I'm reloading 9mm, 124gr LRN.

I reloaded a batch for my CZ-75 using 4.5gr or so of Unique –– a very light load, intended to give me light recoiling rounds, to keep the rounds from leading my barrel excessively, and to stretch my powder budget.

These loads work great in both of my CZ's, but the problems shows up when shooting them in other guns. I tried a few out of my Glock with the factory barrel*, and it would malfunction on the 3rd to last round, every time. Through my Glock with a LWD barrel, it worked every time for 5 magazines, with only one malfunction (also near the end of the mag). I tried them out of my dad's M&P, and it malfunctions almost every other round.

The malfunction is the same each time –– the slide comes back far enough to eject the case, but not far back enough for the slide face to get behind the case rim and chamber the next round. It either, in the case of the M&P and the Glock w/ factory barrel, ended up with the next round still in the mag, in a nose up position with the slide half way closed, or, in the case of the Glock w/ the LWD barrel, ejected the empty case and simply went back into battery without chambering a round at all.

All that said, let's get to the powder. Unique is a pretty versatile powder, but no powder is a "do all". Unique is also pretty slow, compared to many other handgun powders.

What do I need out of a powder to make it cycle the slide reliably, but still keep the velocities low enough that the bullets do not lead? Would I be looking for something that's faster burning, like Titegroup?

Thanks!




* I know –– that's a no-no. It was only four mags, and the barrel was checked after each mag and cleaned at the first signs of leading –– it was more of a test than anything else. I've since gotten the aforementioned LWD barrel.

In a 1911 I would change the recoil spring not the load. Are they available for the cz?

While, yes, you can change the recoil spring in the CZ, that wouldn't help me any –– I need a load that will reliably cycle the Glock and M&P, so I still need a different powder to work up said load with. I'm 100% confident that any round that will cycle the Glock and M&P well will cycle the CZ's.

Use something quick like Bullseye or Red Dot.  231 is usually quick enough too.

Try 4.3 gr Titegroup.

Odd. I was thinking Power Pistol, but everyone else is going with faster powders.

Your 4.5 grain charge is very light. Here's the problem:

Leading is caused by a multitude of variables. Velocity is just one. A 700 FPS load can severely lead-up a barrel just like a 1500 FPS load.

How big is your bullet? How big is your groove diameter? How big is your throat? How much pressure does your load generate? What does the pressure curve look like?

Properly sized/hardened/lubed 124gr LRN bullets can be shot at 1250 FPS out of a 9mm without any leading. Don't worry about the velocity. Worry about proper sizing and pressure.

I have found that just about every Unique load in 9mm feels light.  I load 4.8gr behind a 124gr FMJ and they feel like mouse farts, but I am getting minor for USPSA and the load is extremely accurate out of my G17 and 34.  I would venture to say, that if you up your charge, you won't feel much difference.  You are well below max according to my manuals.

That's a light load for Unique and 9x19.

My CZ75 (and my BHP) like 5.9 Gr of Unique, with 124 Gr FMJ/JHP, which is pretty much max.  6.0 Gr shot even better, but is a bit hotter than I want to run with.

Thanks for the info guys. I've got some bullets coming and access to several different types of powder (most listed in this thread), and I'll do some experimenting, including some hotter Unique loads.

I wouldn't recommend Titegroup with lead bullets. You will get a lot of smoke and possibly worse leading. Titegroup burns very hot and is not the right powder for either lead or moly coated lead like Precision "black" bullets.

Try some WSF, Solo 1000 or VVN320. I think you will see better results using lead with any of those powders.