9mm / 38 Caliber Reloading

[Krackels]

My club has a chrono, so hopefully I'll be able to chrono my reloads.

[KingAirDriver]

Hey guys,

I just ordered a Lee Classic Turret today, and now need to start figuring out the rest! I'm completely new to reloading. I've been reading a lot of the info here, and I'm sure I'll sound redundant for asking, but I do need some recommendations.

I've been trying to piece together what a good powder would be for me. I shoot a Glock 19 and HK USPc, and just bought my wife a Kahr PM9. I don't shoot competition, so it would just be something to plink with. The problem I'm running into in my research here is that there are too many acronyms! You guys all know what WSF, TG, etc is, but I have no clue. Point me in a direction for inexpensive stuff that will keep me safe...or as safe as I can make it to be! I'm interested in the stuff (I think that WSF was mentioned) where there is a little safety margin.

Bullets. I just need the cheap stuff, no match winners. I see a zillion links, but I just need a place or two or three that you guys like, and what is a good bullet for a noob. I'd prefer to shoot FMJ.

What else am I missing?

[agalindo]

A good reloading book.

[CanyonJack]

KingAirDriver,
My load of choice for weekly shooting matches has been:
Winchester 231 powder, Rainier 115gr plated bullets, Winchester Small Pistol Primers, Winchester Brass. (see previous post in this thread for details)

I too have a Lee Classic Turret Press, and load 150-200 rounds per week with it for nearly a year now - no problems.

Midway USA has been my supplier for bullets and brass. Powder and primers I purchase thru our gun club in large quantities for price breaks.

[KingAirDriver]

Thank you for the reply, CJ. The UPS guy dropped my press off about 15 mins ago!! Now I have to wait for the wifey to get home so I can go to Lowes and buy stuff to make a bench...no room on my current one.

[The Knight Of Light]

Originally Posted by Old School

Zero 147gr JHP
3.0gr TiteGroup
OAL: 1.150
Primers: Winchester Small Pistol
Brass: Speer, Winchester

My XD has eaten nearly 20,000 of these gems and they have been flawless. Recoil is poofy and the gun runs great.

OS

I use the same load and my gun works flawlessly. It is a highly accurate load too.

[Joe Williams]

Originally Posted by scalce

Stupid question but why would you buy JHPs for punching paper and matches?

I do see that it is usually only a few dollars more.

Any other 147 recommendations besides Old School's Zeros?

I am looking to start loading 147s at a low charge for faster follow up shots in IDPA.

You can sometimes get better accuracy with the JHPs.

[mulletmaster]

Originally Posted by CanyonJack

Finally able to chrono the following loads:

Mastercast LCN 125 gr. Bullseye 3.3gr, OAL 1.100, avg vel 1062. PF133
Mastercast LCN 125 gr. Titegroup 2.9gr, OAL 1.100, avg vel 1015, PF 127
Mastercast LCN 125 gr. W231 3.5gr, OAL 1.100, avg vel 1028, PF 129


All through XD-9 Tactical (5 inch barrel)

What does LCN stand for? I have seen it in a couple of places and I have not seen a good definition yet. Also do you have a site for those bullets? I have ~2500 lead round nose bullets (124/125 gr) and tite group powder and am trying to find a good load for them as I am just getting into reloading.

Thanks

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by mulletmaster

What does LCN stand for? I have seen it in a couple of places and I have not seen a good definition yet. Also do you have a site for those bullets? I have ~2500 lead round nose bullets (124/125 gr) and tite group powder and am trying to find a good load for them as I am just getting into reloading.

Thanks

Lead conical nose
KAD, the abbreviations on powders are the names: Winchest Super Field (WSF), TightGroup (TG), etc. For a new handloader. I recommend med. burn rate powders like Unique, Universal, WSF & AA#5. The have a more moderate pressure curve & will help keep you out of trouble. The burn rate is the relative quickness the powder burns. The faster the burn the faster the pressure peaks. Alot of this info is in most decent reloading guides.

[mulletmaster]

I just tried some of the 2.9gr tite group behind 125 LRN bullet with an OAL of 1.100 and did not have very good luck with it. I had probably a 40% failure to cycle rate with this load, just a bit too light.