Reloading 9mm info.
- Thread starter kodiakattack
- Start date
Depends on projectile weight 115-147gn, style cast lead, plated or jacketed, round nose truncated cone or flat point. Many books and some websites will show COAL for your particular bullet. Seating too deep will compound pressure and kaboom.
I have found that it all depends on the ogive of the bullet. I load for both a hi-power and a p229. All the ammo I produce works in the p226 but the h-power is finicky. I am using cast 125grain Lee mould bullets. For the p229 I have a c.o.a.l of 1.152, this jams in the hi-power. So I took it down to 1.122 for the hi-power and the p229 feeds nicely with this also. When I use the campro 115grain bullets I can have hem all at 1.152 without any issues. The easiest way is to make up 3-5 bullets without powder and primer, load them into the mag and cycle the action by hand. If the action goes fully forward and doesn't stick on the pull back then you will be fine. It will all depend on how accurate the bullets are coming out. C.o.a.l is irrelevant unless you are seating them so far down that you are compressing loads.
Right now I am using 125gr Lee .356 cast bullets, 3.5-3.7 gr of titegroup (depending on application) with seller and bellow small pistol primers. In this composition I have only had 2 stoppages on the hi-power and none on the p229. I have run as low as 3.gr of titegroup and had the action working well. I usually load the lighter loads for the wife to keep her more accurate. The hi power does not like the lighter loads but the p229 has no issue with it.
Right now I am using 125gr Lee .356 cast bullets, 3.5-3.7 gr of titegroup (depending on application) with seller and bellow small pistol primers. In this composition I have only had 2 stoppages on the hi-power and none on the p229. I have run as low as 3.gr of titegroup and had the action working well. I usually load the lighter loads for the wife to keep her more accurate. The hi power does not like the lighter loads but the p229 has no issue with it.
Load as long as you can for your bullet shape. Trial and error will help. Manuals don't often have your test gun to list COAL so the typical is listed. Factory ammo will be maximum length that will reliably feed in 99% of guns. It helps to use a FCD to get consistent length and crimp.
The ideal OAL is the one that shoots best in your gun, using a particular bullet and powder load. Not trying to be pedantic but it depends on all of these factors. As an example, using 124 gn., round-nosed Campro bullets the bullets fall out of the case before they hit the lands of my Glock, however they won't chamber in my CZ at anything over 1.14". Further, seating deeper increases bullet velocity with the same powder load. In my case this is an issue given I'm trying to hit 1,050 fps to make a minor IPSC power-factor. The OALs change dramatically with a hollow-point bullet. So all of the variables matter.
My advice is to load test with your bullet-of-choice, staying away from the extremes (too short OAL, or too much powder). Also, use your chamber as an OAL gauge to evaluate if the bullets will chamber at a given length.
My advice is to load test with your bullet-of-choice, staying away from the extremes (too short OAL, or too much powder). Also, use your chamber as an OAL gauge to evaluate if the bullets will chamber at a given length.
I'm using 124g cam pro round nose fcp . I made a few dummy rounds and fit and cycle good . Mesured before and after and same length have a very light factory crimp. 3.4g fo 700x for powder. I have made 10 like this and will try first
Too long and it won't fit the mag. And that depends on bullet shape.
But some guns have a shallow throat, so the bullet has to be seated deeper so it will chamber without resistance.
I load my 135LRN bullets 1.100" so they will chamber in a CZ. I could go a lot longer to fit the magazine.
But some guns have a shallow throat, so the bullet has to be seated deeper so it will chamber without resistance.
I load my 135LRN bullets 1.100" so they will chamber in a CZ. I could go a lot longer to fit the magazine.
