158gr Lee SWC in 9mm

[tek4260]

I was digging around in the mold box the other day and ran across my old 158gr SWC TL mold. I wanted something cheap and easy for the ragged old Model 15 that I'd picked up cheap. I cast a couple hundred and then the rest of the pot went to 124gr TCs for the 9mm. I ran them through the .356" Lee push through along with the 124s after powder coating them. I liked the results of my 260gr SWCs in the 45ACP, so I decided to try some SWC's in the 9mm. There isn't much load data, but I did find a bit and a friend sent me his recipe of 4.6gr of HS-6 with the same bullet. With an OAL of 1.106, it chambers and feeds fine in my RIA 9mm 1911 and also chambers and feeds in my G43, but I haven't fired that little pistol with the load as of yet. I only loaded 10 to check for function, accuracy, and velocity. It seems to be accurate, and hits to poa. The first rested shot hit right at the center of the 1" target at 15 yards. The rest were fired fast offhand at the same range. The final 2 were sent across the chronograph. The primers look fine and the brass ejects into a nice pile 2ft to my right. A 100% density load would be 6.6gr at my seating depth with HS-6, but it was recommended that I try something slower like AA7 to get the most from the load. So, I'll shelf the project until I find some AA7. It shouldn't be much of a chore to get 1000fps from this load. It should add some terminal effect to the 9mm even at the velocity I'm getting now, over the commercial JHP options.

[tek4260]

It would help if I remembered to upload the target picture!!

[JSilva]

Nice results!
I tried to use those same bullets in my s&w 929, But my starting load gave me sticky extraction. I cannot recall what my load was off the top of my head.
shortly thereafter, I fell into a mold from Tom at Accurate molds and have been happy with that.
I might just have to resurrect that lee mold and try again, Thanks for sharing!

[ChiefTJS]

Been playing with 9mm lately too, got bit in butt by the Glock bug again and then got to thinking of that 9mm cylinder in the Blackhawk and you know how it goes.

[ss30378]

I've been running 158s and 180s in the 9mm for a while, power pistol, blue dot, and longshot have performed well with the heavies. In a glock 17L (6.5" threaded barrel and comp) running a good bit of pressure I've run a coated MBC 180 grain "pugnose" to over 1100fps at 1.158" OAL. I opened the throat of the barrel up to run .359 dia bullets seated out as far as the mag will allow. In a g20 barrel with the throat opened up to be able to seat the same bullet to 1.260" (10mm OAL) 1250fps is attainable with the 180s.

[cmillard]

nice job tek.

ss30378--what kind of aftermarket barrel are you running in your 17L?

[ss30378]

cmillard - Lone wolf barrel, throated with a 23/64 chucking reamer that was modified to taper the transition into the rifling.

[cmillard]

got ya.

[tek4260]

Tried it again with my Glock 34 using AA7 rather that HS6

[tek4260]

It's a fairly hot loading. See the difference between Winchester and CCI primers

[tek4260]

One shot with my regular 124gr load, just to the right of the bullseye, followed by 5 of the 158gr Lee SWC. All were shot from 15 yards, sitting with forearms rested on my knees.

Should make for a good "all around" 9mm load.

[bula]

Wow ! You got the PC thing nailed, and I would not have thought those bullets would feed well at all. Wonder where A carbine could take them ?

[tek4260]

I don't know where the myth that SWCs won't feed in an auto originated. I've got to be knocking on 2k rounds of SWCs through 1911s and Glocks, and have yet to have a FTF. I did have issues with 124gr TCs in the Glock, but that was with a 90s vintage magazine. Buying new mags cured that issue.

[tek4260]

Also, the only thing I can recommend for heavy bullets in these small cases is to stick with the slow powders. AA7 is a really fine granulated powder. You can get an awful lot if it in a case.