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Before I begin, I strongly advocate following the recipes that the powder manufacturers give you. They've spent millions of dollars in research and development, and tested their loads numerous times. For that reason, I do not exceed the max loads, and if anything try to stay at least 0.1 grain below the max.
The recipes I have listed below are all below the max recommended charge, in accordance to the recipes given by the powder manufacturers.
Just wondering what everyone who handloads uses, and for what reason? I'm always looking to experiment with loads that people swear is the magic formula.
I'll start with some of my favorite loads (list will be updated later):
9 mm:
Fun light plinking load:
115 grain Ranier plated round nose bullet
3.9 g Vihtavuori N320 powder (4.4 max)
Winchester standard small pistol primer
COAL = 1.142"
This is a very light recoiling load, and has just enough power to cycle the slide of my Glock 17, although some people have reported better results going to 4.0 or 4.1 grains. Very clean burning, no muzzle flash. When teaching people to fire their first centerfire handgun, I use this in combination with the above Glock. Not very loud, relatively speaking, (but you must always use ear protection), and the load is also a sliver below subsonic velocities.
I find this a great load to use for training relatively new people who have acquired a good proficiency with my .22 LR Ruger 22/45 pistol, and want to move on to more powerful calibers. This is a good bit lighter recoiling than even Winchester white box ammo.
Hot plinking load, safely duplicates the feel of higher pressure defensive ammo:
124 grain FMJ round nose bullet
6.4 grains Alliant Power Pistol (6.6 grains max, according to Alliant)
Winchester standard small pistol primer
COAL = 1.150"
This is a very fast load, averaging over 1200 fps from my Glock 17, yet still well under the 35000 psi maximum for standard pressure loads. With a full 6.6 grains, I can hit about 1250 fps. The only disadvantage to this load is that Power Pistol does produce a bit of flash, but at least it's clean burning in this cartridge. If I want a no-flash load, then I'll substitue 6.3 grains of Vihtavuori 3N37 for Power Pistol (very similar burning qualities, but please consult manual for recipes).
9 mm Major:
147 grain Hornady XTP jacketed hollowpoint bullet
6.7 grains Vihtavuori 3N38 powder (6.9 grains max)
Winchester small pistol primer
COAL = 1.142"
This load can make "Major" if I were to use it for such purposes, where that 147 grain bullet screams out at 1195 fps. No, this isn't an error, and I've tested this with 25 rounds through the chrony.
I also use this as a bowling pin shooting load, and can surprise many people who think that the 9 mm is no good for such games (I still prefer my 10 mm for that, though). Well into 357 Sig territory here with this bullet weight.
This load is also a tad below the SAAMI max pressure of 35000 psi. 3N38 is a relatively new powder to the scene, but it's already rapidly becoming my choice of (safe) hotrodding powder, now that Hodgdon is discontinuing Longshot. The only BIG problem with this, though, is that Vihtavuori 3N38 is VERY hard to find, especially from the local dealers. I don't really want to order from online, unless I can make a relatively large order, since the hazmat charges apply.
The recipes I have listed below are all below the max recommended charge, in accordance to the recipes given by the powder manufacturers.
Just wondering what everyone who handloads uses, and for what reason? I'm always looking to experiment with loads that people swear is the magic formula.
I'll start with some of my favorite loads (list will be updated later):
9 mm:
Fun light plinking load:
115 grain Ranier plated round nose bullet
3.9 g Vihtavuori N320 powder (4.4 max)
Winchester standard small pistol primer
COAL = 1.142"
This is a very light recoiling load, and has just enough power to cycle the slide of my Glock 17, although some people have reported better results going to 4.0 or 4.1 grains. Very clean burning, no muzzle flash. When teaching people to fire their first centerfire handgun, I use this in combination with the above Glock. Not very loud, relatively speaking, (but you must always use ear protection), and the load is also a sliver below subsonic velocities.
I find this a great load to use for training relatively new people who have acquired a good proficiency with my .22 LR Ruger 22/45 pistol, and want to move on to more powerful calibers. This is a good bit lighter recoiling than even Winchester white box ammo.
Hot plinking load, safely duplicates the feel of higher pressure defensive ammo:
124 grain FMJ round nose bullet
6.4 grains Alliant Power Pistol (6.6 grains max, according to Alliant)
Winchester standard small pistol primer
COAL = 1.150"
This is a very fast load, averaging over 1200 fps from my Glock 17, yet still well under the 35000 psi maximum for standard pressure loads. With a full 6.6 grains, I can hit about 1250 fps. The only disadvantage to this load is that Power Pistol does produce a bit of flash, but at least it's clean burning in this cartridge. If I want a no-flash load, then I'll substitue 6.3 grains of Vihtavuori 3N37 for Power Pistol (very similar burning qualities, but please consult manual for recipes).
9 mm Major:
147 grain Hornady XTP jacketed hollowpoint bullet
6.7 grains Vihtavuori 3N38 powder (6.9 grains max)
Winchester small pistol primer
COAL = 1.142"
This load can make "Major" if I were to use it for such purposes, where that 147 grain bullet screams out at 1195 fps. No, this isn't an error, and I've tested this with 25 rounds through the chrony.
I also use this as a bowling pin shooting load, and can surprise many people who think that the 9 mm is no good for such games (I still prefer my 10 mm for that, though). Well into 357 Sig territory here with this bullet weight.
This load is also a tad below the SAAMI max pressure of 35000 psi. 3N38 is a relatively new powder to the scene, but it's already rapidly becoming my choice of (safe) hotrodding powder, now that Hodgdon is discontinuing Longshot. The only BIG problem with this, though, is that Vihtavuori 3N38 is VERY hard to find, especially from the local dealers. I don't really want to order from online, unless I can make a relatively large order, since the hazmat charges apply.