pistol cartriges in carbine barrel data needed

[22lr]

Hello people. At last I decided to take a plunge, I have about 3000 cases 45ACP and 9mm and 303 and 6.5x55 and 30 carbine. Right now I am reading Hodgdon reloading manual and cannot find answers to most interesting questions.

1. How to choose powder for pistol cartridges that will be shot out of carbine lenght barrel? I have both 9mm Luger and 45ACP carbines. I thought powder need to be of a bit slower burn rate than that normally used for pistol, right? And where to start if there is no data for cartridge-bullet-powder combination? Should I just fill case to the top? Ok, ok that was a joke.

2. Cannot find any data for 30 carbine reloading. And from your experience fellas, what would be the best bullet for 30 carbine? Where is a sweet spot - velocity and bullet weight for 30 carbine?

3. For 9mm Luger there is no data that would use 95 grain bullets, Hodgdons tables start with 115gr. I have seen some 95 grain bullets in SIR catalog and thought to try them. How do I load those, considering they will be again shot out of carbine lenght barrel?

4. Powder measures - are they good enough or should I still buy a scale? For now I am planning on reloading 9mm and 45 ACP only.

Any input will be appreciated.

 

[hoochie]

9mm Luger
Primer: WSP Test Firearm: Hi-Point C-9
Case: Starline BBL Length: 4"
Twist: 1x10" Trim-to Length: 0.750"
Bullets:
#8100 9 mm (.355) 90 gr. JHP OAL 1.010
#8105 9 mm (.355) 95 gr. FMJ OAL 1.020

Powder/Velocity 1100 1150 1200 1250 1300 1350 1400
Bullseye
4.3
4.7
5.0
5.4



AA-No.2 4.9
5.3
5.7





Red Dot
3.8
4.4
4.9




Clays


4.3
4.8



WST 4.6
5.2
5.8





231 4.2
4.6
4.9
5.3
5.6
6.0


Zip
4.4
4.7
5.0
5.3
5.6


700X 4.1
4.4
4.6
4.9
5.1
5.4
5.6

Intl Clays


4.1
4.6
5.0
5.5

Viht N330 4.8
5.0
5.2
5.4
5.6
5.8


PB

4.7
5.1
5.6
6.0


AA-No.5 6.5
6.8
7.1
7.4




Unique 5.9
6.2
6.5
6.9
7.2
7.5


Univ. Clays 4.5
4.7
5.0
5.2
5.4
5.7
5.9

Power Pistol 5.6
5.9
6.2
6.6
6.9
7.2


SR 7625 5.2
5.5
5.8
6.1




HS-6 6.0
6.3
6.7
7.0
7.3
7.7
8.0

Silhouette 5.5
5.8
6.0
6.3
6.5
6.8


Viht N340 5.1
5.3
5.5
5.8
6.0
6.2


Herco 6.6
7.0
7.3





Viht 3N37 5.9
6.3
6.6
7.0




AA-No.7 7.9
8.3
8.8
9.2




Viht N350 5.6
5.9
6.1
6.4
6.6



Energy/ft.lbs. 255 279 303 329 356 384 413
Accuracy Load: Bullseye/ 5.0grs. 1250fps/ 329ft. lbs.
Hunting Load: Clays/ 4.8grs. 1300fps/ 356ft. lbs.
Copyright 2003 Sierra Bullets, LLC.

 

[hoochie]

1) yes you will need a scale. How else would you be able to determine how much powder your powder measure was dispensing?

2) dont worry about the length of the barrel, as the bullets are still all the same. The firearms have been designed to fire the pistol round. Any old 9mm or .45 will do.

 

[22lr]

hoochie thank you. I was thinking about barrel length in terms of using more efficient slower powders. I understand even though it is still pistol round but given longer barrel I can use rifle powders and squeeze a few more fps. Anybody tried it?

 

[Andy]

There are some myths at play here. Here's the reality:

- all the powder is burnt up (converted to heat and gas) in the first 3-4 inches;
- longer barrels give higher muzzle velocities (MV) because they allow more time for the high pressure gas to accelerate the bullet. There is a point though, where a longer barrel will slow down the bullet (where the rifling drag overcomes the force of the diminished gas force); and
- powders with a slow burn rate are still consumed 3-4 inches from the bolt face. They give greater MV because they allow more powder to be loaded at the same peak pressure as the faster powder. More powder = more energy = higher MV.

P.S. the muzzle flash you see is not the powder burning outside the barrel. It's the hot gasses combining with air.

 

[sunray]

95 grain bullets are really for the .380 ACP.
"...should I still buy a scale?..." A scale is absolutely essential.

 

[22lr]

95 grain bullets (0.355") - look very stubby. Probably some stability issues or need different twist rate? I still want to try all spectrum out of my beretta storm, will be interesting to see what works how.

Is there some kind of internal ballistics software for reloaders? Can reloaders develop their own loads? How to determine what peak pressure is going to be?

Can someone recommend an on-line source of reloading tutorials, "for dummies" kind

 

[John Y Cannuck]

In general, if we can talk generalities in reloading, powders that work best for the cartridge in handgun, will be close to, if not the best, in rifle as well.
The reverse is true for the most part as well. That is to say, when a rifle cartridge is put in a handgun, the rifle powders are generally the best.