complete newbie at reloading 9mm need help

Avenida

Avenida

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Before I burn some cash buying the wrong stuff I wanted to ask the knowledgeable guys.
I am located in Ottawa so any reference of dealer/sellers located closer to Ottawa would be very appreciated.

I need to buy the following, (I just bought a Dillon SDB from someone in this forum that is coming in the mail):

-Brass (I have found someone who sell these locally)
-Primers
-Powder
-Bullets (ideally FMJ, and I want all 3 weights: 115, 124, 147 if possible)

Looking for reliable, accurate and proven supplies.

Thank you for any info you can give me!
Cheers.
 
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Avenida,

For a start decide what you want your reloads to do and also know which pistol you are going to use it in. For example, my Glock 19 reliably shoots loads which will not feed or chamber in CZ 75 pistols. Also, I load to get the best (but safe) velocities, try not to have many powders ( I get by quite well with 3 powders, loading from 9mmP to 480 Ruger), and have settled on 124gr HP bullets.

For IPSC, many (most ???) reloaders will be interested in cost savings and minimum power level / recoil because to them it is a game, and use fast powders such as Win 231. These work well, but cannot give you the same higher (but safe) velocities which Unique, Universal, AutoComp or other medium - slow powders can give in regular (not +P or +P) loads. Also, fast powders may cause dangerous problems with heavy bullets such as 147gr in 9mmP, and especially if the ammo may be used in carbines. Speer #14 reloading manual deemed it important enough that they have actually printed a warning / caution in their manual, but many uninformed reloaders will tell you this is not a problem.

Therefore, in general, this is what I use for my needs:
1) CCI 500 Small Pistol primers. I load on a Lee Pro 1000 press, and Lee warns (about 6 times) not to use other brands. I have spoken to a person who used Federal and had primers explode.
2) Any Boxer primed case, cleaned and inspected.
3) Medium burning powders such as Unique and AutoComp. Unique does not meter well through the LeePro 1000 press, but working with a scoop and scale is safe for me.
4) 124 - 125gr Plated bullets, such as Frontier or Berry. I have recently used up the last of my Frontier supplies form Marstar, and now use Berry 124gr HP which I buy from
www.nine35.ca , a member at our local club in Burlington.

There is no single "RIGHT" combination. It all depends on what you want, what you have (money, press and pistol) and your skills level.

Have fun !!!
 
Brass - I used mixed head stamp brass I collect at the range. Make sure it is not cracked/split, badly corroded etc. Clean it.

Primers - I use a Lee Pro 1000 like RSA1 does so I avoid Federal primers which have been shown, repeatedly, to be unsafe in that press. I have used CCI500, Win SP and Remington '1 1/2' small pistol primers without issue. I have not seen any difference in performance/accuracy.

Powder - LOTS of handgun powders work very well in the 9x19. I use W231 and WSF. WSF is slower burning and I can achieve higher velocities if I want to than I can with W231 while still staying within safe pressures. Both are ball type and measure very well in the powder measure and neither are prone to weird pressure spikes etc. Some large flake powders are not great in some power measures as the flakes 'bridge' and don't flow as consistently. I like a powder that is bulky enough to be easily visible in the case with a quick glance. That way I can easily verify that the case is charged or if I have significantly overloaded a case.

Bullets - any of the popular brands of plated bullets seem to be good - Berry's, CamPro, Frontier etc. Only your own experimentation will tell you which one functions and shoots best in your pistol. I have also used Bullet Barn cast lead bullets (the 124gr RN has an abrupt ogive so must be seated very deep for my CZ to function).. Follow the minimum bullet seating specs in the manual - the 9mm is a small, higher pressure case and seating a bullet deeper, even slightly, can raise pressures rapidly.

A good manual is a great investment. RSA1's reloading courses are a very good investment too...
 
Higginson Powders for brass, powder and primers, as well as any additional reloading gear.

MARSTAR for bulk 9mm bullets.

Both in (around) Hawkesbury ON
 
Thank you for the powder tips! I was thinking about that just now.

kayaker1 said:
Brass - I used mixed head stamp brass I collect at the range. Make sure it is not cracked/split, badly corroded etc. Clean it.

Primers - I use a Lee Pro 1000 like RSA1 does so I avoid Federal primers which have been shown, repeatedly, to be unsafe in that press. I have used CCI500, Win SP and Remington '1 1/2' small pistol primers without issue. I have not seen any difference in performance/accuracy.

Powder - LOTS of handgun powders work very well in the 9x19. I use W231 and WSF. WSF is slower burning and I can achieve higher velocities if I want to than I can with W231 while still staying within safe pressures. Both are ball type and measure very well in the powder measure and neither are prone to weird pressure spikes etc. Some large flake powders are not great in some power measures as the flakes 'bridge' and don't flow as consistently. I like a powder that is bulky enough to be easily visible in the case with a quick glance. That way I can easily verify that the case is charged or if I have significantly overloaded a case.

Bullets - any of the popular brands of plated bullets seem to be good - Berry's, CamPro, Frontier etc. Only your own experimentation will tell you which one functions and shoots best in your pistol. I have also used Bullet Barn cast lead bullets (the 124gr RN has an abrupt ogive so must be seated very deep for my CZ to function).. Follow the minimum bullet seating specs in the manual - the 9mm is a small, higher pressure case and seating a bullet deeper, even slightly, can raise pressures rapidly.

A good manual is a great investment. RSA1's reloading courses are a very good investment too...
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for the info!

RSA1 said:
Avenida,

For a start decide what you want your reloads to do and also know which pistol you are going to use it in. For example, my Glock 19 reliably shoots loads which will not feed or chamber in CZ 75 pistols. Also, I load to get the best (but safe) velocities, try not to have many powders ( I get by quite well with 3 powders, loading from 9mmP to 480 Ruger), and have settled on 124gr HP bullets.

For IPSC, many (most ???) reloaders will be interested in cost savings and minimum power level / recoil because to them it is a game, and use fast powders such as Win 231. These work well, but cannot give you the same higher (but safe) velocities which Unique, Universal, AutoComp or other medium - slow powders can give in regular (not +P or +P) loads. Also, fast powders may cause dangerous problems with heavy bullets such as 147gr in 9mmP, and especially if the ammo may be used in carbines. Speer #14 reloading manual deemed it important enough that they have actually printed a warning / caution in their manual, but many uninformed reloaders will tell you this is not a problem.

Therefore, in general, this is what I use for my needs:
1) CCI 500 Small Pistol primers. I load on a Lee Pro 1000 press, and Lee warns (about 6 times) not to use other brands. I have spoken to a person who used Federal and had primers explode.
2) Any Boxer primed case, cleaned and inspected.
3) Medium burning powders such as Unique and AutoComp. Unique does not meter well through the LeePro 1000 press, but working with a scoop and scale is safe for me.
4) 124 - 125gr Plated bullets, such as Frontier or Berry. I have recently used up the last of my Frontier supplies form Marstar, and now use Berry 124gr HP which I buy from
www.nine35.ca , a member at our local club in Burlington.

There is no single "RIGHT" combination. It all depends on what you want, what you have (money, press and pistol) and your skills level.

Have fun !!!
Click to expand...
 
Thanks again for the comments.
I am having trouble finding powder, I am sure there must be someone in Canada who has it though.
I have found Unique in one online store, priced around $30 for a pound, and cci 500 small primers, 5 bucks for one hundred.

Any sites to recommend?
 
Avenida said:
I have found Unique in one online store, priced around $30 for a pound, and cci 500 small primers, 5 bucks for one hundred.
Click to expand...
Normally when you have it shipped you have to pay a Hazmat type fee so it makes it not worth it unless making a huge order.
Try Stittsville Range, as Lebaron never has any stock.
 
Yes, Stittsville does not have anything and they do not know when it will arrive 'it's ordered'...
I am ordering from Cabelas.ca as they have primers and powder so there is that, I'll bite the bullet this time paying the fees, either that or no shooting at all, so...
 
LeBaron for powder works for me, I use Titegroup at $17+tax per pound bottle. When they have it buy several. If you can't keep the cost of re-loads of 9mm under 15c, then you might as well buy factory. 1lb of Tite gives me 1750 rounds.
 
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