First: Any responses with +P listings: Either read the disclaimer at the top, or PM me with load details.

   I realize this is...a wee bit foolish/unnecessary.

Anyway.   I been looking at 9mm loads and have come up with three things.
#1.   I've settled on the Speer Gold Dot 124 +P load for carry, it's accurate enough, pretty controllable and has good numbers.  It's a tough bullet and well known.    If Some winchester +P+ 127T's are in stock somewhere when I order, I might try some out.

#2.  Regardless, the 9mm is well suited for 115 grain bullets.    The problem is either:
A.  They don't go fast enough.
B.   When they do, they don't use a tough enough bullet.
  I really looked long and hard at the Winchester Ranger +P+ 115 grainers.  However they were standard JHPs, not real tough, same with Federal +P+ loadings they have.    The closest thing I came on is occasionally speer gold dot +P 115 show up. 

#3.  Almost everything I've shot, XTP bullets shrink groups.  Seriously, the stuff seems "magical" in the fact that it is an accurate bullet.      However from what I hear (and have sorta seen in 3 recovered from deer) they require velocity to expand reliably.

   Anyway.    It wouldn't be a often-used combination, but I'm thinking a 115 XTP, at about 1300FPS (Winchester and Federals +P+ both say 1350, so I'm assuming really about 1300FPS).    I don't think I'd use it for concealed carry (sticking with factory loads for that), but I'd like to have 3-4 boxes around, partly to have "just in case", and also to stick in my 9mm for backup when I'm hunting.   

    Not set on it, just kicking the idea around and wondered what other folks are using?   

Edit: paused in writing and looked at two things:
Ken Waters Pet Loads lists a 115 "hornady JHP" at 1277 FPS.
Ammotogo has 115 grain +P+ Gold Dots in stock and Black Hills +P Barnes XP 115 grainers at 1250FPS.....

I know a load. I'll never touch it, but I know a guy who needs his 9mm hot to run the compensator on his race gun. Super hot compressed powder load.

He takes a new case, fills it full of Vit(not sure which one; I'll ask) scrapes the excess off level with the case mouth, and jams a cast truncated cone bullet in it. He leaves the brass. Even he doesn't trust it after he's fired that load.

I'm not joking for a second. Violates every spec in the book. But it goes fast, and in that gun, shoots like a .22.

You need to be really careful with the crimp.  Any bullet setback in this type of load will have dire consequences.
I also suggest Starline brass and a system to track how many times they've been fired.

I strongly suggest a couple more things here:

1.  No more than 3 or 4 firings per case at the top end of things like this.

2.  The +P headstamp is an excellent choice, but I'll add to it-  Make sure all the brass you use for this run up came from the same lot number.

Edit:  The Gold dot is an EXCELLENT high speed choice.  If you overspeed them the petals just fold back against the slug body.  Not an ideal situation, no, BUT, a lot better than a slug that explodes or experiences jacket/core separation.  Hornady's XTP line of slugs have proven themselves to be very tough critters as well.

I'm deliberating on if it's even worth it    Although it ain't end-all on a gun, it's still some good wear and tear.....for what? A +P+ 9mm still...115 at 1300 FPS?   I might as well just start using my .357 Sig barrel....

 Oh I ain't discourage   I won't be doing "these" shells, but I am slowly learning a teeny bit about it, and will be practicing on some easier loads.

   First.....I gotta get a chrony, and find someplace that has that powder   Better check that chronagraph  thread that's up above 

9mm is s'posed to be hot and quick.

 Yup, the whole idea being a lightweight, light recoiling, high cap gun.  The 9mm cartridge's main attribute is speed.  

I have made 9mm go, um, "stupid fast" in a convertible blackhawk, at more than likely "very stupid" pressures had I possesed the equipment to measure it.  One of those things you do just because.  It all boils down to this in reality-  With it's small case capacity, the 9mm will have a very narrow window of powders with appropriate characteristics that will give you the most velocity possible with acceptable pressure curves.  

Ideally, you want a powder that gives you right at about 105% of case volume(slightly compressed) while giving you the highest possible velocity without going over-pressure.  If you hit pressure signs with air space still under the slug, switch to a slightly slower burning powder and start over, as you're wasting available case volume.  On the flip side, if you aren't getting the velocity you want or expect before running out of case capacity, switch to a slightly faster powder, and work back up.  Somewhere in the process you'll find the sweet spot for a given cartridge in a specific gun.  This is assuming the reader is comfortable with the use of a quality chronograph, and is knowledgeable in the process known as "chrono-mapping".  Use of data outside of currently published norms is done at the sole risk of the individual doing so.  Neither WTA or it's staff are responsible for the results of such actions.

 I wonder if he got to the point of triggering it with a looong string 

 

Gone one day, and look what you guys are up to..........

Grant, in all seriousness, using a blackhawk convertible, I'll admit I pushed it much harder than I should have.  But, understand I was using powders I've had a lot of experience with, and a chrono that I trusted, also I was hand trickling charges in .1 grain increments.  Even with that amount of caution, I went from no pressure signs to leaking primers and nearly stuck cases within a .2 grain difference.  Hence the warnings...........

I will add this specific warning-  If, even with no other pressure signs present, you get a drop in velocity with an increase in powder charge?  Back off!!!!  That powder is not happy, it is outside its preferred pressure range, and will behave completely unpredictably.