re-loading 9mm
- Thread starter JB
- Start date
- Location
- Kumankissmyass, BC
Just enough to move the slide.
Depends on the gun. For my Desert Eagle (44 magnum) I load just high enough to get reliable operation. Revolvers can be loaded quite low because all you are doing is throwing out a piece of lead. With a semi-auto you have to work the action. Unless you can get a lighter recoil spring for your gun you will be limited but you should still be able to get a significant reduction.
Do you have any other guns? A heavier gun will tame the recoil but holding the gun up will be harder. Because of the bad shoulder I hope he will be shooting with two hands.
Do you have any other guns? A heavier gun will tame the recoil but holding the gun up will be harder. Because of the bad shoulder I hope he will be shooting with two hands.
happiness is a warm gun
Regular
Experiment a little. Make 10 rounds with reloading manuals minimum powder levels. If the gun functions ok with the minimum, then making groups of 10 round, down load each load group until the gun won't function reliably. The you'll know how low not to reload.
You didn't mention what powder type, bullet weight or barrel lenght you'll be shooting, so I can't really give you any load suggestions to work with.
You didn't mention what powder type, bullet weight or barrel lenght you'll be shooting, so I can't really give you any load suggestions to work with.
JB,
Your success will depend on the type of gun being used, and the size of the shooter. (Us gravity enhanced models seem to provide a more forgiving platform)
Your shooter might find a perceived difference in 115-124-147 gr ammo all loaded to the same PF. As Repete mentions, many find the heavier bullets loaded with slower powders to "feel" lighter than equivilent PF ammo loaded with lighter bullets and faster burning powder.
Another aspect to the felt recoil is the spring weight of the gun. Obviously you don't want a spring so light you are battering the frame, or one so heavy functioning is impaired. However, your shooter might find a 13# spring feels better than a 16# spring.
Your success will depend on the type of gun being used, and the size of the shooter. (Us gravity enhanced models seem to provide a more forgiving platform)
Your shooter might find a perceived difference in 115-124-147 gr ammo all loaded to the same PF. As Repete mentions, many find the heavier bullets loaded with slower powders to "feel" lighter than equivilent PF ammo loaded with lighter bullets and faster burning powder.
Another aspect to the felt recoil is the spring weight of the gun. Obviously you don't want a spring so light you are battering the frame, or one so heavy functioning is impaired. However, your shooter might find a 13# spring feels better than a 16# spring.
Try a 158 or 160 grain cast .357 bullet. The accuracy just might surprise you.
It might make a bulgy case, but check to see if it'll chamber, if it does that'll save you any post-sizing, which will make it work; but it's extra work.
It might make a bulgy case, but check to see if it'll chamber, if it does that'll save you any post-sizing, which will make it work; but it's extra work.
I thought it was heavy and fast 
NSRA Member
Regular
- Location
- Halifax, NS
W231
I've used W231 with both 147gr and 124gr bullets but I've never tried WSF. The W231 is accurate, consistent and easy to shoot if on the snappy side, but wow is it dirty!
I mainly use HS-6 (which is actually a fairly slow for a pistol powder near the bottom of the top third of all powders, similar to Herco), mostly because I have a huge stock of it. HS-6 is fairly good, not too dirty, some snap but easy to follow up with second shots.
Most of the IPSC shooters here are moving away from the "old school" loads of slower powders like HS-6 to loads using Bullseye, Titegroup and even Clays (as fast as it gets...) Of course there is also a large number of die-hards that won't use anything other than W231.
The light loads of fast powders like Clays can be like shooting a .22 even at 130PF so they may bear further experimentation, but the pressures are definitely a problem. I know several reloaders that swear up and down that they will never touch Clays or Bullseye even again...
I've tried Bullseye but I don't like the obvious pressures signs I get. Don't use Federal primers with a powder this fast, they are just too soft.
As always, this advice is worth exactly what you paid for it, use at own risk.
I've used W231 with both 147gr and 124gr bullets but I've never tried WSF. The W231 is accurate, consistent and easy to shoot if on the snappy side, but wow is it dirty!
I mainly use HS-6 (which is actually a fairly slow for a pistol powder near the bottom of the top third of all powders, similar to Herco), mostly because I have a huge stock of it. HS-6 is fairly good, not too dirty, some snap but easy to follow up with second shots.
Most of the IPSC shooters here are moving away from the "old school" loads of slower powders like HS-6 to loads using Bullseye, Titegroup and even Clays (as fast as it gets...) Of course there is also a large number of die-hards that won't use anything other than W231.
The light loads of fast powders like Clays can be like shooting a .22 even at 130PF so they may bear further experimentation, but the pressures are definitely a problem. I know several reloaders that swear up and down that they will never touch Clays or Bullseye even again...
I've tried Bullseye but I don't like the obvious pressures signs I get. Don't use Federal primers with a powder this fast, they are just too soft.
As always, this advice is worth exactly what you paid for it, use at own risk.
NSRA Member
Regular
- Location
- Halifax, NS
RePete said:
Well RePete, in my experience Federal Primers flow and flatten too much with these loads for my liking. Generally I use Federal Primers in my pistol loads, they never cause me any trouble with light pin strikes. They light every time, just like a Ronson.
Anyway, I'm not here to get in a pissing match about primers. Any primer that goes crack is a good primer!
