First 9mm load, results

[SIG_Fiend]

Well, I've gone through most of the 500rds I did in my first batch. The first 50rds ran fine, but maybe I should have tested a few more before doing 450 more rounds LOL:

5.0gr Blue Dot
Berries 147gr RN Plated
1.168 OAL
Federal #100 primers

I'm using a standard Glock 17, and I just replaced all my springs. 5.0gr was the minimum listed in the Speer book for this load. I had the occasional FTE, and could tell these things were shooting pretty darn light. I'm thinking I will step it up to ~5.2gr and see how that works. I'm not stuck on Blue Dot or anything, but basically just trying to come up with a cheap, light load for basic range practice. Blue Dot just seems to be one of those common powders that you can always find around, which was part of the reason I tried it this time. If anyone has any light load they've tried and have found to work well, I'd be glad to hear about it.

 

[codygjohnson]

147 gr. Berry's RN
3.1 gr. Win 231
CCI small pistol
1.169" OAL

This is what I'm shooting with a Glock 19. Very soft recoil and accurate. I thought I would need to seat the bullet deeper to take up the extra room in the case, but it ended up being very consistent on the chrony. I had it shooting with 2.9 grains, but like you, after a few rounds the gun started to FTE. I bumped up to 3.1 and it cycles fine. I think the glocks have a tendency to heat up and bind a bit.

 

[Texas1911]

Try seating to 1.155 - 1.160 OAL ... that will add a little more gusto to the rounds. I am seating at 1.135" with 3.0 gr. of Titegroup, we shall see how that works.

 

[robin303]

I used 1 lb of Blue Dot once. There is no way you can double charge. I believe it flashes more than any other powder I ever used. It also takes more powder than any other I ever tried and the 115 and 124 is compressed. I also set all my 9mm loads at 1.130 OAL. I let you borrow my chrono if you want. I can drop it off at Alans house.

 

[woolleyworm]

Bumping this one back up to see what the results were. How'd the rest of your load work-up go Sig ?

The pistol powders that I will never be without are W231, Unique, Titegroup and Trailboss. Titegroup is my most used powder, I've used it in everything from .32shorts to 500SW with great results.

 

[Texas1911]

I think he just did that one load, and it was a bit on the weak side. It just needed a tad bit more behind it to be 100% ... from what I remember.

 

[Texas1911]

I used 1 lb of Blue Dot once. There is no way you can double charge. I believe it flashes more than any other powder I ever used. It also takes more powder than any other I ever tried and the 115 and 124 is compressed. I also set all my 9mm loads at 1.130 OAL. I let you borrow my chrono if you want. I can drop it off at Alans house.

What was that load you used that made all that damn noise? ... 4.0 grs. of Blue Dot behind a 115 FMJ?

 

[noylj]

That is a below-starting load of Blue Dot. For a light load, you should use a faster powder for "optimum" performance. I use AA2, AA5, 231/HP38, and Green Dot for light loads and save the Blue Dot for high velocity.