9mm - 125gr LCN vs 125gr FP OAL

[lpsharp88]

Hello! I need a little help. I ordered sample packs of Blue Bullets 125 lead CN and SNS 125gr lead FP, to load in 9x19. I had data for 125gr lead, no designation as to profile, and it gives a 1.125” COL. The Blue Bullets seat to that just fine. Pass gauge test, plunk test, and feed from the mag fine. The SNS bullets have a crimp groove, that when seated to, put the COL at 1.05”, which is quite a bit shorter. These also pass gauge, plunk, and feed fine. Being that 9mm is pressure sensitive, that worries me. After measuring projectiles, it appears that when seating the SNS projectile to 1.05”, they are around .023” deeper in the case than the Blue Bullets when they are at 1.125”.

Is it safe to load to the 1.05” and use the same data, and start low and work up? Or should I increase the OAL to 1.073” to make up for the added seating depth and equal out available case capacity?

 

[Walkalong]

they are around .023” deeper in the case

This will definitely raise pressure a good bit, start low and work back up, but you won't be able to go nearly as high. Watch velocities, recoil, ejection.....

Or just load them longer if they feed fine. Do a very light taper crimp wherever that ends up.

 

[Tilos]

Here's how I determine max OAL, explained in another thread:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/acme-9mm-135gr-rn-col-caculation.846198/#post-11023334
There's so much variation in mold design for RN/FP/CP it makes using data posted anywhere only a guestamation.
Add to that the variation in chamber dimensions gun to gun, the only way I know to determine max OAL is this way.
jmo

"OAL
Find a fired case that the bullet just slips into with some resistance.
With the bullet barely into the case push them into the barrel with the shortest throat. You'll feel the bullet hitting the rifling, continue to push until you feel the case hit the chamber shoulder.
Carefully remove the case/bullet assembly, pinch the case/bullet juncture between you thumb/index finger, and measure the OAL with a caliper.
That measurement is the max OAL for that bullet in that barrel.
No research of conflicting data/opinions or interpolation, just a direct measurement.
Do it a couple of times, if you like, to check for consistency.
just the way I do it,"

 

[tcj]

The crimp groove would be used if you were roll crimping for a revolver...not taper crimping for a 9.

 

[Rule3]

From the picture of the SNS bullet, NO I would not seat it to that LUBE groove

On the Cone Nose bullet measure the length and compare to a regular RN of he same weight. The profile is pointer but the length may be about the same.

I have some buried somewhere, will try to check

https://www.snscasting.com/9mm-125-grain-flat-point-red-coated-500ct/

Pretty much seat the bullets real long and slowly adjust the depth until they pass the plunk test. Make sure the fir the magazine also.

Hodgdon data online shows a 125 LCN bullet at 1.125

Correction edit.LUBE groove not a crimp groove

 

[dave333]

Those SNS bullets look to me like .38 bullets sized down to typical 9mm size, so the crimp groove means nothing. Load them as long as you want to, or can. What powder are you using? That is going to make a big difference in what you can get away with. Some powders are far more forgiving, some not much at all. Im use to loading for CZ's, which have a very short chamber, and almost every profile bullet in the world with the exception of very streamlined RN bullets have to be loaded quite a bit shorter than the load data. Not a problem, just start at the bottom and work up slowly, and avoid the touchy powders.

 

[k4swb]

I shoot a lot of ACME 122gr flat pointed coated. Anything much over 1.050" just doesn't perform in my 9s.

 

[lpsharp88]

This will definitely raise pressure a good bit, start low and work back up, but you won't be able to go nearly as high. Watch velocities, recoil, ejection.....

Or just load them longer if they feed fine. Do a very light taper crimp wherever that ends up.

I was wanting to just load them at the 1.05”, but that’d a significant change and wasn’t sure if even the start data for the load at 1.125” would be safe. 9mm is fairly touchy with that

From the picture of the SNS bullet, NO I would not seat it to that crimp groove

On the Cone Nose bullet measure the length and compare to a regular RN of he same weight. The profile is pointer but the length may be about the same.

I have some buried somewhere, will try to check

https://www.snscasting.com/9mm-125-grain-flat-point-red-coated-500ct/

Pretty much seat the bullets real long and slowly adjust the depth until they pass the plunk test. Make sure the fir the magazine also.

Hodgdon data online shows a 125 LCN bullet at 1.125

I think that’s what I’ll end up doing. Finding the OAL that works in all my pistols and start at the min charge and work up. Right now though, I’m glad I only have 100 of those haha

Those SNS bullets look to me like .38 bullets sized down to typical 9mm size, so the crimp groove means nothing. Load them as long as you want to, or can. What powder are you using? That is going to make a big difference in what you can get away with. Some powders are far more forgiving, some not much at all. Im use to loading for CZ's, which have a very short chamber, and almost every profile bullet in the world with the exception of very streamlined RN bullets have to be loaded quite a bit shorter than the load data. Not a problem, just start at the bottom and work up slowly, and avoid the touchy powders.

I load pistol with 700-X and TiteGroup mainly. I do have 800-X and PowerPistol available as well though.

What kind of added to the confusion was my Hornady manual has a 125gr FP FMJ bullet that they show data for. It’s loaded to 1.05”, but no data for my powders, and the obvious FMJ vs Lead trouble

 

[Rule3]

Sorry I forgot.

I have several boxes of the MBC 125 coated CN bullets. I bought them because my CZ Custom would not chamber the regular Smallball RN bullet without seating them really short. This bullet also has the LUBE groove

I loaded them to 1.095, with Power Pistol. not giving grains. Have not shot any for some time, been using FMJ But that is for MY pistol

http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=250&category=9&secondary=8