Just to be compleatly clear on col/oal. I know that it is 100% dependant on bulltet type and manufacture but if a spec is X that is my minuium safe length right? Anything below is a danger? or is that just a recommend size and you can adjust from there? Sorry if this seems like a insane question. But from what I have looked at for 9mm data it just states oal and not min oal.
OAL on campro 9mm RNHP
- Thread starter mctrigger
- Start date
its the oal that you should use with the listed powder charge. Just follow the recipe.
Shortening the oal will result in a pressure increase, which you have to account for by reducing powder charge. But don't.
Just do what is written, really.
if you want a milder load, keep the OAL and reduce powder charge.
OAL is the distance that fits THEIR chamber and THEIR magazine. I have several hundred pistols and my loading log shows the max OAL for the bullets I use for each pistol.
There is a big variation. A long OAL that fits pistol A might not fit the chamber of pistol B or feed properly in pistol C. The only caliber I load as generic ammo is 9mm with the DRG cast lead RN bullet at 1.110". I load that bullet with 4 different powder charges, so there is ammo that suits each gun. I have one that only shoots well with 3.1gr and another that shoots well only with 3.9 gr.
I almost never look at the OAL published in the book. With a new gun/bullet I load very long and seat deeper until I determine what is max for the magazine. Then I see if that passes the plunk test and if a loaded round will clear the ejection port. Usually I have to seat evener deeper to satisfy both those requirements. Then I make up a few at that length and test to see if they feed ok.
If they pass all the tests, I make up a preliminary test (10 each) in 0.3 gr increments from below Start to over max to see what cycles and shoots best. Sometimes I don't get as far as Max before I have either found a load that shoots bug holes or is showing pressure.
Yes, seating deeper increases pressure, but if you test to find out whatever OAL is required to fit mag and chamber, then do a loading test, loading up from Start, the increased pressure does not matter. You stop shooting when you see pressure.
If you are one of those that thinks you can start by loading Max, and then play with OAls, then you are doing it backwards and looking for trouble. Some guns won't tolerate anything close to max. I saw a gun that was over max with the published start load.
There is a big variation. A long OAL that fits pistol A might not fit the chamber of pistol B or feed properly in pistol C. The only caliber I load as generic ammo is 9mm with the DRG cast lead RN bullet at 1.110". I load that bullet with 4 different powder charges, so there is ammo that suits each gun. I have one that only shoots well with 3.1gr and another that shoots well only with 3.9 gr.
I almost never look at the OAL published in the book. With a new gun/bullet I load very long and seat deeper until I determine what is max for the magazine. Then I see if that passes the plunk test and if a loaded round will clear the ejection port. Usually I have to seat evener deeper to satisfy both those requirements. Then I make up a few at that length and test to see if they feed ok.
If they pass all the tests, I make up a preliminary test (10 each) in 0.3 gr increments from below Start to over max to see what cycles and shoots best. Sometimes I don't get as far as Max before I have either found a load that shoots bug holes or is showing pressure.
Yes, seating deeper increases pressure, but if you test to find out whatever OAL is required to fit mag and chamber, then do a loading test, loading up from Start, the increased pressure does not matter. You stop shooting when you see pressure.
If you are one of those that thinks you can start by loading Max, and then play with OAls, then you are doing it backwards and looking for trouble. Some guns won't tolerate anything close to max. I saw a gun that was over max with the published start load.
No 1.90 is not the minimum. The issue is that not all 9MM barrels are made the same. Some have more lead than others. CZ's don;t have much lead at all and I have found their chambers if anything are usually very tight. Secondly it depends on the olgive as to why some bullets can be loaded longer than others.
It sound like you are new to reloading, of not I apologize. Here is a fll proof method of determining accurately the maximum IAl you can load any particular bullet in any specific gun.
1. Measure the length of the bullet. (If you want to be sure measure 10 of the bullets with a caliper and calculate the average length.
2. Drop the bullet into the barrel. (Remove the barrel from the gun first.)
3. Measure from the base of the bullet to where the cartridge case would sit flush with the barrel hood.
4. Add the two measurements ( Avg OAl of the bullet + distace from the base of the bullet to where the case would sit flush with the barrel hood.
5. Subtract a few thousanths to allow for variances your press will likely have when seating bullet.
6. Load a dummy cartridge to the calculated OAL and see if it will fit into your magazine. It should.
Cycle the dummy cartridge a few times to test for function.
I have used a Canpro 124 gr RNFP through my M&P Pro at 1.10" without issues. Loading your bullet to 1.09 is not going to create any issues.
You can shoot your gun until the cows come home and that barrel is not going to change specs enough to make any difference in the type of bullet/OAL combo it is going to like. The beauty is you can load your gun to what your gun likes. From what you have described there is nothing wrong with your Shadow2. Get the OAL down to what will feed in the gun and you will be on your way.
Small variances are not uncommon but, depending on your dies it could affect how deep one bullet seats vs another.
Take Care
Bob
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