Reload Double-Check

[MiddTennTaco]

In class now but I'd just like to doublecheck my 9mm loads Ive made. Ive got falcon bullet 115gr round nose hard cast bullets on top of 4grs of unique. I think I have the length set way too long. Gonna measure them again when i get home tonight. Can anyone recommend a safe OAL for this bullet type? Ill take pictures too because it just looks wrong.

[Dolomite_supafly]

Short enough to seat in the chamber and still function in the magazine.

If you are loaded at or near max charge weoght you might have to tear them down. When you seat a bullet deeper in the case pressures increase substantially.

[MiddTennTaco]

So it aint gonna hurt anything to leave them long?

[Dolomite_supafly]

If they chamber, feed from the magazine and cycle the gun I would leave as they are.

[Dolomite_supafly]

I will say I have no clue if your load data is good or not though.

[53caddy]

if it was for a 125gr lead bullet I would use 4.5gr of unique

[bikertrash2001]

1.160 is nominal overall length for 9mm. If you have then there, you shouldn't have any problems. Seating deeper with certain bullets is the one thing to look out for. Some of my lead bullets go as low as 1.070. 

[Billco]

Did you get your data from a published source?

[MiddTennTaco]

My book only lists max OAL and it just looks like its just resting on the case mouth when i set it anywhere near that.

[bikertrash2001]

How long are your cases? I know this might sound like an insulting question, but are you sure it's not .380 brass?

[MiddTennTaco]

I just checked the length, I forgot I set them in deeper. They're all at 1.100". The bullet itself is 0.537". It's just the way the bullet looks (sizing marks?) they look like they need to set deeper. Posting up a photo in a second.

Edited April 10, 2013 by w0lfattack

[MiddTennTaco]

Edited April 10, 2013 by w0lfattack

[bikertrash2001]

Looks fine to me. 

Edited April 10, 2013 by bikertrash2001

[Guest K7Sparky]

My old Hercules book 10-85 lists 115 FMJ 9MM as max 5.2g

RCBS Cast Bullet Manual #1 lists 5.2 to 5.7 with 115G RN lead bullet mold 09-115-RN so your load is plenty conservative

Max length COL is 1.168"

Didn't say what you are loading for.  If the barrel comes out see if the loaded round just drops in.

Midway and other have nice sets of cartridge gauges.  Drop in and make sure they don't stick out.  Last time I looked they were under $4 ea in a set.

I agree with bikertrash that they look good

[Raoul]

So have you shot any yet?
I say give em a try. They look fine.
Go to the range.

[Guest GimpyLeg]

I've shot these before.  Rugar SR9, Kahr CW9. Seated them at 1.110.  Shot fine and accurate. YMMV

[221 Fireball]

The bullet looks fine, but are you using a roll crimp on that? It almost looks like it...looks pretty beveled. You should be using a tapered crimp.

[MiddTennTaco]

I don't know, I'm just using lee standard dies (3).

[Dolomite_supafly]

 

I would be very careful with that crimp. It looks like it is a awfully tight crimp and that can allow the bullet to fall too far in the chamber. You just want enough of a crimp to remove the bell and nothing more. The case mouth should not angle in on a straight walled semi auto cartridge. It should be the same size at the edge as it is a little farther back.

[MiddTennTaco]

Yikes, I was going to shoot these tomorrow. Theres no groove in these bullets and im used to reloading .38/.357 where the case mouth DOES fold into a groove.

So as far as 9mm goes, when I set the bullet there wasnt any noticeable bell to the case mouth. I measured with my caliper and I believe the width was the same throughout where the bullet was seated. Using my lee bullet seating die as a crimp, where do i need to be taking measurements on the round to determine crimp?

If I understood you correctly, the case mouth needs to be the same as 3-4mm farther down the brass. Is that right?

[MiddTennTaco]

Just out of curiosity - Am I supposed to set the case mouth crimp into that blue groove? It just seems like the bullet is hardly deep enough in the case. Maybe it's just me but is that what the lubricant groove is for? To crimp into?

[Raoul]

If you're seeing the "blue groove" you don't have the bullet seated deep enough. You just want to crimp the bullet enough that they seat in the barrel. Edited April 27, 2013 by Raoul