9mm Sierra 115gr JHP sanity check

[HOV]

Sanity check please - I called the Sierra tech line and they gave me this info but I just want to mke sure there are no errors in transcription on my part.

Bullet: 9mm Sierra 115-gr. JHP
Powder: Unique, 4.9 gr.
COAL: 1.050"

The COAL just seems incredibly short and it's out of the range of my reloading manuals, so I want to make sure this jives with the common sense of more experienced reloaders.

Thanks

 

[ants]

Doesn't seem that far off to me.

Hollow points are often a lot shorter than round nose profiles. Same with flat nose bullets. Thus, the OAL is shorter by the same amount.

Remember, you can always load longer, but never load shorter that the OAL for your data.

 

[Steve C]

Sierra loads them short, here is the 115gr load data from the 3rd edition as published in my load book.

 

[Walkalong]

It's their bullet, they should know. They've reloaded a few rounds in their time.

 

[Runningman]

The 1st thing I would do is take the barrel out of the gun assuming you are working with a typical 9mm and not a fixed barrel like a HK P7 M8. Than check to see that the cartridge will drop into the chamber to the correct depth. You can use a factory round for comparison. If the OAL length is to long in its relation to the bullet ogive to the rifling it could hold the slide out of battery.

That would be a very good starting load. However I would not load up to many at once till you see if they function correctly in your pistol. It you are loading for a typical polymer pistol they may be a little on weak side for correct function. Much of it depends on recoil spring rating.

There is kind of a balancing act going on here between OAL and powder charge because both can effect velocity and funtion.

 

[HOV]

Thanks all, and especially Steve C!! That's just what I needed.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've used a lot of the Sierra's and thats the seating depth that I used. I worked it up independantly through my S&W Perf.Ctr. 5906.

That load you listed netted me 3 guns in the 1998 NRA Police Service pistol matches. It's a good load !!!

 

[Jefferson Herb]

9mm

I use 7 gr hs6 w/hor115hp,and seat so they fit in the mag and feed properly.