Hi folks - Just looking for some general input on your experience finding reload recipes that are the cleanest in your straight blowback PCCs. I know they're dirty running guns by design, but I'm sure some of you have found clean and less clean burning powder/bullet combinations. Assuming most of us are talking about non-restricted 18.5" barrels. Thanks in advance!
''Clean'' 9mm reloads in straight blowback PCCs
- Thread starter alpining
- Start date
Remember you pay a premium, but also get more than a pound. Sold by the 0.5KG
I third that recommendation... I have had great success with exceptionally clean burning loads with V-V powder... Very consistent and easy to meter as well.
Bubba Yugga
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Midwestern Ontario
Cleanest powder around is Ramshot True Blue, and reasonably priced.
http://www.natoreloading.com/trueblue/
Henry's got some stock still, because I can't afford to buy him out.
https://budgetshootersupply.ca/product/ramshot-true-blue-pistol-smokeless-powder-1lb/
http://www.natoreloading.com/trueblue/
Henry's got some stock still, because I can't afford to buy him out.
https://budgetshootersupply.ca/product/ramshot-true-blue-pistol-smokeless-powder-1lb/
I like True Blue , but I found that it gets a bit dirty with powder residue if you download it. Good crimp and a mid to higher end load runs pretty clean.
Interesting stuff, thanks all.
Consensus seems to be heavier bullets, and mid to higher pressure loadings, yes?
I've only ever loaded up to 147gr. Those of you loading 158gr (and higher), any issues with bullet length and case volume? Are they carbine-only loads, or do you have success getting the same ammo to run in pistols?
Consensus seems to be heavier bullets, and mid to higher pressure loadings, yes?
I've only ever loaded up to 147gr. Those of you loading 158gr (and higher), any issues with bullet length and case volume? Are they carbine-only loads, or do you have success getting the same ammo to run in pistols?
Just going to throw a caution out here about loading. I was a bit surprised how much more velocity I got from an FX9 over my Shadow. I had to back off quite a bit from my IPSC production handgun loads. I was actually bulging cases - increase of 10%+ in velocity. Start at the minimum and work up.
That is a gun problem not a load problem. Widely discussed and documented in the PCC forum and elsewhere.
I love running 158+ in my pistols. Reminds of the "softness" push of the 230gr in a full size heavy 1911.
My heavy 9mm load for my Dlask 1911 9mm commander and Glock 19x (also a "match" barrel but it's throated like a #### star) :
Super mild and no pressure from either the 1911 Kart Barrel, Dlask Barrel, Glock Factory barrel or Glock "match" barrel. The only thing I have to be careful is with the Kart 1911 match barrel the chamber/throat doesn't allow me to seat further than 1.130".
3.4 gr N330 @ 1.135 with Bayou 160gr hitek supercoated
No issues cycling or last round slide open but I use a very slightly reduced recoil spring. I use a 12lbs on the 1911 commander and I think I use a 15 or 16lbs on the Glock. Honestly I could use a full recoil recoil spring and it would probably work fine, doesn't look like it's struggling with N330 except at the starting load at 3.0
Official book value from VV for 9mm standard and 165gr is:
N330 0,19 3.0 224 735 0,23 3.5 264 866
https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/handgun-reloading/?cartridge=89
These figures are actually pretty accurate, I usually get about 800FPS from my 3.4gr/160gr. At 3.0 you might have to swap recoil springs because it will might short stroke. From my old notes, I think it would seldom short stroke my G19x at 3.0gr with the factory spring and a X300 attached when I did some load dev 3 years ago.
N320 is pretty difficult to get to cycle a pistol with 160+ but you might get it to work in a PCC with a really lightweight spring, I think I was able to but I just prefer to save the N330 for that and keep N320 for my 147s
N330 is absolutely magic for the 9mm 158+ and also for subsonic 300BLK in a bolt gun. I was hitting a 8in steel gong 9/10 at 400m with my amax 208 load, 990fps single digit ES but that's for a different thread.
Blowbacks by nature are dirty. Huge difference between shooting in my pistol versus blow back PC carbines. Never noticed a significant difference between powders or really cared all that much.
Fortunately they invented a thing called a 'brass tumbler.'
Fortunately they invented a thing called a 'brass tumbler.'
You got 10% more velocity, which is actually lower than I would expect. Bulged cases with otherwise safe ammo is common with the FX9. I am working off the information you provided. You could always elaborate...
Sorry wasn't meaning to be a #### - I was rushing when I posted that.
I went back on my notes and it's acutally more like 20%. In my Shadow I was pushing a 124 grain plated bullet at 1035 FPS (128 PF) and in the FX9 it was going 1210 FPS (150 PF)! The 1210 FPS load was obviously causing the gun to go out of battery prematurely. That FX9 has been shot with just about every configuration of factory ammo without doing that. I also have my reloads down to where they are doing what 9mm should be doing velocity wise. So in my case it's not a gun a problem at all...it was obviously a load problem. Everything is factory on this gun (no heavy buffer, etc.).
Depends on what you are wanting.
Most folks loading heavy bullets with fast burning powder so they are heavy/slow, for auto pistols are doing it for light recoil and faster follow up 'splits' for running and gunning games.
This combo is generally about the dirtiest loading you will see, with a fair amount of fouling.
If however, you are running a compensator, you are probably chasing the inverse of that - light(er) bullets driven quite fast to take advantage of the compensator's attributes (and in cases, to meet required 'power' factors).
You may wish to experiment.
Do you compete with this ammo?
Is one common load that is used between PCC and pistol advantageous to you?
