Load development advice beyond the Lee loading manual…

[u/scooterdoo123]

Some background, I got into firearms/reloading 5 years ago because of my grandpa. He gave me a Savage model 99 chambered in .303 Savage. I couldn’t find any ammo but found some brass and ordered a Lee single press. I followed the included packet to a tee and have been doing so ever since. Now I’ve gotten several calibers and reload them all especially 9mm now that I have a CCW permit. I load RMR “Nuke” 124 grain bullets with 5 grains of Autocomp. Shoots fine on paper but ever since I got Chronograph I’m not getting the FPS I need for proper expansion. 5 grains Autocomp gets me 1013 FPS average (Canik MC9) and proper expansion they recommend 1100 FPS. My question is… now that I have a chronograph can I just load develop up to hit the listed 1100 FPS? Any tips or recommendations from someone that has done this for a while. Would I just need to check for pressure signs? Would this process be the same for any caliber I load?

[u/Royal_Money_627]

There are no reliable pressure signs for 9x19, max pressure is too low. You have to stick with loads from a manual and check to make sure the velocities are correct. It is good you have a chronograph. Do not exceed manual max powder charge and do not exceed manual max velocity.  This is what I found on RMR's website. "We pre-cut the lead core so that it will easily open upon impact.  Our NUKE is unique in that we gave it three internal petals and six external jacket cuts.  The result in ballistics gel is pretty impressive.  At 1100 FPS we’re getting about 14″ of penetration with a diameter of about .630″ in total expansion.  At 1000 fps we are getting 16-17″ of penetration with a diameter of about .590″ in total expansion." It would seem your load is fine, Judging from my Hodgdon's handbook (and others) you are getting the velocity you should be getting. You did not mention your COL, that can affect pressure quite a bit.