First Reloads

[crazydaysorg]

I'm reloading some 9mm for my glock 17L, which has a 6" barrel.

Brass: Win (Once shot)
Powder: AA#7
Bullet: Montana Gold 124gr FMJ

According to http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/Acc Guide v3.3 version.pdf reload data it is using a 4" barrel. The powder charge starts at 7.2gr and ends at 8.0gr. I put together 1 round using the starting load first using the COL of 1.095 as per the data. Things went well enough (loaded and ejected on firing), though I noticed a nick a small nick in the brass, like it caught on something on the way out. Then I loaded up 10 more rounds with a COL of 1.140, with the understanding that a longer length lowers pressure. About 1/2 of the brass exhibited the nicking observed from the first round. I don't recall seeing the nicks from factory ammo, but I could buy a box and check it out. Also, the brass that was nicked shows a slight deformation in the top of the case in that it is out of perfect round.

So, a couple questions:

1. Is the nicking and deformation of the brass normal or should I be concerned? And would the brass be safe to reload again? I can try to get pictures if it would help.
2. Should a 6" barrel change my recipe, and in what way? Less powder, more? Would I tend towards the long end of COL? Should I focus on faster or slower burning powders?
3. Should it really take me about an hour to do 10 rounds (Lee single stage press, measuring each powder charge)?

 

[Walkalong]

Little nicks and dings are no big deal, and fairly common. Barrel length matters not in the recipe department except that you will get more FPS from it. I bet you were not paying as close attention to the factory brass as you are your reloads. O.A.L. does not determine faster or slower powder suitablility. Pick an O.A.L. that feeds well in your gun and work your load up using it. Do take into consideration whether it is shorter or longer than the O.A.L. used in the load book. An hour? Must be going really slow and carefull.

Welcome to THR

 

[jfh]

Based on what you wrote above, I'm assuming that the ten rounds you loaded were also at the starting load of the recipe--e.g., 7.2 gr. With that in mind, the 'nicks and deformations you are describing are because the lower pressures for the rounds you have shot are changing the extraction-and-ejection cycle slightly, and the timing is off from the way it was tweaked at the factory for standard-pressure / factory rounds. Try loading some more, up into at least mid-recipe range, and see if the nicking and deformation goes away.

As for the LOA issues--the factors here rest on how deep the bullet is set into the case, as compared to the bullet accurate used in its testing. You could check the LOA of the bullet and see if it is significantly different--but you may not even be able to determine the difference, for the recipe probably doesn't give the bullet LOA. Generally, bullet LOA will not need to be the determining issue for safe reloading with recipes from manufacturers; where it is, the manual will call it out. So, that leaves you with the standard rule of thumb for semiauto cartridge reloading: The LOA is, within the range, determined by what functions best in your pistol. Personally, I would now go back to the recommended LOA from the manual and boost the charge to mid-range--say, 7.6 grains, and try ten rounds for function. (I shot a 17L some years ago.)

To answer your questions directly:

1. The brass is almost certainly fine to be reused. Post a picture if you want more reassurance.

2. No, the 6" barrel should not change your recipe. The COAL will be determined by the best function, and you shouldn't, at this point, worry about pressure / charge issues for setting up the COAL. I'm too rusty on 9mm to recommend other powders, but other posters will probably be along to do that.

3. From the tone of your post, I am not surprised it took / takes you an hour to do ten rounds--you sound to be appropriately cautious, and also working without a mentor--so the mental double-checking really slows you down.

A rule of thumb for an experienced single-stage reloader, using bench blocks and well-organized, is probably about sixty rounds per hour. Single stage presses are NOT a great way to do pistol fodder, even though they can be great to learn on. If you are convinced you enjoy the hobby and not just the cost savings, consider upgrading to a Lee Turret Press: the auto-indexing feature of this design allows you to use it as a single stage and offers automatic indexing as an option. With auto-indexing, you can do 180-plus rounds per hour--which should match your 17L output, or close to it.

Jim H.