Getting ready to reload 9mm

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Cactus

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I have been reading my reloading books getting ready to start, I have reloaded shotgun slugs and thought it was time to reload pistol.

Anyway, going throught the 9mm luger loads I notice that the COL is different for most bullets (no superise there). What info do you folloe when the bullet you are looking at getting isn't listed?

I am looking at the Winchester 115gr FMJ RNs from Higginsons but don't see a listing in my manuals. Is the data supplied with the bullets?

Thanks,
Cactus
 
You could use a factory cartridge for reference, or just make up a few dummy cartridges( no primer) at max col for 9mm and see if they chamber. If not just seat the bullets a little deeper and try again.
 
Thats what I thought was the only way to do it Sask, try and try again untill you find the correct length.

I will measure some factory loads and use that as a starting point, then make up some dummy rouunds when my loader gets here.

Thanks,
Cactus
 
Yu could seat the dummy even longer than factory, and see if it fits the mag. Seater deeper and deeper, until it does. That is your Max for the mag.

then chamber it and see if it engages the rifling. If it does, seat deeper and deper until it does not touch rifling. That is your Max length, for that pistol.

Now see if it feeds. (It probably will.) if it does not, seater deeper until it does. That is your final max length.
 
Thanks for the tips guys,

I did some reading online tonight to get an idea of the common lengths for 9mm. It smmes to me that the numbers in the reloading books are the safe OAL and people adjust from there. Great for custom accuracy but not quite what I am looking for. The OAL numbers ranged from 1.090 to 1.125 in the manuals and on the net.

Here is my situation, I have 2 9mms a glock 17 and a Norc m213, what I want to do is reload a round that if close to "factory" spec so it will function in both pistols.

Is there a factory standard for ie 124g-FMJ-RN (reading the Seller and Bellot box beside me)that I am missing here? I know the manuals are ment as a guide and a starting point but I'm looking for some advice on the best way to determine a common round.

Do I test dummies in each pistol, then compare?

Thanks,
Cactus
 
If there is no data for your bullet - find data for a bullet of similar shape and weight and design (FMJ vs lead/plated); load a dummy with recommended OAL; remove barrels from both guns and drop the dummy into each. Make sure the bullet crimped correctly or there will be issues with chambering. If dummy drops in and out of a barrel freely without getting stuck, you got good OAL for the gun, if not, keep seating the bullet deeper until it falls out freely (well, there is a limit too on how deep you can go). Let's say you started with recommended 1.125" and had to go as deep as 1.115", now you need to lower your powder charge. Load 5 rounds each of 10% less powder from recommended and then in .1gr increments going up. Find a chrono if possible. Run those reloads 5 of each powder load and make notes on pressure signs and so on.

You do really need to buy a book or two and read them before you start loading so you move in the right direction safely and accomplish something every time, be it a load with new powder or max accuracy.
 
Thanks Ceezer,

I have Hodgdons 2009 and have read the 9mm sections but with so many variables it is a lot more to digest than shotshell loading. I will have a look at it again and hopefully it will sink in.

Cactus
 
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