All about 9mm Major

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Some decent articles on one of the most controversial calibers in use today.
SAMMI won't have anything to do with it, yet major gun makers build pistols chambered in it everyday.
I load it using 124gr Blue bullets (poly coated .355) and HS6 or WAC @ 1350 FPS.
I have heard Silouette is a decent choice also, but I've not tried it yet.

Fwiw, my 9mm open gun is proofed at 45K PSI.

My next experiment is with 90GR FMJ HP 380 ACP bullets @ 1500 fps for a steel challenge load. I tried it once already but it would not cycle the pistol with the 9mm major recoil spring in place.

(I'm going to change SPP primer brands, I hear that can add enough pressure to cycle the pistol if I can't fit anymore powder in the case) ;)

https://waynematteson.com/2017/04/14/nine-major-danger/

https://waynematteson.com/2017/04/09/finding-the-right-9-major-load/

https://waynematteson.com/2017/05/09/9-major-on-the-cheap/
 
Ive found Accurate #7 to be a good powder for making 9 major. Takes more grains than Autocomp or HS-6, and gives me extremely good accuracy. Downside is its a little dirty, leaving some unburned granules of powder in the case and barrel, but that hasn't caused any issues so far. I'm thinking if it isn't getting a complete burn at the volumes I'm using it must not be too crazy pressure wise.

Just got a pound of 3N38 to try, Ive heard its the ultimate 9 major powder with light weight bullets. Hope it is at almost double the price.

Have you tried 115's out of your Czechmate? Curious as to why you settled on 124gr rounds.
 
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dave33 said:
Ive found Accurate #7 to be a good powder for making 9 major. Takes more grains than Autocomp or HS-6, and gives me extremely good accuracy. Downside is its a little dirty, leaving some unburned granules of powder in the case and barrel, but that hasn't caused any issues so far. I'm thinking if it isn't getting a complete burn at the volumes I'm using it must not be too crazy pressure wise.

Just got a pound of 3N38 to try, Ive heard its the ultimate 9 major powder with light weight bullets. Hope it is at almost double the price.

Have you tried 115's out of your Czechmate? Curious as to why you settled on 124gr rounds.
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I am on the hunt for 3N38.
It makes major w/124 gr at book minimum, or so I've heard.

The manual that came with my pistol recommended 124gr RN, so I started with those. Also, multiple pro shooters use 125gr, so i went with the flow. There didn't used to be much info available.
Glad to see more load data published.

I've shot lots of 115gr minor but I have not worked up a major 115gr yet.
What velocity does a 115 need for major?
 
Slacker said:
I am on the hunt for 3N38.
It makes major w/124 gr at book minimum, or so I've heard.

The manual that came with my pistol recommended 124gr RN, so I started with those. Also, multiple pro shooters use 125gr, so i went with the flow. There didn't used to be much info available.
Glad to see more load data published.

I've shot lots of 115gr minor but I have not worked up a major 115gr yet.
What velocity does a 115 need for major?
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1435 FPS with a 115 gets you 165PF but its a good idea to have some margin. Also, some open guns actually shoot flatter at higher power factors. Takes some experimentation to find the best combo, but when you get there its worth it. In my gun Autocomp has the harshest feel, but has a very consistent snap, dot leaves the glass and comes right back where it was. AA#7 feels a little "softer" and the dot never seems to leave the glass, it just looks like a red line as you shoot fast. HS-6 is somewhere between. Looking forward to trying the 3N38.
 
9146gt said:
Have your 9 mm major ammo pressure tested here.
http://www.hpwhite.com/

Tom
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Hmm..
The case is the weak point in 9mm major.
I wonder if that testing would give me any useable info.
I use Federal & Blazer brass exclusively in 9mm major, so that's two separate tests I bet.
Cool to know it's available as a service though!
 
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So this is what loading 3N38 with a 115gr projectile looks like. No chance of a double charge here.:D

0258B86D-7DF1-41B5-90DB-E632D3CFFFC1~original.jpg


Was planning to run a few over the chrono Saturday evening but weather sucked, so going early tomorrow before work to see what they will do. Final charge may end up being a couple more tenths than whats in the case above. This is where having a highly polished and super smooth running press will help a bunch.
 
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dave33 said:
So this is what loading 3N38 with a 115gr projectile looks like. No chance of a double charge here.:D

0258B86D-7DF1-41B5-90DB-E632D3CFFFC1.jpg


Was planning to run a few over the chrono Saturday evening but weather sucked, so going early tomorrow before work to see what they will do. Final charge may end up being a couple more tenths than whats in the case above. This is where having a highly polished and super smooth running press will help a bunch.
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Did you find the VV local or pay hazmat ?
Please share your chrony data and bbl length.
Is the juice worth the squeeze, gas wise?
 
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Slacker said:
Did you find the VV local or pay hazmat ?
Please share your chrony data and bbl length.
Is the juice worth the squeeze, gas wise?
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My gun club does bulk orders with a distributor so I can buy powder/primers at wholesale cost with no shipping or hazmat fee's, but that still puts a lb of VV powder about $30. If it works out to be worth the squeeze I'll go with 4 lb bottles from here on, but this stuff still isn't cheap. I shot a few rounds Saturday evening but it was too overcast and rainy for the chrono to pick them up, but they did feel good, a lot like AA#7, more of a push then a snap. Going to run some over the chrono tomorrow morning, see what makes PF, then load up a bunch to put through the paces on Wednesday since I have the day off.
 
Spent some time at the range yesterday shooting 3N38 major loads, its a very good powder but not convinced its head and shoulders above AA#7 or even HS6 for that matter. It is very consistent, accurate, and clean but didn't really overly impress me. Had two different loads that both make major, 9.2gr under a 115 Xtreme HPRN, and 8.4gr under a 124 Ranier RN. This is out of my CZ P-09 with a 5.1 inch barrel, no holes, 3 port comp. The barrel in my CZ is pretty fast, I usually don't need as much powder as other types of guns to get up to speed.

One thing about loading and shooting major, a different gun and comp design could yield very different results. My gun isn't the typical open setup, the comp I use isn't really ideal for major loads, but its what I have for the time being. 3N38 was the last powder I wanted to try to see if I was missing anything, and I don't really feel like I am with my current load using AA#7. What I am certain of is the powder you use isn't going to make you a better shooter, spending the time shooting the gun is.
 
Slacker said:
Wait, are you saying that cerakoting racing stripes on my race gun won't make me shoot better?

Obviously, you don't spend much time on facist book. All the best shooters have cerakoted guns!

;)
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You're right, I'm not on the book of faces, guess I'm a little behind the times.

But maybe if you get some flames, skulls, zombies, etc painted on your gun it will intimidate the competition, throwing them off their game handing you an easy win. I can see it now, shooters putting notches on their guns representing their defeated enemies...er other competitors. :).
 
Educate me. Is there a reason that 40 S&W would not be a better round for major than 9mm? Given the formula for power factor, where velocity is not squared, it would seem you could get lower recoil for the same power factor with a heavier bullet.
 
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Toprudder said:
Educate me. Is there a reason that 40 S&W would not be a better round for major than 9mm? Given the formula for power factor, where velocity is not squared, it would seem you could get lower recoil for the same power factor with a heavier bullet.
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Capacity is the answer I think.
 
Toprudder said:
Educate me. Is there a reason that 40 S&W would not be a better round for major than 9mm? Given the formula for power factor, where velocity is not squared, it would seem you could get lower recoil for the same power factor with a heavier bullet.
Click to expand...

Capacity is probably the main reason. Another possibility would be the higher pressure of the 9mm round makes much better use of the compensator than the .40 round would. All that gas forces the barrel down and makes for a flatter shooting gun.

If you are not shooting open class then the .40 round rules Limited major class as you cant shoot 9mm major in that and the .45 is too much of a disadvantage capacity wise.
 
Toprudder said:
Educate me. Is there a reason that 40 S&W would not be a better round for major than 9mm? Given the formula for power factor, where velocity is not squared, it would seem you could get lower recoil for the same power factor with a heavier bullet.
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Magazine capacity + more gas to allow the compensator to do work.
 
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40 S&W has less capacity than 9mm? I will have to measure that, but I'll bet 40 has more capacity under a seated 155gn projectile.

Standard SAAMI pressures are 35k psi for both, but SAAMI does have a +P for 9mm where it does not for 40.

I guess if it worked, people would be using it.
 
Toprudder said:
40 S&W has less capacity than 9mm? I will have to measure that, but I'll bet 40 has more capacity under a seated 155gn projectile.

Standard SAAMI pressures are 35k psi for both, but SAAMI does have a +P for 9mm where it does not for 40.

I guess if it worked, people would be using it.
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*magazine capacity. You can stuff more 9mm rds than 40 rds in a 170mm mag.
 
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