Any Caveat with loading Golden Sabers?

[Snowdog]

I just ordered some 124gr Golden Sabers (only 500 to start) since they appear cheap enough at Midway (500 for $67) and are “available” as of now.

From the research I've done so far, it appears I need to seat the driving band flush with the case mouth and taper crimp as normal. Is this correct? Are there any pitfalls that one might run into when loading such a bullet profile for the first time?

Also, I'd like to load these at a healthy, yet non "+P" level. Of course I plan on more research before working up these loads, but I'm working with either Bullseye or Power Pistol (with the preference on the latter). Does anyone want to share a favorite recipe using either of these for a bullet with such a "driving band"?
I would like to keep the velocity at around 1100ish FPS from a Hi Power.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Steve C]

I've always seated the driving band well below the case mouth to a proper OAL. I used a factory round to set my seating die. Taper crimp to the side of the bullet as normal. I use the Lee FC die for this in the 9mm.

 

[Snowdog]

Good to hear there's no issues with Lee dies with factory crimp (not that I expected any) since I use these same dies on a Lee Classic turret.

So the factory-loaded Golden Saber was set with the band below the case mouth? I guess it would be a sure bet to simply use the OAL Remington uses with their loaded ammuntion. Excessive OAL would likely become an issue since I might also fire these from a K9.

Thanks Steve

 

[Walkalong]

I shot them at 1.060 and they shot very well. As Steve C posted, the driving band will be well below flush.

What was the Factory O.A.L. Steve?

 

[RidgwayCO]

When I tried these GS bullets in the 9mm Luger, I loaded them to 1.143" COL so that the driving band would still support the case mouth (not seated deeply into the case). I never saw any factory loads so had no idea what their COL was.

Using 6.2gr of Power Pistol gave me 1164 fps out of a Beretta 92FS (4.9" barrel), and 1101 fps from the Beretta 8000F (3.6" barrel). Functioning was 100%.

 

[Matt Dillon]

Not to hijack this thread, but I too just picked up some of these and I am brand new to loading 9mm. I have been loading other calibers for years, but I just started loading for the 9m Luger. I have Universal clays, Unique, Bullseye, and was wondering if anyone had any proven loads with these powders for these bullets. I'm not looking for a barn burner, but a good self defense load and or hunting load. I have loaded this projectile in .357 magnum and .40 S&W with great success in the past, and am looking for a good recipe for which to use these in 9mm. Thanks so much in advance!

 

[armoredman]

Hmm, I carry factory GS, if I had the scratch I'd snag some of these, too.

 

[GW Staar]

http://www.geocities.com/leereloading/products.htm

Quoting the Url above, "I have, however, run into a problem with post-sizing Remington Golden Saber bullets. Sizing these bullets after seating crushes the driving band and the bullet comes loose. I recommend that you not use the Factory Crimp Die with Golden Saber bullets."

That sounds negative. Is wrong seating depth of the driving band the cause of this?

At Realguns.com (url below) in the review of a CZ pistol, the author, using the Deluxe Lee 9mm Die set, crimped reloads using the Golden Sabres, and did just fine. In fact, those were his favorite loads. His pictures are interesting.

http://www.realguns.com/archives/155.htm

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

I haven't run into that problem but my die is set for a very light crimp, more sizeing than crimping. loading 9mm and .45acp with GS.

 

[DBR]

I just measured a factory Remington 124gr GS the OAL is 1.125,

After having fooled around with the Lee Factory Crimp dies I came to the conclusion that they are a mistake. If they size over the bullet they are crushing the bullet reducing its diameter - a sure recipe for poor accuracy. If they size lower down the original case sizing was wrong and needs to be addressed. A case gauge is your friend.

Also I got much better taper crimps using a conventional name brand crimp die. For roll crimps it is hard to beat the Redding Profile Crimp die.

Lee Factory Crimp dies for bottle neck rifle cartridges are another matter.

 

[rg1]

Local shop let me measure the length of a few factory Remington Golden Sabers.
9MM 124 GS---overall length-1.120"-1.125" varys due to irregular tip shape
45 ACP 230 GS--------------1.235"
40 SW 180 GS---------------1.122"-1.124"
40 SW 165 GS---------------1.122"-1.124"
These lengths puts the driving band about .010" inside the case mouths and the factory rounds appeared to be taper crimped over the driving band just enough to remove the bell from the expanding. I'd taper crimp to reduce the diameter of the mouth by 1-2 thousandths or just enough to remove the bell.

 

[joe4570]

The first consideration is COL as a function of reliable feeding and influence on pressure. The bullet doesn't know if it is being crimped at the case mouth or inset as long as it is being crimped at the driving band. Nothing compared to the Nagant revolver round http://www.realguns.com/loads/762x38rnagant.htm.