9mm 124 grain FMJ loads with Unique

rhuff · 01-08-2015, 01:43 PM

I like loading with Unique Powder for many calibers, including 9mm. I have been using it longer than I want to admit to. I wish I could lay my hands on 10-15 lbs. of it, but it is a rare as hen's teeth in my area. I have had spotty reliability with fast powders like Red Dot and Bullseye in the P08 Luger. I can make it work, but not as good as the slower burners.

I usually load 9mm with 115gr FMJ bullets, and currently use 5.5gr of Unique. I see no problem with starting with 5.0-5.1gr of Unique with 124gr FMJ and going up until you get reliable functioning of your Luger. I would only load a few(10-12) at the starting load, as I don't believe that it will cycle your toggle train, but it might. Every Luger is it's own entity. You can increase your loads 0.1-0.2gr for each step and see how things go for you and your Luger. I would keep your OAL long as Lugers like it that way, but the rounds must fit your chamber and mags. A long OAL is a safety factor also, as it lowers the chamber pressures.

Let us know how things work out.

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01-08-2015, 01:43 PM	#2
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,315 Thanks: 2,757 Thanked 999 Times in 734 Posts	I like loading with Unique Powder for many calibers, including 9mm. I have been using it longer than I want to admit to. I wish I could lay my hands on 10-15 lbs. of it, but it is a rare as hen's teeth in my area. I have had spotty reliability with fast powders like Red Dot and Bullseye in the P08 Luger. I can make it work, but not as good as the slower burners. I usually load 9mm with 115gr FMJ bullets, and currently use 5.5gr of Unique. I see no problem with starting with 5.0-5.1gr of Unique with 124gr FMJ and going up until you get reliable functioning of your Luger. I would only load a few(10-12) at the starting load, as I don't believe that it will cycle your toggle train, but it might. Every Luger is it's own entity. You can increase your loads 0.1-0.2gr for each step and see how things go for you and your Luger. I would keep your OAL long as Lugers like it that way, but the rounds must fit your chamber and mags. A long OAL is a safety factor also, as it lowers the chamber pressures. Let us know how things work out.