Reloading 9mm, advice for a newbie?

knightryder3

knightryder3

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Hi ,
I'm just about ready to buy my first press (probably single stage or turret)
Gun in the mail , picked up some brass already.
Anyone have any advice on what powder, primer, bullet combination would be a good start for someone just starting out??:)
Can't make up my mind on the press either. Will be reloading 308rifle at some point soon as well.
Thanks in advance
 
Do yourself a huge favour and pick up "The ABC's of Reloading". I've been reloading for awhile, I got this for Christmas and I can't believe how much information that's in this book. The book was a great refresher read for me. It covers everything from what is the best press for your needs to technical information. I can't recommend it enough. It tends to lean toward LEE equipment but that's no so bad either.
 
Get a bright light and locate it directly over your press. Sit or stand so that you can easily see into each case. You want to see a powder charge in each case, any that look too full or not full enough should be pulled and charge weighed. Probably 90% of reloading mishaps are related to squibs and double charges.

Remember: quality control begins and ends with you when you reload.

Oh and have fun! Reloading is addictive. :)
 
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Get a Turret press, the Lee classic is a great one to learn on and can produce 150 bullets an hour. Also get a powder scale and a reloading book. If you get the Lee, get the auto dispenser with the autodisk for the powder, with that setup it's almost impossible to double charge. I use 4.0 grs of Titegroup behind a 124gr bullet, easy going load that is economical.
 
If you are going to load 9MM and intend to shoot a lot then a single stage press is going to be to slow for you. I favour Dillon equipment for a lifetime of use. The 550 is versatile and would meet all your needs I am sure. The Lee Turret Press is a lot less expensive and certainly will get you started. If you intend to shoot lead bullets then Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook is a very good reference as well.

I shoot a lot of 9MM and for volume loadings to meet IDPA requirements for power factor I load 4.1 gr of Win 231 under 125 gr Lead bullets. I prefer Win 231 over Unique because it meters so well out of my Dillon powder measure. Unique is a very good powder for the 9MM as well though.

Take Care

Bob
 
I Agree with Canuck44.. I was asking around when i first started and everyone i talked to said get a Dillon 550. So i did.. One of the best decisions i could have made. Wish i would have listened about my gun purchases. I now load 3 calibers on my Dillon 550; 9mm, 40S&W, and 45ACP. My advice is to invest in a reloading manual as mentioned above. There are a number of good ones out there. I use the Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading 7th edition for developing loads. There are plenty of Data from various powder companies on the Web also. Hodgdon has a good one. I would suggest a good scale too.

So Far my fav powder for 9mm is IMR's SR4756. Its relatively clean buring when compared to others a friend of mine uses. Its slower burning so you need to use more of it.. but because of that it fills the case well so there is little chance of a double charge. Also been thinking of trying Blue dot due to the ballistic tables in the hornady book.

Good luck with your reloading.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys.
I did pick up the ABC's book a couple weeks back and think I'm leaning towards the Lee Turret to get me started. Appreciate the responses so far :cheers:
 
Canuck44 said:
If you are going to load 9MM and intend to shoot a lot then a single stage press is going to be to slow for you. I favour Dillon equipment for a lifetime of use. The 550 is versatile and would meet all your needs I am sure. The Lee Turret Press is a lot less expensive and certainly will get you started. If you intend to shoot lead bullets then Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook is a very good reference as well.

I shoot a lot of 9MM and for volume loadings to meet IDPA requirements for power factor I load 4.1 gr of Win 231 under 125 gr Lead bullets. I prefer Win 231 over Unique because it meters so well out of my Dillon powder measure. Unique is a very good powder for the 9MM as well though.

Take Care

Bob
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I couldn't say it any better. I am wishing now that I went with a turret press.
 
I would go with a dillon 550 or 650. I have a rcbs green machine for my 38's. I use the dillion for most every thing else and have a lee single stage fore the rifle rounds.

I found this out the hard way check your rounds in your barrel. pull the barrel out of you gun and drop the rounds in as you set up how far to seat the bullets or get a dillon case gauge it seems to work well with the majority of guns.

Good luck and read and ask question lots of people can save you time and exoperiments if you ask
 
My pet load for my Beretta 92SB is a LEE 140 gr SWC sized to .356 (this is actually a .38 bullet) over 4.6 grs of HS-6 or W540. I have found that the bullet hardness needs to be 21 BHN minimum to maintain accuracy and eliminated leading. It will group 10 shots into 1 1/2" at 20 yds of a bench if I do my part. Very soft feeling compared to everything else I shoot and utterly reliable.
 
ckid said:
My pet load for my Beretta 92SB is a LEE 140 gr SWC sized to .356 (this is actually a .38 bullet) over 4.6 grs of HS-6 or W540. I have found that the bullet hardness needs to be 21 BHN minimum to maintain accuracy and eliminated leading. It will group 10 shots into 1 1/2" at 20 yds of a bench if I do my part. Very soft feeling compared to everything else I shoot and utterly reliable.
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Try sizing those bullets .357 and I suspect most of your leading will disappear. Softer alloy might also help. If you can get hold of some soft lube as well it helps. Leading in the main particularly with pistol bullets is caused by gas cutting not lead stripping in the bore. I size all my 9MM bullets .357.

Take Care

Bob
 
I've tried softer alloys and the leading starts and the accuracy is the sh!ts right from the first shot. I use LBT soft magnum bullet lube. I've got quite a stockpile of bearing babbit so making hard bullets isn't much of a chore, I just mix in 3 lbs of babbit with 17 lbs of wheelweights, and water quench the bullets.
 
Another school of thought for 9mm:

If you are just shooting 9mm just buy in bulk and spend the time you save from reloading practising at the range and dry firing. Or buy it from someone you trust that reloads.

Time is money...

I can see the value with rifle rounds and .45 being 2 x the cost of 9mm.

Spend the time you save on the range! After all it's only the hits that count...
 
yyyyy said:
Another school of thought for 9mm:

If you are just shooting 9mm just buy in bulk and spend the time you save from reloading practising at the range and dry firing. Or buy it from someone you trust that reloads.

Time is money...

I can see the value with rifle rounds and .45 being 2 x the cost of 9mm.

Spend the time you save on the range! After all it's only the hits that count...
Click to expand...

That's only true if you see handloading as a means to an end, which certainly isn't the case for me.
 
yyyyy said:
Another school of thought for 9mm:

If you are just shooting 9mm just buy in bulk and spend the time you save from reloading practising at the range and dry firing. Or buy it from someone you trust that reloads.

Time is money...

I can see the value with rifle rounds and .45 being 2 x the cost of 9mm.

Spend the time you save on the range! After all it's only the hits that count...
Click to expand...

Or another school of thought, reload your ammo so you can do 3x as much shooting for the same price. (ignoring startup costs)
 
c kid, slug the bore of youre berreta 92. my m-9 slugs out to .357 i size my bullets to .357 and get no leading, i use wheel weights, and the bullets are just air cooled. i use lyman alox lube. i just got the lee .38-140 gr. mold this week, i was going to use it in my .38. i didn't think it would work in my 9MM. i thought they would be too long. thanks for the tip. i will have to try it out.
 
I reload 9mm... single stage up to now... 10-12hrs per 1000 rnds..... I do it because my indoor ranges only allow lead non plated or non jacketed ammo..... hard to find in any quantity around here....

I looked at a lee pro 1000 (I figgure if I am going to reload a bunch I better do it faster!)
I talked to a bunch of guys who use them... they tell me to buy one for every calibre.... (so 3 presses I guess)

I found a used dillion SDB for under $400 with 3 calibers...... a bargin in my opinion....

My cost to load 1K of 9mm is about $120.00, saving about $200 off the price of store bought...... in 2K I have paid for the Dillion..... Seems like a no brainer to me!!
 
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