9mm OAL

[45taurus]

Can someone please mic the OAL of a factory 115g FMJ and let me know what it is. I'm trying to figure out how long to seat my 9mm so that i can shoot them in any, or any future 9mm'ers that i may have or buy.

PLEASE

 

[Walkalong]

Dunno, but I load 115 RN bullets such as Ranier and Hornady at 1.130 to 1.135 and they work just fine.

 

[rumblebee1967]

here is the official standards for all bullets:

http://www.saami.org/index.cfm

 

[JC98]

1.155 Federal 115gr RN

 

[1SOW]

45tauras, Good idea but one issue:
You need the "bullet length AND oal" to determine the seating depth. Every manufacturers FMJRN is a different length.

I use the same technique for new loads with new bullets where the given oal is questionable for my bullet. I document that data in my reloading records. I use 124/125gr bullets so I can't help.

Ask for "specific info" (bullet brand "length" and cartridge oal) and someone may be able to help.

 

[J_McLeod]

Check out this thread.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=506678&highlight=determine+max+OAL

 

[n2006]

My 9mm loads with Berrys bullets are at 1.157"

 

[GT1]

My WWB 115s measure 1.168+.

But I would always load to my own gun(s). Your pistols will tell you what your AOL should be.

 

[gamestalker]

I just seat mine some where between published minimum and the contact point with the lands, and I haven't had any problems with a universal fit.

 

[GLOOB]

Hornady 124 gr XTP at 1.06"
Berry's 124 gr FP at 1.05"

These bullets would fit at an OAL of nearly infinity in my Glock, but when I used to have a DP-51, these were the longest OALs that would fit.

If you want an OAL that will chamber in almost any gun, you need to find someone that reloads for an XD or a DP-51, or some other gun known to have a short leade, AND who's using the same bullet you are. It all depends on the barrel and the ogive of the bullet.

 

[LiveLife]

I often load for multiple pistols as I provide ammo for other family members/in-laws/friends/neighbors who may join our range trip.

For typical "parabellum" nose profile like Winchester 115 gr FMJ bullet, I use 1.125"-1.130" OAL with .375" taper crimp and they have fed/chambered reliably. I could load them longer but found with longer than 1.135" OAL, there wasn't enough bullet base seated inside the case neck for proper neck tension. You may ask why factory loads them longer, but they are using virgin/new brass with same case wall thickness and brass characteristics. For mixed headstamp range brass with varying case wall thickness and condition of the brass, I need to seat the shorter 115 gr FMJ bullets deeper in the case necks for proper neck tension. If you are using same headstamp with more consistent brass condition, YMMV

With various 124/125 gr FMJ and plated RN bullets with longer bullet base, it gets easier and I use 1.135" OAL and they all fed/chambered in various pistols I have used.

Of course, if you have access to the pistols/barrels/magazines, you can determined the Max/Ideal OALs more preciously.

I hope this helped.

 

[jcwit]

I realize you're asking about factory 115 gr. FMJ bullets.
With that said SAAMI specs say min OAL is 1.000 and max OAL is 1.169 inches.

My cast rd. nose bullets at an OAL of 1.100 and encounter no issues.