Powder puff 9mm LEAD loads?

First topic message reminder :

Hi,
In another thread, Len shares his concerns about loading jacketed bullets light and the risk of getting one stuck down the barrel. I share this concern. But with lead, it seems perfectly safe to load at 700 fps. Would you guys care to share your favorite powder puff 9mm loads using lead bullets?

I'll share mine. In essence, I duplicate my 38 special wadcutter load; I don't have to adjust powder measure... I use 2.7gr of WST, with a 135gr cast LRN bullet sized to .357, loaded to 1.110 OAL. It's used in a CZ with a 1-10" barrel. It's accurate at the short line, but I have never tried it at 50. I use it with good results for ISSF. I also tried 3.1gr of HP-38 (my other wadcutter load) but it wasn't as good.

N.B. that WST is no longer in reloading guides for 9mm since it can be dangerous if you're trying to achieve a power factor using it. I do believe it's safe at this very low load, but use at your own risk and make sure you're not compressing the powder. The following collection of forum posts on WST may be interesting to you.

SIGHT CHART


ADJUSTMENT CHART

Thanks, that chart is helpful. No Beretta 92FS on there but looks like 1/4" to 1/2" per click is a good starting place.

I have had success with 9mm powder puff loads for the last 2 years in our local Steel Challenge league.  I am shooting a 5' 1911 with a 6lb recoil spring.  The load is a powder coated 147 gr LRNFPBB (lyman mould) over 1.9 gr of Bullseye and a sm pistol primer.  The are loaded to 1.1" OAL and chronograph at 650 fps +/- 25.  Empties only go a couple feet consistently.  I have no leading or evidence of PC failure.  I have not checked 50 or 100 yd accuracy as SC longest shots are 105'.  Early in my load development I experienced tumbling which was found to be caused by bad casting technique producing voids in the bullets.  Sorted out the bullets with voids and no more tumbling.  

One of my shooting partners is using the same setup with a 5lb spring shooting a 147 gr Berrys FMJ over 2.2 gr of Trail Boss.  Same speed and accuracy.

Recoil is very low, almost 22 level and reliability has been very good.

I will be trying to develop the same performance level in a load for my PCC in SC in about a week.

Our fellow shooters assured us that these loads had no prayer of working, until they did for the last 2 years.

I have had great luck with a Penn 115g lead bullet (miniature HG68?) I load it with 4.2 of VVN340.   Not sure that they will shoot at the long line, but they cut nice clean holes at the 25 yard line.

Has anyone tried Brazos 115 coated in a 1911 with a KKM barrel ?  either with slide mount or without.

I tried the Brazos 115 in 1-32 KKM.  Had to run them fast to stabilize.  6.0-6.2 of Power Pistol.

I've run 105 grain SWC with 2.4 WST in my CZ 75 SP01. Had to shorten the extractor spring in order to get it to feed correctly (whole gun is sprung WAY down using Cajun Gunworks stuff). Extremely soft. Grouped well enough off hand for the short line, but never pursued the project beyond that. Lots of fun, though. 

Dave

Not powder puff but 4.2 gn W231 and 135 gn RMR match winner is pretty accurate, soft enough and leaves a pile of cases at my feet out of PPQ with a Jarvis 1:10 barrel. 

The RMR is a cone and loads short like HPX or HAP. 

The only powder that shoots good with 147s I tried so far believe it or not is CFE 4.0 gn not super soft but not supper hot. No pressure signs. 

With VN 310 the most you are going to want to load is 2.8gn shoots 22lr soft but it is cutting it close to safety margin.