SAAMI Pressure for 9mm

[G43K98]

Although I've been reloading for 30+ years, recent Luger purchases created the need to reload 9mm for the first time. The bullets I picked up at a local gun store are lead 124 gr round nose, sized to .3555. The profile is similar to the Lyman #356637, except that it's missing the bevel base and is 124 gr rather than 147 gr. If they turn out to be unsuitable for the Luger, I'll give them to a friend for use in his Glock.

Some of my .45 ACP loading is for a 1912 vintage Colt Model 1911 U.S. Navy. For that I use a 200 gr bevel base semi-wadcutter (similar to the Lyman #452630) behind 6.5 grains SR 4756. According to the Lyman reloading manual, that should give about 675 fps muzzle velocity at 9,750 c.u.p. -- a nice gentle load for a 99 year old pistol that is accurate and cycles the action reliably. For shooting .45 ACP in modern pistols, I typically use 7.5 gr SR 4756 for 840 fps mv at 14,400 c.u.p. These loads are well below the max of 8.0 gr SR 4756, 933 fps mv, 16,700 c.u.p.

Gerhard

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by G43K98

Although I've been reloading for 30+ years, recent Luger purchases created the need to reload 9mm for the first time. The bullets I picked up at a local gun store are lead 124 gr round nose, sized to .3555. The profile is similar to the Lyman #356637, except that it's missing the bevel base and is 124 gr rather than 147 gr. If they turn out to be unsuitable for the Luger, I'll give them to a friend for use in his Glock. Gerhard

Hi:

I've done an internet search on your Lyman 356637 and the only 124 gr. bullet I can find is the 147 gr. in HP format. Also, the bullet I've found is a RNFP bullet. Since I haven't worked with this bullet, I can't comment on its suitability for the Luger.

Here, however, are some lead bullets I've had excellent experience with in the Luger:

Bushwhacker Bullets, LLC, Ron Roehrs, 417-681-0506, their 125 gr SWC, my cartridge OAL, 29.0mm.

Bear Creek Supply, Steve Miller, 209-874-4322, their 125 gr. Conical Round Nose Molly Coated, my cartridge OAL, 29.8mm.

My accuracy loads with these two are with Alliant's Power Pistol. For your accuracy load, start at about 4.8 grs. and work up, 1/10 of a grain at a time, to about 5.4 grs. or so, while keeping an eye out for your best group.

The SWCs are a bit expensive, but they are of excellent quality, and shoot extremely well. I like the perfectly round holes they cut in a target. Feeding is also perfect!

The Molly coated bullets are of excellent quaility and consistency, yet, are extremely affordable. These bullets are so slick that you can barely hold onto them long enough to get them seated, there is no leading, and clean-up is with only one or two Hoppes #9 soaked patches. My accuracy load with this bullet has cut the center out of a 25 yard X ring with 7 touching!! This is the best lead bullet shooting I've ever done with a Luger!

Some notes of caution when developing handloads for the Luger:

1) Though a Luger's groove diameter is 9.1mm or .358, the chamber and throat of a Luger will not permit bullets of a diameter greater than 3.56 to fully chamber. Larger diameter bullets will only partially chamber, either jamming the pistol or leading to a very, very dangerous situation whereby the pistol can be fired with the toggle not at full battery (fully closed)!!! Pay extra attention to the diameter of the bullets you are handloading and always check to make sure your handloads will fully chamber!!!

2) Luger chambers and throats will vary in diameter and length as well. After you have determined the proper cartridge OAL your pistol needs to feed cartridges properly through that highly slanted magazine, always check to make sure your handloads will, again, fully chamber. A handload too long for your pistol's throat will lead to the same highly dangerous situation described above, whereby the pistol can be fired with the toggle not fully at battery. If it takes more than the slightest index finger tap to fully chamber your handload, reject the component combination, and start over!!! Always check to make sure your handloads will fully chamber!!!

Please share your experiences with me after you have done your load development.

Thanks!!

Sieger

P.S. Remember, popular myth has it that the 9mm just won't shoot lead bullets accurately!?!

[Sieger]

Originally Posted by G43K98

Although I've been reloading for 30+ years, recent Luger purchases created the need to reload 9mm for the first time. The bullets I picked up at a local gun store are lead 124 gr round nose, sized to .3555. The profile is similar to the Lyman #356637, except that it's missing the bevel base and is 124 gr rather than 147 gr. If they turn out to be unsuitable for the Luger, I'll give them to a friend for use in his Glock.

Gerhard

Hi:

I've found, what appears, to be your bullet, Lyman's 356637, in Lyman's latest Cast Bullet Handbook.

The "flat" of the front of the bullet looks too wide to me to be able to properly feed through a Luger's magazine. The Luger "likes" truncated cone bullets with narrow "flats".

You might want to try either the Lyman 120 gr. #356402 or RCBS' #9mm-124-CN, as these should work perfectly.

Sieger