Am I reading the SAMMI guidelines for a 9mm correctly

[gonoles_1980]

I'm getting ready to start reloading 9mm for my wife's gun. So far I've only been reloading .38's and .357's for my revolvers, this will be the first time I've reloaded for a semi-automatic.

If I'm reading the guidelines correctly, I should be able to use the brass that has a trim to length of between 18.90 to 19.15mm. All the brass I have is in that range, the smallest is 18.94, the largest is 19.15. So I believe all the brass I have is of oood length.

And a second question.

I'm looking to start out with 124gr Copper Plated bullets from Xtreme with 4.0 W231, but now I'm thinking 4.3 might be better. Lee shows a CP bullet for 124gr, but doesn't use W231. It has W231 for a 125gr lead bullet, 3.9 to 4.3 which (xtreme says to use mid-high range for a lead bullet). I know a 124gr bullet will use slightly more powder than a 125gr, but it can't be that much more. Hodgdon recommends 3.9 to 4.4 for a 124gr BERB HBRN TP. The closest Lyman has is a jacketd 125gr at 3.9 to 4.4.

Scanning the archives, for similar powder, bullet and weight, I see a range from 3.6 to 4.4. Which is why I was thinking 4.0 to start. I just want to make sure it's enough power to eject from my wife's Ruger LCP 9mm.

 

[243winxb]

http://www.saami.org/PubResources/CC_Drawings/Pistol/9mm%20Luger%20-%209mm%20Luger%20+P.pdf a trim to length of between 18.90 to 19.15mm. Doesnt look right to me. 9mm Luger?

 

[LeftyTSGC]

I reload 124gr 9mm with W231 all the time, I have used MG FMJ, Berrys, and now use Xtreme 124gr HP, all of my loads are between 4.3 to 4.4 W231. I shoot them in a STAR 30M 9mm. Less then 4.3 and the rounds are plopping out, very weak shot, more than 4.5 and start seeing signs of flattened primers, I seat at 1.100 for xtreme HP and 1.130 for MG FMJ. I have noticed that the old reload manuals have different load data than newer ones. I started low and worked up. the 4.3 and 4.4 loads provide velocity between 1009 and 1060 depending on load and depth.

Forgot to add: I never trim any 9mm brass, if it does not fit my guage i get rid of it. I do not know of anyone else that trims 9mm brass.

 

[sexybeast]

I have never trimmed pistol brass either.
Since they will be for your wife I suggest starting low at 4.0. Plated are loaded mostly at lead levels or just above. It will cycle your wife"s Ruger.
You want her to get use to it so don't scare her with real snappy loads.
I use 3.7gr of hp38 with 125gr lead in competitions. Accurate and soft.
You can always load hotter later.

 

[forestswin]

243winxb
what about the length doesn't look right?
(besides the mm stuff)

 

[243winxb]

The mm doez not convert to the. Correct measurement in inches. ??

 

[rodregier]

I've never trimmed 9mmx19 brass. It tends to get shorter with repeat firings, not longer. At least 25K rds reloaded.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I may have confused things using the term "trim to length" (I copied the term from my Layman manual), I was just basically talking about the length of the brass case (not trimming them), 18.90 to 19.15mm. The SAMMI spec says 19.15 -.25, which I assume the max length of 19.15 and the min length of 19.15-.25 or 18.90.

 

[Walkalong]

I never trim 9MM brass, and the difference between 124 and 125 Gr is so miniscule that it isn't taken into consideration. Weigh a few bullets and you'll get the idea. Bullet type and structure is far more important.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

i don't think i've ever even measured a 9mm case

 

[243winxb]

Oops , i looked at the SAAMI drawing wrong.

 

[chris in va]

Yeah, don't worry about case length.

Every gun is different. You're gonna want to make a dummy round and find out what chambers in the LCP. Only then can you start making real ones.

Make 20 of each powder charge. Don't go whole hog and load 200 only to find out it causes jams and FTE.

 

[forestswin]

Gonoles
To answer your first question ....you got it right
And I always take "trim to" = min length

243win ....you had me scratching my head for a bit there
Now I can sleep