how deep do you set your 9mm bullets?

C

condomboy

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BRAND NEW to reloading and going to start loading some 9mm and the Modern Reloading by Richard Lee says that a 9mm should be 1.169" long, that seems a bit long, measured some factory ammo and it was about 1.13"

Just wondering what everyone does so I make sure I'm nice and safe :)
 
it depends on lots of things like bullet weight, type, powder, gun that your using it in etc. Most of my 9mm is shot with a cz spo1 it likes them short at 1.100 oal...

I have never used the lee book but prefer my Lyman 49th book as it has lots of different bullet types and loads...
 
Depends on the particular bullet and gun combination.

Feeding issues usually are the determining factor for me, and I care little what is published, but you have to take into account that the OAL does effect pressure.

Increasing OAL makes less pressure, while decreasing OAL increases pressure.

Keep in mind lots of load data is for hollow points, and they are obviously shorter.

1.169 is the max OAL, and is usually good starting point for testing but thats about it.
 
CZ's are notorious for needing a short OAL.

This is a perfect example of what I was saying.

I would just start in the middle at around 1.15, and use published data for the same grain bullet, just start 0.5 grains lower, and work up.
 
I was given a bunch of jacketed round nose as well as jacketed hollow points (both in the 124/125 grain range) and will be using them in a Ruger SR9... I have it on order and they say it'll take 2-6 weeks to arrive, then I wait for my ATT...

In the mean time I have all these bullets and casings with a press and primers and powder (was given Unique and Winchester 231 for powders) So thought now would be a good time to build some stock so when I have the gun I can start to use it right away.

I was thinking of making some batches of 10 or 20 or maybe even 50 of each in some different varrying configurations of type of powder with the two different bullets. It is a Lee Pro 1000 so will be using the auto disk kit so might try a couple different loads as well... but thought I would ask about depth as I don't want to seat them too deep because of pressure, then again, don't want to have them too shallow so they don't feed right and don't have enough pressure...
 
I doubt you would have any safety issues loading to anywhere between 1.1 and 1.169.

Having said that, you may have feeding issues. I load all mine to 1.1 but they go through a glock, which pretty much will shoot anything.
 
Be careful loading a bunch of rounds before you have the gun, and before you can test them.

Having the guns removed barrel handy to test the rounds to see if they drop in and seat in the chamber is a must for a first timer.

You also aren't gonna know if they feed reliably.

My advice; wait and get the gun first. Then load up only 20 rounds and take em to the range to see if they function and check for pressure signs.

If you load a #### ton of ammo, and find something isn't working right you will be screwed, and become intimate with a bullet puller.

Thats my advice, and I don't even own a bullet puller, and have been reloading several calibres for a few years now. I just go out of my way not to need one! ;)
 
When you get your gun take the barrel off.

1. Measure the length of the bullet you intend to load.

2. Drop the bullet into the chamber and measure from the base of the bullet to the hood of the barrel where the case would be flush when a round is placed in the chamber.

3. Add the two measurements together.

That will be the maximum length your pistol will allow that bullet to seat in the chamber of your gun.

4. Back off a few thousandths to allow for variations in cartridge length from using hobby reloading equipment.

5. Check to see if the loaded cartridge will seat in your mags and also cycle in your gun.

You can use this method with any type of bullet you get hold of.

Incidentally I load all the 124/125 gr 9MM bullets I use to an OAL of 1.10".

Take Care

Bob
 
I always do it by eye. With a plated bullet you can see where it begins to taper, and that's where I set my depth. Just before it tapers.
With a lead bullet I seat to the line or fall back to the length of the plated.

Cycle some dry practice rounds through her and fire a set of live at the range. If everything looks and works fine you're good to go.
If in doubt talk to a 9mm pistol reloader at your range, they'll be able to notice anything out of the ordinary that you may not.
99.99% of them will be more than happy to help, so use them ;)
 
Ganderite said:
I suggest you only size and prime brass before the gun arrives.

My 9mm pistols all use ammo of 1.10" to 1.135".
Click to expand...

This. It'll keep you busy, it'll get you closer, and best of all, you won't have to pull a whole bunch of bullets because they didn't quite fit the chamber you didn't have in your hand when you decided on your OAL. :D

My Shadow likes on OAL of 1.087.
 
I have just started loading 9m tonight. It appears my beretta 92 will take max COL no problem. Lee says 1.100 but I loaded to 1.125 to give just a little extra room. I find 9mm to be a pain in the ass to find data for. Every site or book seems to have a total different min/ max load a COL.
 
Ganderite said:
I suggest you only size and prime brass before the gun arrives.

My 9mm pistols all use ammo of 1.10" to 1.135".
Click to expand...

I am feeling anxious and I want to do something, but with a progressive press just feels a little bit of a waste running it through twice.

I might just build some in 1.1 to 1.15 with the load the Lee book suggests with the powders I have and see what works best when it arrives, maybe 5 of each or something just to keep me occupied. :runaway:
 
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