9mm

[mardig88]

I recently started reloading for 9mm
i got Hogdon HP-38 powder from a fellow CGN-er
i also got Frontier CMJ Swaged 9mm 124 FP bullets from him
he told me that he is using 4.3 grains
but i don;t know what overall length to make it.

checking the reloading manual is making me even more and more confused

so what overall length to make it?

thanks in advance

 

[saskgunowner101]

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

You might get some ideas here. Myself, I tend to run cartridge length based on what feeds well....as long as it will fit in the mag, and will chamber easily, that's what I go by.

Try a few dummy rounds ( no primer and no powder) at 1.125 and see if they feed. If so, roll some up. If not, try a few more dummy rounds at 1.120 and so on. I never try to get to a shortest over all length for a cartridge.

Just one guys opinion, so follow with caution.

 

[CeeZer]

As suggested above, make a dummy with recommended OAL, remove barrel from your gun and drop dummy in - you are to watch for rifling marks on the bullet; then seat bullet deeper in the case and repeat the process of dropping it into barrel until there is no marks. Each bullet shape will dictate different OAL for the same barrel. Then - make sure there is enough room for powder in the case when bullet is properly seated for your gun. It may actually seat deeper that reference one from manual you use and thus you need to start with LOWER powder charge.

Ideally, you'd need to run your test rounds thru a chrono to get an idea on what velocity and preasure you get..... and work up from there.

 

[SandRoad]

Go with published reloading data. Handgun cartridges should not be shortened arbitrarily as it can substantially raise peak pressure.

Note that HP-38 is the same powder as W231, just different names.

 

[mardig88]

thanks for the help

the problem is that i don;t know which one is the recommended OAL
there's simply too much information in the reloading handbooks and i can't find any swagged CMJ Flat Point bullet info in them

 

[dinsdale]

Start at 1.150 and see if that fits the chamber (pull barrel out of gun) and decrease O.A.L. until it does so with a little bit to spare.

Then work up a load and test for functionality,reliability.

If it helps, I am loading 124 Grain AIM Copper Plated 9mm with 4.6 grains of 231 seated to 1.100 O.A.L and get about 1060-1080 fps.

 

[sunray]

"...CMJ..." Plated bullets use cast bullet data. Work up the load using Hodgdon's 125 grain LCN HP-38 data(4.3 is 1/10 below max with HP-38. One grain of bullet weight won't matter.) and 1.169" as the max OAL with the bullet. Load 5, take the barrel out and see if they drop into the chamber with no fuss. You may have to taper crimp 'em, but try it without first.

 

[notsorichguy]

I recently started reloading for 9mm
i got Hogdon HP-38 powder from a fellow CGN-er
i also got Frontier CMJ Swaged 9mm 124 FP bullets from him
he told me that he is using 4.3 grains
but i don;t know what overall length to make it.

checking the reloading manual is making me even more and more confused

so what overall length to make it?

thanks in advance

I have a Norc M-213 & an M&P9. Both of them like the same ammo, oddly enough.

My OAL with a 124 gr Lead round nose is exactly 1.100.

My OAL for the Frontier 124gr CMJ FP is 1.080.

My current recipe is 4.3gr of Unique for the CMJ and 4.2gr for the LRN.

I also found that Titegroup, Bullseye, W-231 & 700X worked well in the M-213 but only the Titegroup & Unique seem to "fit" with my M&P.

I can't seem to find any Titegroup so I am using unique, My local G-store got a bunch is so I grabed a pound and tried it out, it ran good so I bought 5 more!

Cheers!

 

[Smitty]

Good pick of powder & yes Winchester 231 can take its place only do test runs just 2/10 a bit lighter to same. I have used old Green Dot.

Mind you it is length & the chaps up above gave you the best of tips on lenth.

When purchasing cast 9mm bullets then go for not 355" but 356" or even 357"
if you find some tumblers. Sort of a 2nd tip.