 45 and 9mm that headspace on the mouth. There is a way to mount a powder measure directly to the die that would speed it up by just using the measure once its set to the correct charge. I just shove a funnel in the die and after weighing dump it. Of course you size and deprime them first. A good loading block is a necessity also. Once charged I place the cases in one and before seating bullets do a visual inspection with a LED light with an inspection beam. If any look suspicious pull them out and dump them. Dang sure don't want a double or squib. The sizing die is simple to use and the seating die also. The crimp and post size die helps insure the loaded round will chamber and to an extent will straighten a slightly crooked bullet if that happens. I bought a couple of Wilson case gauges and I always check the loads using the barrel of the pistol also. I prime with a CPS Lite and make sure there are none that are proud. I usually aim for .002 below flush. I have seen factory ammo with high primers so there you go. As far as powders and primers I just bought some Unique and CFE Pistol and Winchester primers to get started. I've got a few Berry's and Hornady bullets and a load of lead 38 stuff. I have picked up a couple more brands and there is literally thousands of loads on the web and books galore. I can't name any favorites off the top of my head and usually I go to the lower end and then we shoot over a chronograph to see where we are. My friend with the Dillon calls me when he has a load he's fixing to run and we go to the range. Once he's satisfied the Dillon cranks them out. And I single stroke them to death. Once I started loading a few pistol rounds brass started showing up at my door from all my friends. Now I don't know what to do with it all. Getting where I won't even pick it up at the range any more.
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I loaded 9mm on a hornady progressive for a time. I'm a good distance away from having enough experience to speak about, so I'll keep my mouth shut. I only loaded a few thousand rounds on it. Worked well enough, with every pull of the handle chunking out a loaded round, but I can't speak with any authority about it.
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Thanks for the reply bigfoot, you are right the bulk stuff is pretty cheap right now. I am not sure after doing some reading if it is worth the time right now with the prices. I barely have enough time to load my long gun stuff. Very nice write up with a lot of good info. Thank You.
Thanks Greg for the response.
At this time I have bought a 1000 rounds for practice and some speer gold dot for carry.
For now I am going to stock up on some bulk practice ammo.
Thanks
Tom
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My curiosity was put to rest after about five hundred rounds loaded one at a time. :/
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Yeah, it's back to where you can get some good ball ammo for $170 a case. That's cheap enough to not be worth it. In hindsight, my setup was for .45 and even that can be had pretty cheap these days in bulk.
As bigfoot said, they can put the squeeze on sometimes... and it's nice to be able to do your own, but don't forget you can knock it out on a single stage pretty easy, and there are some setups with a turret press that can speed that along. Nice to have a round pop out with each pull of the handle, but it's not a requisite if a guy has the time.
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I went crazy on some .40 bulk and now I have dies and components I will more than likely never use. I don't really like the pistol I have either, big ol' Beretta but it sure has a good trigger. Can use it for a club when it's empty.
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I like Dillon presses, but you need to be loading a lot to make it worth it. I have a couple of 550’s and a 1050. The 1050 will really crank out some ammo and has provisions for powder check. It primes on the pull so you don’t have to push to prime. It also swages so you don’t have to worry about mil brass which is sometimes an issue with 9mm. The 1050 is only good if you are either loading one caliber only, or if you are loading several thousand at a time. It takes about 45 minutes to do a complete caliber change...especially if primer size needs to be changed.
The 550’s are what I do most of my pistol loading on. I have one for small primer and one for large. I can change out calibers in under a minute. Each caliber has toolhead, dies, and powder measure attached. I don’t load 1000’s at a time, so these are great and much faster than single stage. I can do about 400 an hour if all goes smooth.
The 650 is between the two, but not worth it in my opinion. Either get the 550 or step all the way up to the 1050.
