9mm 124 grain FMJ loads with Unique

TheRomanhistorian · 01-18-2015, 10:01 PM

I only made 4 rounds to test at 5.0 grains with 124 grain Hornady FMJ bullets. They worked well and they actually functioned the hold-open of my chromed 1918 all-matching P-08. They fit in the magazine, chambered fine, fired well, worked the action, and the toggle stayed locked upon after the last one. I might keep tinkering with the load but I was quite pleased. I had heard Unique was dirty but wow... Still, now it has a use!

Accuracy was hard to gauge given only 4 rounds and my not having been to the range in 2 and half months but the grouping was okay enough.

Sieger · 01-19-2015, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRomanhistorian

I only made 4 rounds to test at 5.0 grains with 124 grain Hornady FMJ bullets. They worked well and they actually functioned the hold-open of my chromed 1918 all-matching P-08. They fit in the magazine, chambered fine, fired well, worked the action, and the toggle stayed locked upon after the last one. I might keep tinkering with the load but I was quite pleased. I had heard Unique was dirty but wow... Still, now it has a use!

Accuracy was hard to gauge given only 4 rounds and my not having been to the range in 2 and half months but the grouping was okay enough.

Hi,

If 5.0 worked well, I'd drop down to about 4.6 and test until the load just worked the hold open, as often, light loads are more accurate in a Luger.

Meanwhile, if you can load a full magazine of 8 and fire them all without a malfunction at 5.0, you know you are in the right range.

5.0 certainly is not a hot load of Unique in a 9mm.

For me, I enjoy shooting a Luger for accuracy. Before you can achieve that, however, you must eliminate malfunctions.

Sieger

rhuff · 01-19-2015, 03:26 PM

Michael,

Congrats on your first Luger loads with Unique!! Isn't it gratifying when a plan comes together? Unique, like many other powders will shoot "dirty" when loaded at lower level loads, and then clean up as you approach the upper end of the load range. You now have a load that you know will function for you and your Luger, so you have a good baseline.

You can now go in both directions from this load(up and down), and experiment with the results. The first requirement has been met, so experiment and have fun doing it.....that is what handloading is all about.

01-18-2015, 10:01 PM	#1
TheRomanhistorian User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 301 Thanks: 170 Thanked 88 Times in 64 Posts	I only made 4 rounds to test at 5.0 grains with 124 grain Hornady FMJ bullets. They worked well and they actually functioned the hold-open of my chromed 1918 all-matching P-08. They fit in the magazine, chambered fine, fired well, worked the action, and the toggle stayed locked upon after the last one. I might keep tinkering with the load but I was quite pleased. I had heard Unique was dirty but wow... Still, now it has a use! Accuracy was hard to gauge given only 4 rounds and my not having been to the range in 2 and half months but the grouping was okay enough. __________________ Michael Nos morituri te salutant - Supposed saying of the gladiators to the emperor ('We, who are about to die, salute you.') 'We are the lantern bearers, my friend; for us to keep something burning, to carry what light we can forward into the darkness and the wind' - From Rosemary Sutcliff's The Lantern Bearers

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01-19-2015, 03:26 PM	#3
rhuff Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Az. Posts: 2,315 Thanks: 2,751 Thanked 999 Times in 734 Posts	Michael, Congrats on your first Luger loads with Unique!! Isn't it gratifying when a plan comes together? Unique, like many other powders will shoot "dirty" when loaded at lower level loads, and then clean up as you approach the upper end of the load range. You now have a load that you know will function for you and your Luger, so you have a good baseline. You can now go in both directions from this load(up and down), and experiment with the results. The first requirement has been met, so experiment and have fun doing it.....that is what handloading is all about.