9mm Reloading Questions

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First off, the only solid 'use' experience I have in reloading has been shotshell. Been doing that since I was 15 years old. I've done my research on 22 hornet loading and I've had great results for the past 2 years, but that's it.

I have a TPS M6 Takedown (22 hornet over .410). I've created a mobile reloading kit using the Lee breech lock hand press for the 22 hornet and a very small multistage loader I invented for the .410. I have a small 2 slot 45gr bullet mold I machined for the hornet. Very compact in my bag. I'm carrying minimal lead. I'd like to add load dies and a bullet mold for my 9mm pistol.

Because this is a Bug Out kit I'd like to use only one powder, Lil-Gun. Works very well in the .410 & hornet. And because this is a survival use only I was wondering if I can get away with the lil gun in the 9mm luger? Using a Taurus G3C. Not looking for matched round quality. Just a safe round with a decent velocity.

I've been reading conflicting info across the web and thought I'd ask in here what the pro/con would be. And if it is feasible, what would the optimum gr bullet & powder be? Got told to use FMJ's in that pistol. Are non FMJ's OK?

Thanks in advance for any help.
 
Lead bullets will work in 9mm, so no problem there. A little more care will be needed when flaring the cases, compared to FMJ. Not enough flare and you will be shaving lead off the bullet when seating.

Without looking for actual load data, I would say Lil-gun will not work in 9mm. The burn rate is too slow for 9mm, it is more of a magnum pistol or small rifle powder.
 
Just for my own curiosity, I ran the numbers in Quickload. With a 124gn FMJ bullet, and 100% case fill of Lil-Gun, from a 4" barrel it predicts only 750fps velocity. But, it only generates 12351 psi max pressure, and I would be worried that it could end up sticking a bullet in the barrel.
 
agree I’d not even bother trying lil gun for 9mm. like not even consider it. there are many powders that work well for 9 mm. I’m partial to Western powders - true blue and silhouette, but plenty of others work well.

excellent quality plated bullets can be had for so cheap That I never really found Much use for lead bullets. Berrys and xtreme are my usual choices but like powders there are other good options out there.
 
92G said:
excellent quality plated bullets can be had for so cheap That I never really found Much use for lead bullets. Berrys and xtreme are my usual choices but like powders there are other good options out there.
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Yes, I lean towards plated bullets for 9mm, but also like the in-house produced FMJ bullets from Rocky Mount Reloading.

Clicker said:
How do you plan to size & lube these bullets? What tooling is small enough to pack into a Bug Out Bag?
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I had not considered lubing the bullets, and have never done it myself, but the Lee Alox lube might be a consideration.
 
Toprudder said:
Yes, I lean towards plated bullets for 9mm, but also like the in-house produced FMJ bullets from Rocky Mount Reloading.


I had not considered lubing the bullets, and have never done it myself, but the Lee Alox lube might be a consideration.
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I’d go with plated but another option I’d coated lead. No lube needed either. I’ve used Brazos Precision with great success and I think their 9mm is less than .08 right now.
 
Since the OP stated "And because this is a survival use only" and plans to drag two molds plus die sets along I think he will need a Bug Out Crate not a Bag to tote everything.

How to you plan to melt the lead, perhaps a small cast iron pot or hand held ladle over a wood fire or maybe in a propane fired furnace? Not saying it can't be done but I believe you'll need more gear than you think.
 
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Lee loaders, a mold and anything from a soup can to a steel measuring cup for melting. Not sure that you could get much smaller.

Plenty of powders that work in shotshell and 9mm, but the 22 Hornet is better with something slower. My plan would be to load 500 with the best powder for each caliber and when it comes time to bug out decide if you have room for both powders.
 
@idbdan at the risk of increasing your pack size, I’d think about keeping the powder in bulk and create a scoop that provides the charge you want. We tend to stress over a tenth of a grain, but with a scoop and consistent technique you can easily get within a few tenths and that’s plenty good. Could store the scoops in with the powder, so maybe taking no space at all.

Scoops are easily made from a cut down case, a bit of copper wire and a couple dabs of solder.
 
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