Help with 9mm load data, thanks!

[dryfiregen4]

I know yall here thee "im new to reloading a lot" but i am lol

Im using IMR 700x with a speer 115gr .355 tmj rn bullet.

I cant find anything for that exact combination, all i ever see is the speer GDHP .355. Can i basically use that data and just work my way up..and also i need some help on OAL.

btw, ive loaded about 15 so far and have only had one malfunction (FTF) ..nothing dangerous. Ive used about 3.9 grains to 4.1 and my case OAL has been about 1.125..sometimes a little shorter but nothing to dramatic. I just need some pointers..thanks!!

 

[LiveLife]

You should be fine using 115 gr lead load data for TMJ plated bullets - http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

115 gr lead RN 700-X .356" OAL 1.100" Start 3.3 gr (986 fps) 25,200 PSI - Max 3.7 gr (1,082 fps) 31,900 PSI

also i need some help on OAL ... case OAL has been about 1.125..sometimes a little shorter but nothing to dramatic.

Use the barrel drop test to determine the max OAL then feed/chamber a dummy round (no powder/no primer) from the magazine to determine the working OAL (incrementally reduce OAL until the dummy round reliably feed/chamber from the magazine). Walkalong has an excellent thread on determining max/working OAL - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=506678

Then using the working OAL, start your powder work up from the published start charge and go up in .2-.3 gr increments until your pistol reliably cycles the slide. How much higher you go depends on your comfort level but I usually use accuracy trends to determine the most accurate shot group/powder charge.

Ive used about 3.9 grains to 4.1

Start/max of 3.9/4.2 gr are listed for Speer Gold Dot HP bullets and since you are using TMJ plated bullets, you are essentially starting out at high-to-near max charges. For me, plated bullets obtain optimal accuracy around mid-to-high range load data so you may still want to conduct a full powder workup to determine an accurate load at lower powder charge. If you are using longer than 1.125" OAL, perhaps try 3.6/3.8/4.0 gr and maybe 4.2 gr and see what your accuracy trend is like?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Is there a specific reason why you want to use 700X in the 9mm?

As for OAL, I usually load as long as I can but still within SAAMI limits and still pass the "plunk" test.

 

[dryfiregen4]

The bullets i have are .355..does that make a difference?? and wow ive been off on my loads if thats correct lol like i said ive loaded about 3.9 to 4.1..my glock 19 hasnt exploded thank goodness!!

 

[dryfiregen4]

No specific reason for using 700x other than thats all i can find right now..i got some at a shop and just went to a gun show the other day and that all they really had other than rifle powder. Ive been told its ok to use for most pistol loads..but like i said im new..i just need some good plinking rounds for now.

 

[BluewaterLa]

49th edition Lyman manual list only a 147 gr tmj 2.8 start load
3.6 max with 1.115 oal
115 gr jhp but I wouldn't want to steer you in the wrong direction w that
I know it is better to use load data for a heavier bullet than a lighter one.
The hp 115 list start load 3.1 gr - 4.5 gr max load 1.090 oal.
If it was my bench and my health at risk.. I would use the start data for the
115 gr hp and lengthen the col to 1.125,, load a few and check for pressure signs and maybe work up in .1 gr increments.
Hpe this helps and others chime in. I'm not claiming to be a master hand
Loader
I've used 800x with great results

 

[dryfiregen4]

Thanks guys! so does the .355 vs .356 diameter make a difference? i have both and wanna use both..just wanna know if i need to do anything different for the two??

 

[LiveLife]

Can you meter 700-X in .1 gr increment?

The bullets i have are .355..does that make a difference??

No. .355" is the standard sizing for 9mm jacketed bullets. Speer 9mm TMJ and Gold Dot HP plated bullets are sized .355".

wow ive been off on my loads if thats correct lol like i said ive loaded about 3.9 to 4.1..my glock 19 hasnt exploded thank goodness!!

Keep in mind that 3.3/3.7 start to max charges are for lead bullets loaded shorter at 1.100" OAL. Jacketed load data typically run higher than lead load data and Speer TMJ bullets with thicker copper plating can be driven to jacketed load data, so you should be OK using Gold Dot HP load data.

Chances are, even if you use the same listed 1.125" OAL for GDHP, your TMJ bullet will be seated shallower in the case neck which lowers chamber pressure so 3.9-4.1 gr of 700-X would be OK. I think a powder work up from 3.6 start charge may allow you to identify an accurate load that will still reliably cycle the slide of your G19. My guess is 3.8-4.0 will reliably cycle the slide and produce greater accuracy over 3.6 gr.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks guys! so does the .355 vs .356 diameter make a difference? i have both and wanna use both..just wanna know if i need to do anything different for the two??

USUALLY
9mm
.355" for jacketed bullets.
.356" for lead bullets.

Much like in the 38/357 you use .357" jacketed bullets and .358" lead bullets.

 

[dryfiregen4]

Ok cool, thanks again for the help. this is my first forum and so far everyone has been helpful!! im gonna just start lower and keep my oal at 1.125 and see how 3.6 does..then go up to 4.0. and for pressure signs i basically just look at the spent primers and the differences each charge makes and also how the cases eject??

 

[BluewaterLa]

haha not sure about the 700 personally
A definite no for the 800x I hand weighed ever charge :banghead:

 

[dryfiregen4]

So i loaded 30 and fired them today. 20 of them were about 3.9 grains and the rest were 3.6-3.7. mostly all fired ad ejected well and were pretty darn accurate ..i had a few FTF and double feeds..when i put the rounds that malfunctioned back in the gun they fed fine. the only issue im having now is with my lee seting die..im getting inconsistent OAL's. Any suggestions???

 

[TenDriver]

Mine does the same thing. I think the inconsistent OALs are due to variations in the brass length.

I started loading 9mm with 700-X as well, quickly switching to Bullseye and Titegroup. Even with a powder baffle 700-X doesn't meter well.

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

So i loaded 30 and fired them today. 20 of them were about 3.9 grains and the rest were 3.6-3.7. mostly all fired ad ejected well and were pretty darn accurate ..i had a few FTF and double feeds..when i put the rounds that malfunctioned back in the gun they fed fine.

A double feed does not sound likea cartridge problem. Could it have been short stroking? Did you keep track of which loads ran fine and which ones didn't?

the only issue im having now is with my lee seting die..im getting inconsistent OAL's. Any suggestions???

Depends on how far off they are as to whether your ok or not. .005" spread is not an issue. Some say bullet and sometimes it is but I have noticed that no two pulls of the lever have the same speed or force and can cause the small deviation. Without using a torque wrench on place of the lever and going slow I could not produce the results to support my theory however. Keep that stroke uniform and your results should improve.

General rule of thumb in "working up" a load is start with minimum charge and move up. To find the load it's good to take a few different loads like you did but don't defeat your purpose by not shooting them in order and noting the result such as FTF etc. If you did note it please share, the result could be beneficial.

Good thing is they all shot and from what I gather no over pressure signs existed. Good job.

 

[rcmodel]

Brass length doesn't have / cannot have any bearing on seating length / OAL.

Think it though.
You are pushing on the bottom surface of the case rim in the shell holder.
And pushing the ogive of the bullet nose inside the seating die on the other end.

Difference in case length can only effect how much extra case length slides up the side of the bullet shank.

But, the OAL has to stay the same from the base of the case to the bullet ogive when you measure it from those two points.
Which is how most of us measure it!

Variations in OAL can only be injected into things by variations in bullet ogive shape, sloppy press & die set-up, or a bullet seating stem that does not match the bullet shape.
Or, junk in the trunk inside the seating die like packed bullet lube, etc.

rc

 

[dryfiregen4]

Thanks for the great feedback guys!! Im pretty happy with my testing today.

I had one FTF/doublefeed with the 3.6gr load and one with the 3.9..but only 2 malfuntions out of 30 rounds is ok with me (of course not in a life or death situation!! haha)

and my OAL variations are from 1.120 to 1.129. only a few will get as low as 1.120..most are 1.125-1.129. is that ok? or to much variation??

 

[gamestalker]

Other than the original question you inquired about, the FTF you experienced is probably nothing more than how the firearm picked those cartridges up from the magazine, and nothing related to the load. If it had anything to do with the load, it could either be a charge adjustment that's necessary to iron out a cycling anomaly, or an oal adjustment, but by no means a reason for major concern. In other words, you should feel good, as in, your on the right track Sir.

RC covered all the rest, and in good detail too.

GS

 

[dryfiregen4]

Final update..then ill leave this thread alone lol THANKS for all the help guys!! much appreciated!

I fired another 50 rounds today, they were very accurate and i only had one malfuntion..a double feed(but that happens with factory ammo so its all good) Im pretty happy so far with my testing. Im still having some slight variations in OAl ( 1.119 to 1.130) but most of them are 1.124 to 1.130. They all feed and eject fine..and again no serious malfuntions so im guessing all is good. I just the spent primers and they looked just like factory spent primers to me.

Again thanks for the help!! Boy do i love my new reloading hobby....i dont think im saving much money im just shooting a heck of a lot more! haha

 

[dryfiregen4]

5.56/223 die questions for beginner!

I started with loading 9mm now i feel comfortable so i wanna start doin 223 to feed my AR. I just wanna make sure i know everything that ill need and specifically the die set.

Im very new to this so bare with me..

I have a lee classic turret press, so im looking at the lee ultimate 4 die set for 223..come with full length sizer, collet necksizer, Easy Adjust Dead Length Bullet Seating Die & Factory Crimp Die. is that all i need for the dies? also i this may be a dumb question but can i use my pro auto disk powder measure with these..if so which die?

Thanks a lot. just wanna make sure im good to go

 

[gamestalker]

I have loaded that same bullet many times, Speer part # 3995 - 115 gr. TMJ. I have also loaded the same combination back some years ago through a G17 and a few other pistols. The data I used was Speer's, and Speer puts the TMJ, Gold Dot, and their standard JHP in the same tables, as follows.

Speer TMJ # 3995
700X= 4.o grs. - 4.4 grs.
Published OAL= 1.135"

Like I said, I've used that data and other jacketed data with those bullets many times, and I trust Speer's data as well.

If your going to start .223, it might help things go a bit smoother is you don't try to crimp. I mean if you find a problem with set back, then yes, a crimp would be advised. But as long as your sizing die is adjusted correctly, neck tension is all that's necessary for an AR, unless of course it's for a FA, or a tubular magazine.

Keep on keeping on, and welcome to the wonderful hobby of reloading, and shooting of course.

GS

 

[SAGEEN]

I think you need to check shell length trim and remove burres after sizing