9mm largo recipe

[Alfonso]

Hello,

I want to start loading 9MM Largo but have not been able to find anything in my loading manuals. I have yet to look on line. I have a lot of Largo Brass and will be using RNL 9 MM bullets and probably 231 powder. I'm not sure about the primers as I have both large and small pistol primers Im assuming small as it it 9MM. Any weighs any recipes for lighter loads would be appreciated.

Alfonso

 

[MiG25]

What are you shooting it it?

I had several Destroyer Carbines and the Spanish Milsurp Ammo had a velocity of 1195fps with a bullet weight (according to the internet) of 127 grains. 9mm Steyr ammo was quite a bit faster.

I used AA #7 and my max loads were 38 Super STARTING loads. I stopped there because the bolt on one looked like it was cast.

Now the Spanish Pistols are straight blowback I believe so I would start with 9mm Luger STARTING loads and work up til it functions properly.

 

[Alfonso]

Hi, Well I will be shooting an Astra 400, Star Model 21 and Super A. Can you recommend a die set as well. Ive read that 38 super works best as is similar in case length to the Largo. Yes, I have to be careful to load using either minimum 38 Super as you have suggested and or 9mm loads. I've got my Lee 9MM die set but the resizing die is too short. Ive seen some 9mm Largo die sets on line but they are very expensive. Small pistol primers Im assuming? Thanks for the help.

 

[bearhunter]

I use 9x21/9x23 cases and whichever 9mm (.355) bullets I have on hand for my Husqvarna pistol and Spanish Destroyer.

I just use the loads for 38 Super or 9x21 listed in the Lyman manuals.

When I first started loading, I tried to find a load that duplicated the 9mm Browning Long, for both firearms.

The Destroyer is stamped for the 9mm Bergman but it's quite a strong system and I've never had any issues with the Lyman loads I suggest.

I've seen and handled hundreds of Spanish Destroyer Carbines. I've never seen or suspected any of them of having "cast'' metal bolts.

I've seen them from extremely rough, inside and out, in factory grease and I've seen them extremely well finished.

I've also seen a couple that were modified for the 9x19 Nato round, by setting back the barrel and cutting a new chamber.

Some of the conversions appear to be done in a factory or by armorers.

When International Firearms first brought these in, there were several hundred that were converted and the "Bergman" had a slash stamp on it. This caused quite a bit of confusion at the time.

Astra 400 pistols were chambered in a variety of cartridges.

From personal experience, 9x19 will function just fine out of most pistols chambered for the 9mm Bergman, as will most Destroyer Carbines.

Mine have functioned flawlessly with thousands of rounds through each of them.

 

[MiG25]

Well, the bolt on one of my Destroyers had what looked for all the world like mold marks and looked like something that Mattel would put out.

 

[Alfonso]

Thanks for the info but my main question is what die set to use. From what I've read, 38 Super would be fine. I have actual 9MM Largo brass. shooting 9X19 in a pistol chambered in 9mm Largo? Am I hearing you right? I don't think thats correct.

I use 9x21/9x23 cases and whichever 9mm (.355) bullets I have on hand for my Husqvarna pistol and Spanish Destroyer.

I just use the loads for 38 Super or 9x21 listed in the Lyman manuals.

When I first started loading, I tried to find a load that duplicated the 9mm Browning Long, for both firearms.

The Destroyer is stamped for the 9mm Bergman but it's quite a strong system and I've never had any issues with the Lyman loads I suggest.

I've seen and handled hundreds of Spanish Destroyer Carbines. I've never seen or suspected any of them of having "cast'' metal bolts.

I've seen them from extremely rough, inside and out, in factory grease and I've seen them extremely well finished.

I've also seen a couple that were modified for the 9x19 Nato round, by setting back the barrel and cutting a new chamber.

Some of the conversions appear to be done in a factory or by armorers.

When International Firearms first brought these in, there were several hundred that were converted and the "Bergman" had a slash stamp on it. This caused quite a bit of confusion at the time.

Astra 400 pistols were chambered in a variety of cartridges.

From personal experience, 9x19 will function just fine out of most pistols chambered for the 9mm Bergman, as will most Destroyer Carbines.

Mine have functioned flawlessly with thousands of rounds through each of them.

 

[MiG25]

I had 9mm Largo dies but they went down the road. I'd be surprised if they are at all different than 38 Super dies.

So yeah, if I was gearing up again I would buy 38 Super dies and whichever shellholder is needed.

 

[bearhunter]

Thanks for the info but my main question is what die set to use. From what I've read, 38 Super would be fine. I have actual 9MM Largo brass. shooting 9X19 in a pistol chambered in 9mm Largo? Am I hearing you right? I don't think thats correct.

Yes, you read it right, it's not a reccomended practice but it works just fine. The Astra 400s used to be advertised as "great all around pistols capable of digesting different 9mm surplus ammo" available back in the 50s-60s

I've even used 9x19 in Winchester carbines chambered for the 351win without hiccups.

There are some things you can get away with and some you can't. This is one you can get away with.

The only issue I ever had with the 9x19 in the Largo case is that often the 9x19 manufacturers OAL is a few thou to long and they hang up in the mag. A quick run through the press to set back the bullets appx .025 and all is well.

As for dies, 38super and 9x21 will work well. You can even use 9x19 in a pinch, the case lengths aren't that much different, just set your dies accordingly.

 

[kg]

From the currently unavailable 9mm Largo website:

9mm Luger, 9x21, 9x23 and 38 Super dies will all work to load the Largo. The surplus ammo available is all berdan primed, but for the reloader, Starline Brass makes cases just for the 9mm Largo.
Due to the deeper extractor groove, 9mm shell plates and shell holders don't work well. In the Dillon, we found the #3 shell plate (.222, .223, etc.) with #3 buttons worked well on the Model 550.
One thing we noticed in the Star we tested and others we examined was the diameter of the firing pin hole being exceptionally large allowing the primer to flow back into the opening. We suggest using primers with hard cups such as Winchester or CCI to help prevent that.

 

[Alfonso]

I picked up a Hornady 9mm Luger/9X21 3 die set today at the gun show. Let the fun begin.

Yes, you read it right, it's not a reccomended practice but it works just fine. The Astra 400s used to be advertised as "great all around pistols capable of digesting different 9mm surplus ammo" available back in the 50s-60s

I've even used 9x19 in Winchester carbines chambered for the 351win without hiccups.

There are some things you can get away with and some you can't. This is one you can get away with.

The only issue I ever had with the 9x19 in the Largo case is that often the 9x19 manufacturers OAL is a few thou to long and they hang up in the mag. A quick run through the press to set back the bullets appx .025 and all is well.

As for dies, 38super and 9x21 will work well. You can even use 9x19 in a pinch, the case lengths aren't that much different, just set your dies accordingly.

 

[Alfonso]

I'm using 125 gr RLN bullets. I'm wondering what adjustments I should make to powder measure.

From the currently unavailable 9mm Largo website:

9mm Luger, 9x21, 9x23 and 38 Super dies will all work to load the Largo. The surplus ammo available is all berdan primed, but for the reloader, Starline Brass makes cases just for the 9mm Largo.
Due to the deeper extractor groove, 9mm shell plates and shell holders don't work well. In the Dillon, we found the #3 shell plate (.222, .223, etc.) with #3 buttons worked well on the Model 550.
One thing we noticed in the Star we tested and others we examined was the diameter of the firing pin hole being exceptionally large allowing the primer to flow back into the opening. We suggest using primers with hard cups such as Winchester or CCI to help prevent that.