Playing with "The Nine"

by Creeker , Hardwoods, Sunday, February 15, 2015, 14:30 (3574 days ago)
edited by Creeker, Sunday, February 15, 2015, 14:39

I’ve loaded the 9MM Luger cartridge for a year or so but nothing serious. My efforts have been geared toward providing ammo to learn the semi-auto platform. Most my shooting to this point has been with a CZ 75 Pre B. The Saeco #928 bullet is used with Promo power purchased on the cheap a few years ago along with several sleeves of HMF primers.

As things would go I purchased an S&W M&P Compact 9MM with thoughts of using such as a carry arm. I quickly learned this pistol would not function reliably with the ammo loaded for the CZ. The OAL and bullet profile was not the issue, it was bullet diameter. I use the Saeco #928 at .358” in the CZ but the M&P will fail to fully chamber at least once per magazine.

Looking for a bullet to carry in my M&P I purchased several Hornady XTP 115 HP bullets. These were loaded with 4.5 grains of Promo at 1.125” & after many down the barrel I trust the load to feed & fire without issue.

I began with once fired mixed cases which I tumbled & sprayed with Hornady One Shot.

The cases are primed with these.

Promo power is used weight for weight with any Red Dot data. The charge weight was 4.5 grains which varied very little charge to charge from my Dillon measure.

4.5 grains of Promo looks like this in a 9MM Luger case.

The Hornady XTP 115 HP.

Round & round on the Dillon 550.

Loaded round ben.

The finished product.

I fired most these loads at 20 yards from the standing position using a 2 hand hold. A couple of magazines fired will group most into 3 ½”. I’m sure if only 5 shots were fired using ones best efforts the groups would be smaller but the M&P Compact isn’t a bullseye arm.