FroggMann

I just completed my setup to load 9mm Luger or 9x19 parabellum. I'd like to poll you guys about powder, case and bullet recommendations. What powders do you prefer?, bullets? - RN FMJ, JHP or even lead cast?, primers? cases? I also plan to pickup dies for .223/5.56, same questions there. Just a general roll call if you will. What do you use and why?

I like 124gr 9mm and 55 or 63gr .223/5.56
If I have good success I'll consider my .44Mag, .308/7.62 &.30 06 rds

Equipment:
Lee 4 Hole Classic Turret Press.
Lee Deluxe Carbide 4-Die Set 9mm Luger.
Lee ProAutodisk w/riser and Lee Auto-Disk Adjustable Powder Charge Bar
Lee safety prime
Lee safety scale
Lee powder dipper set
Lee case prep "stuff" trimming/gauging, etc.
Lee reloading manual that came with kit.

WIll be picking up Lyman #49 and Speer#14 books as well as reference from powder/bullet manufacturer web sites.

TOMD1943

froggmann, I too have just started loading 9mm. I've have lee reloading gear also. having trouble with oal with x-treme bullets in 147grfn. trying to fix it now but have not yet. I use assorted range brass. i've tryed universal, it meters well, hs=6, drops some flakes once in awhile an titegroup. the titegroup is clean burning but with a turret press be careful you don't double charge a case. have fun. TOMD1943

Nick0410

9mm- Unique, Berrys 115gr RN or HBRN-TP, and Win primers (work well and cheap), Fed or Rem brass but I have used up to 6 different kinds if brass

.223- Varget, Hornady Z-Max (500 box is cheaper than buying 2-250 boxes of V), CCI primers, Rem or Fed brass have been good and very accurate for my Rem 700

tglazie

N320 and HP38 powders work great. Zip works well too. Federal primers ALWAYS go bang. Any cases except S&B if you are using Fed primers (S&B brass is fine, but their tight primer pockets dont play well with soft Fed primers.)

For bullets, 124gr Berry's HBFP are my preferred projectile. I also like 125gr LRN, 147 LFP and 124gr Berry's HBRN, or any 124gr FMJ like precision delta or winchester(expensive)

By the way, great, great setup. I also recommend one of these as a quick and easy, inexpensive backup/check for your beam scale: http://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh.../dp/B0012TDNAM

This is an awesome, TINY scale that you will want to use with your existing Lee scale pan right on top of the pan that comes with it. I actually use mine as my primary scale and use the Lee Safety Scale to check it, but you can use it the other way around if you are more traditional. This is also a great scale for comparing bullet weights, case weights, etc.

Couple of notes about your new equipment- the Lee chamfer too that I think you have if too bigto use with 9mm cases. Grab another one for a few bucks from Graf or similar. You wont really need it though, or the dipper set (unless you are batch loading a rifle cartridge or something). And about the auto-disk powder measure- you wont see good results until you run a few hoppers full of powder through it and it builds up a nice graphite layer on the internals. Then, using the powders above you can hold a .1gr spread all day long.

The other thing you will want is either a loading tray to place your finished cartridges on, or even better, proper MTM cartridge storage boxes (lots and lots of them). The key is, when you finish a cartridge you should place it nose down in a box or tray, and before you close the box or transfer the full loading tray of cartridges to storage, run your finger over the primers and make sure they are all flush, or ideally below flush.

There are tons of other tips and I am sure you will find them all on this great site. I know I am still learning every day and I am at about 7500 reloads so far since I started in March.

bhefley59

Berrys makes a great bullet for handguns I like the 124gr RN and I use mostly titegroup but have used Unique, Herco, Red Dot, and Bullseye, all worked good but was a bit dirtier .

scooter89

I load 124 gr xtreme plated bullets from freedom munitions on top of titegroup with winchester spp. I have not started my .223 reloading venture yet.

FroggMann

Thanks guys!! Loving this forum. I was looking into the Berry's. I prefer 124gr, which is one reason I wanted to start reloading. There hard to find and you'll pay for factory ammo if you do find anything 124gr. 115gr is still cheap enough and in bulk all day every day. Thanks for the scale link. I'll look into that, but got to get some calipers first....lol

I've got a good bit of my factory brass picked up, from 115gr Federal and Winchester white box. Basically need powder and and bullets. I understand the Fed primers are volatile and I should be using CCI or win. So I got a second on the Berry's. I guess just need to look into powders more. Just want to do my homework. I want bang, NOT KABOOM!! ;-)

tglazie

SO not true. There is no modern loading system that has any problems with Fed primers, and if you look deeper you will find that Fed is the primer of choice of many champion benchrest, bullseye and IDPA shooters. Back in the day there were archaic loading tubes that reacted poorly to the softer Federal primers. This is not the case today. If I ever NEEDED a primer to go bang, in any gun, anytime, it would be a Federal primer.

FroggMann

I hear you tglazie, but Lee says NO NO to anything but CCI or Winchester primers. I've always bought Federal ammo. in all calibers, well some Winchester too. I want to use Fed primers but, Lee says their to volatile....I have alot of Federal brass I've been keeping. More thoughts, anyone....on Lee's comments about Federal primers. Are they just being over "CAUTION COFFEE HOT"...?

laidlerj

Curious. I use Federal and CCI primers interchangeably and I haven't had any problems. Of course, I use RCBS and Redding dies (in a RCBS press), not Lee, so maybe there's a difference somehow.

As for my favorite components for 9mm:

Powder: Tightgroup (burns clean, a little goes a long way); Unique (used it a lot until I got a can of Tightgroup - it's burns dirty, in my experience)

Bullet: for practice, I use Berry plated bullets (no leading, pretty inexpensive), Oregon Trail (very hard cast lead - minimal leading); for target or competition shooting, I use Hornady's HAP (a less expensive, non-expanding version of their highly accurate XTP line).

Cases: whatever I can find. I buy Winchester and Federal "generic" ammunition when it goes on sale, shoot it for practice and reload it. I also pick up the stuff people leave on the range, clean it and reload it (after inspecting it).


Jim

429421Cowboy

I have used CCI primers and nothing else for a long time, never had an issue at all. I love Unique for my .44, due to the chance for poor metering though i might suggest a different powder for the 9mm, due to the case capacity, so as to give yourself a bit more margin for error. You will also find those of us who prefer "even" lead cast for just about any loading situation for the lower pressures, lower cost, better bullet to bore fit, high performance and great versatility they offer. You really also would be hard pressed to find a really BAD commercial jacketed bullet these days, they all are more than most of us need for punching paper and Speer, Hornady, Nosler and Winchester all offer premium handgun bullets for whatever specialty task you may need one for.

Best of luck to you, sounds like you have a well assembled loading bench already and are doing your homework. You will not find a better group of guys to help you get started! Whereabouts in Tenn are you? My adopted brother was raised in Dover.

429421Cowboy

Another thing i feel the need to mention; due to capacty varations, most manuals state to sort your 9mm brass by headstamp and only load a charge that is proven safe in that particular headstamp batch of brass. I run mixed brass in all my other pistol calibers but don't take any chances in the 9, the warnings are there for good reason. Again, luck!

FroggMann

Thanks again guys, now off to work I go...Somebody has to pay for this stuff, can't get my wife to. LMBO

scooter.maclusky

For 9mm:
I use AA#7 and Power Pistol.

Cases are usually from range pickups which I sort by brand.

I load 9mm to simulate factory power ammo.

I use any small pistol primer I happen to have, usually CCI.

Bullets by Hornady, Winchester, Rainier and Laser Cast RN from 115 to 124 gr is what I use. I buy whatever is on sale.

I use a case gauge with every single finished round which eliminates any rounds that will not chamber correctly.

I have made many rounds using the same Lee dies.

I load by the book. I have a friend with Quickload who I consulted for the plated bullets.

Sr40ken

I use Xtreme plated for plinking and target(.38/.357, .40SW and .45AP) and recently tried Berrys in the .40. For general plinking w the .223/5.56 I use Hornady 55gr FMJBT and Hornady 75gr BTHP for distance. I like H335 and A2230 for the rifle. I use a lot of Unique in the pistols and 2400 and 300MP for magnum loads. I use what cases I pick up at the range. Over the years the wife and I have picked up thousands of rounds. I have purchased 300 rounds of Starline brass for the .357. I have 2000+ rounds of brass for each and growing. As long as it's good brass I don't care what brand it is.