New to reloading quandry

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    Plinker
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    Feb 16, 2017
    13
    1
    Sheridan
    Ok i am a new reloader. I have read my Lyman Manual, watched an infinite number of youtube videos and read as much as I could find about it on the web but have not found concrete info about reloading picked up range brass. I have heard people say they do it and others warn never to do it. I will be loading 9mm target loads. I will put my last recipe below and I want to go slightly hotter than that. What do you all think?


    Primer: CCI 500 Small Pistol
    Powder: Wincester 231 (3.5 gr)
    Bullet: Hornaday 115gr JHP

    also if this info is already out there and I missed it please point me in the right direction.
     

    SEIndSAM

    Grandmaster
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    May 14, 2011
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    Ripley County
    No comment of your recipe, I use titegroup. But, I have picked up thousands of pieces of range brass and never had an issue. Just look them over for cracks or damage as your sizing them.
     

    trophyhunter

    Sharpshooter
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    Sep 2, 2008
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    South Bend
    Ok i am a new reloader. I have read my Lyman Manual, watched an infinite number of youtube videos and read as much as I could find about it on the web but have not found concrete info about reloading picked up range brass. I have heard people say they do it and others warn never to do it. I will be loading 9mm target loads. I will put my last recipe below and I want to go slightly hotter than that. What do you all think?


    Primer: CCI 500 Small Pistol
    Powder: Wincester 231 (3.5 gr)
    Bullet: Hornaday 115gr JHP

    also if this info is already out there and I missed it please point me in the right direction.

    3.5 grains isn't enough to start with. You don't want a squib stuck in the barrel or a failure of the slide to function. Here's some numbers on putting that recipe together you can compare to data in various load manuals bear in mind the Sammi spec. for 9mm is 35,000 psi for standard loads and 38,500 psi for +p loads.

    Constructing loads that fall 15,000 + psi short of the mark is the main reason you see and hear complaints of handloads being inaccurate, dirty or prone to malfunctions. 4.5 grains would be a reasonable starting point for accuracy and function of the gun provided you maintain a COL of 1.125. Any longer than that with only 4.5 grains of 231 and you'll have fast drop in pressure.

    Code:
    Cartridge          : 9 mm Luger (SAAMI)Bullet             : .355, 115, Hornady HP/XTP 35540
    Useable Case Capaci: 8.953 grain H2O = 0.581 cm³
    Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.125 inch = 28.58 mm
    Barrel Length      : 4.0 inch = 101.6 mm
    Powder             : Winchester 231
    
    
    Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
    incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
    CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !
    
    
    Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
     %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms
    
    
    -20.0   64     4.00    985     248   20693   3732     98.9    0.518
    -18.0   66     4.10   1004     258   21747   3818     99.2    0.506
    -16.0   67     4.20   1023     267   22839   3900     99.5    0.496
    -14.0   69     4.30   1041     277   23969   3980     99.7    0.484
    -12.0   71     4.40   1060     287   25138   4055     99.9    0.473
    -10.0   72     4.50   1078     297   26346   4127    100.0    0.463
    -08.0   74     4.60   1096     307   27596   4195    100.0    0.453
    -06.0   75     4.70   1113     316   28887   4262    100.0    0.443
    -04.0   77     4.80   1131     326   30222   4327    100.0    0.434  ! Near Maximum !
    -02.0   79     4.90   1148     336   31601   4392    100.0    0.425  ! Near Maximum !
    +00.0   80     5.00   1165     346   33026   4457    100.0    0.416  ! Near Maximum !
     
    Last edited:

    gregkl

    Outlier
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    Apr 8, 2012
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    Bloomington
    I use 231 along with TG but can't give you recipes right now. I have them at home.

    As far as range brass, I keep reloading it until it splits, cracks, or fails in some way.
     

    edwea

    Expert
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    25   0   0
    Jan 25, 2015
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    New Dolan
    After reloading for several years (or less) you'll likely be scouring the ground for brass. I know I do. I have more than I probably need, but always feel this sense of desperation when I see all that brass just laying around at the range. I have to get it.
     

    ckcollins2003

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    Apr 29, 2011
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    Muncie
    I only use range brass for my pistol loads. The only thing I buy brass for is my precision rifle rounds. Reloading 9mm doesn't save much money anyways so I save every cent I can by picking up range brass. Once it is resized it really doesn't matter.
     

    Old Dog

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    Mar 4, 2016
    1,376
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    Central Indiana
    Range brass is ok to use. Pick it up as soon as possible after being fired to reduce possibility of corrosion, rain water, and dirt. Clean and tumble it, check for splits, cracks, and bulges.. sort by headstamp and go for it. Use your manual for minimum load for the powder and bullet you are going to use. I once picked up thousands of 5.56 brass from local LEO range the day after they got their new M-16s. Just laying in piles of hundreds on the line. It has been great. Many places sell once fired range brass.
     

    red_zr24x4

    UA#190
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    Mar 14, 2009
    28,792
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    Walkerton
    Nothing wrong with range brass.
    9mm you will probably loose it before it splits, any auto usually, in my experience.
    I agree with what Old Dog said, except the sorting by headstamp, in 25 yrs of re-loading I have never sorted by headstamp
     

    Leadeye

    Grandmaster
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    Jan 19, 2009
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    Over the last 40+ years of reloading I can't imagine where I would be without range brass.
     

    bigbaloo95

    Marksman
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    Dec 31, 2014
    259
    18
    wolcottville
    I have reloaded 9mm brass MANY times before seeing any problems. Just inspect the stuff for cracks and pay attention to loose fitting primers and corrosion. Picking up brass will become a compulsion.
     

    Broom_jm

    Master
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    Dec 10, 2009
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    Ok i am a new reloader. I have read my Lyman Manual, watched an infinite number of youtube videos and read as much as I could find about it on the web but have not found concrete info about reloading picked up range brass. I have heard people say they do it and others warn never to do it. I will be loading 9mm target loads. I will put my last recipe below and I want to go slightly hotter than that. What do you all think?


    Primer: CCI 500 Small Pistol
    Powder: Wincester 231 (3.5 gr)
    Bullet: Hornaday 115gr JHP

    also if this info is already out there and I missed it please point me in the right direction.

    Welcome to Indiana Gun Owners forum. There are a lot of guys here who can help you with some of the specifics of reloading, the first of which is you don't "shop" for charge weights on a forum. ;)

    You mention "target loads". Depending on what you mean by that, you may want to stick with one headstamp on your brass, to make it as consistent as possible, but that doesn't preclude using (well-inspected) range brass.

    Go to the Hodgdon website, reloading section, 9mm Luger, 115gr bullets, Winchester 231 powder. You'll discover that 3.5 grains is below the recommended starting charge of 4.7 grains.

    With some things in life, you either KNOW what you're doing, or you shouldn't be messing with it. Herpetologists, for example! Reloading is one of those things. If you have questions, that's fine, but when you start putting loads together, have at least two verified sources for your data (not a buddy or forum reply). Good luck and let us know how ya do. :)

    [FONT=&amp]

    [/FONT]
     

    gond

    Plinker
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    Feb 16, 2017
    13
    1
    Sheridan
    Wow. Thank you for all of the replies. As for the starting grains being too low. I got that directly from my lyman manual. Maybe I read it wrong. load_data.png

    First thing I have to do is remount my press. I don't like how I did it the first time.

    With some things in life, you either KNOW what you're doing, or you shouldn't be messing with it. Herpetologists, for example
    Interesting saying. I love my snakes!!
     

    noylj

    Marksman
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    May 8, 2011
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    Check a couple of reloading manuals and start at the lowest starting load and work up.
    Range brass is just fine. If you buy once-fired brass, you are buying range brass.
    For 9x19 accuracy, unless you have a custom gun with custom barrel, you'll get a lot better accuracy from Power Pistol, Silhouette, True Blue, and other slower powders.
    It is VERY hard to have a squib load with ANY powder in the case that ignites, but a very low charge weight, if accurate in 9x19, will most likely require a lower weight recoil spring.
     

    EyeCarry

    Master
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    May 10, 2014
    1,532
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    Bloomington
    Range brass is fine, as others stated. Start with the minimum correct powder charge (5-10 rounds) and see if it cycles the weapon correctly. I find, with powders that I have tried, that just under stated max is where I end up.
     

    BiscuitsandGravy

    Future 'shootered'
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    Nov 8, 2016
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    At the Ranch.
    Picked up 1000 9mm range brass from a fellow INGOer last fall... Been using 1 cup at a time to tweak my wash recipe/process. The only thing is I stumbled upon some with 2 smaller flash holes. Will have to sort them out.

    We use 231 and Autocomp but mostly 231. Trophyhunter and others are correct, 3.5gr is very light and may cause unwanted/unexpected operation.

    YMMV.

    Good group of guys here for help. All you have to do is ask.

    Welcome to :ingo:
     

    OHOIAN

    Marksman
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    Jul 20, 2014
    157
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    NE OHIO
    If you notice the OAL as tested in your Lyman load data, it is 1.090, with that OAL the 3.5g charge should be safe to shoot, although quite light. I have shot thousands and thousands of those bullets both the XTP and HAP. For target purposes the XTP and the HAP are the same, but the HAP are less expensive. My preferred load is 4.7g of W231/HP38 at an OAL of 1.090 to 1.095.
    The only problem with range brass is when you are pushing maximum velocities and pressures and you come across a case the is not up to it. That is not likely, but it is possible. So don’t push the limits with range brass. For target shooting there is no reason to.
     

    mac45

    Expert
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    Feb 17, 2008
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    Range brass is fine.

    As for your charge......you're right. The Lyman manual says 3.5 to start for a 115gr JHP
    Broom_JM is also right....the Hodgdon web site says 4.7 gr to start.
    So what's up?
    The bullets are different.
    Lyman doesn't specify what flavor of bullets it's testing, and the Hodgdon web site is showing a Speer Gold Dot.
    Just because two bullets are the same weight, doesn't mean they use the same charge.
    According to my Speer book, some Gold Dots have a different charge. Don't have it handy, and don't recall if 9mm is one of 'em.
    Hornady #8 says 4.1 - 4.7 gr of W231 for the XTP, or the RN-FMJ

    Truth of the matter is that manuals rarely agree, even when they list the exact same bullet.
    Something that has caused reloaders much wailing and gnashing of teeth for ages
    So what Broom_JM said was good advice.....have more than one source.
    And of course.....start low, and work up.
     
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