FTF Question - what am I missing?

[w00dc4ip]

Just a quick follow-up

Loaded up a few rounds today and took the pickiest of the guns (P6) to the range to try them out. Again, used Winchester once-fired brass, Berry's 124 grain plated HP bullets, and Winchester small pistol primers. OAL of all of the rounds was 1.078" (+/- .2").

I loaded 5 rounds each of the following (Alliant Bullseye) powder loads: 3.0gr; 3.2gr; 3.4gr; 3.6gr. Set the target at 25' and started with the lowest powder loads. The 3.0 and 3.2 grain rounds consistently failed to eject or failed to feed the next round, essentially they were too low to cycle the firearm completely. The 3.4 and 3.6 grain rounds all cycled the slide properly, and I could definitely feel the power difference between those two sets of rounds. Can't complain about accuracy as all shots from all 4 sets were inside the 9 ring.

Next week I'll load up a couple more sets of 3.4 and 3.6 and take them to the range with my XD Tactical and my other 9mm's to see if they can cycle those as well. If not, I'll creep up by .02gr at a time until all guns cycle. I'll probably go with the lowest powder load that can consistently cycle all of the firearms until I'm through all the HP that I have. When I order bullets again I'll probably get 115 grain RN and start searching for the most accurate load. Thanks again for all the help .

 

[RidgwayCO]

Nice job on your workup, w00dc4ip. Let us know how the second set shoots with your other 9mms.

If you're not completely sold on the Berry's plated bullets, you can try Montana Gold's full metal jacketed (fmj - lead base is exposed) or completely metal jacketed (cmj - base is covered) bullets at very reasonable prices (bought in bulk).

https://secure3.mooseweb.com/montanagoldbullet.com/pricelist.tpl

 

[rfwobbly]

Woodchip -
It's not your fault. Remember the test loads in the book were not shot in a gun, but a test barrel. What they are missing is real world interface with a barrel. Some of the European handguns have very short "leade". That is, the rifling comes very close to the chamber. If the OAL is too long, the bullet engages the rifling and will keep the gun from going into battery. (So unfortunately, buying a cartridge gauge is NOT going to help you, since a cartridge gauge has no rifling.)

Here's how you find the correct OAL for YOUR barrel using YOUR Berry bullet. Take a case fired in your gun. Slip a brand new bullet into the as-fired case. It should be a slip-to-snug fit. Push that bullet into your dis-assembled chamber. The rifling will then push the bullet backwards into the case turning the "test cartridge" into a micrometer. Carefully remove the test cartridge from the chamber and measure its length.

Do this 3 or 4 times until you start getting the same number. That's the max cartridge length for that particular bullet in that particular barrel. Now subtract .015" from that number and there's your OAL. So say your test cartridge comes out at 1.137". We subtract .015" and get 1.122", so we are going to round down (always shorter) and use 1.120" as our OAL. Now all you have to do is find a published load for 124gr jacketed bullets with an OAL of 1.120" or shorter.

The only exception to this work up is when the resulting answer comes out in excess of 1.169", which is the longest 9mm Luger can be according to SAAMI. Then of course, you have to use the 1.169" as max OAL or they probably won't fit your magazines.

When pistols have a short "leade" or "freebore" like yours, this will become the first step every time you change brands or weights of bullets. Each new bullet has to go through this procedure all over again. BE SURE to keep a log book of all your OAL records for each and every bullet brand and style.

Hope this helps!

 

[w00dc4ip]

Followup

So, after a few nights of manufacturing and a few trips to the range to test out my rounds, I think I've found my "temporary" formula:

Winchester or Federal once-fired Brass: .748-.755" length
Winchester Small Pistol Primers
Berry's Plated HP 124gr 9mm (.355" width)
Alliant Bullseye Powder: 3.8gr
OAL: 1.080" +/- .003"
Crimp Width: .378"

This formula is the minimum powder load and maximum OAL that successfully cycles all of my 9mm handguns. It also groups very nicely at 25 feet with my "combat" pistols and at 25 yards with my "bullseye" pistols. Until I run out of the 124gr Berry's JHP bullets (1850 to go), this is going to be the formula I use for my 9mm reloads unless it becomes less reliable in the future.

Thanks again for all the help.