Load books don't have exact bullet.... also powder load question.

[Stover954rr]

Hi guys,
I am very new to reloading and have purchased Lymans 49th and have read through it. I am loading 9mm and noticed that they only have a 115gr chart for HP. I will be shooting FMJ, can I follow the same powder guidelines in the HP chart?

Also the book says to pick a powder that results in the most full case when loaded. Being a finance guy it seems like you are not getting your moneys worth when you have two powders that have the same performance #'s but one takes 4.5grs and the other only takes 3.7grs. If I am understanding the book correctly: Even though I can get more loads per pound out of the 3.7grs per load powder I should go with the 4.5grs per load powder because it will result in a more full case and thus a more even consistent performing round?

This is for 9mm pistol practice rounds.

Sorry if these are stupid questions!

~Stover

 

[LiveLife]

This is for 9mm pistol practice rounds.

I usually recommend W231/HP38 for new reloaders as it provides broader load range than many other powders to allow for more "buffer" headroom and meters very well. W231/HP38 produces accurate mid-high range loads that are great for target practice.

What I do when I cannot find a load data for specific bullet type/nose shape is to take all available load data for comparable bullet weight and compare focusing on OAL/pressures used. Here a comparison using W231/HP38:

Hogdgon load data: 115 gr Speer Gold Dot JHP W231/HP38 OAL 1.125" Start 4.7 gr (1075 fps) 25,300 CUP - Max 5.1 gr (1167 fps) 28,100 CUP

Lyman's #49: 115 gr JHP W231 OAL 1.090" Start 3.5 gr (959 fps) 20,700 CUP - Max 4.5 gr (1253 fps) 32,100 CUP

Lee: 115 gr Jacketed W231 OAL 1.095" Start 4.3 gr - Max 4.8 gr (1120 fps)

Typically, HP bullet base will get seated deeper into the case neck than RN due to the shape of the bullet nose. When you seat the same bullet at longer OAL (bullet seated not as deep), resulting chamber pressure will be less. I usually seat 9mm RN bullets to 1.125"-1.135" OAL with reliable feeding/chambering in most pistols.

For me, using 1.125"-1.135" OAL, 3.8-4.1 gr did not reliably cycle the slide of my Glocks. 4.2-4.5 gr started to cycle the slide and 4.8-4.9 gr produced the most accurate loads.

For 9mm 115 gr FMJ RN bullet, I would recommend a work up from 4.0 gr using 1.125"-1.135" OAL.

 

[MEHavey]

bds gives good council on both powder & load development.

If these are practice rounds, start low-mid powder weight and you mitigate any bullet design differences. If they cycle reliably, stay there. If not, work up gradually until they do (staying under Lyman's max).

 

[Slamfire]

I don't worry about bullet manufacture unless I am pushing maximum loads. Then who made the jacketed bullets, the construction, will make a difference and you might be blowing primers or not.

For my handguns particularly, I get a box of factory ammo of the bullet weight in issue, shoot that over my screens, and that will be my velocity limit in that handgun.

There are a lot of assumptions, one of which is that my pressures are less than or equal to factory with the powders availiable to me if I stay below factory velocity.



M92 FS Beretta Bar Sto Barrel

115 Full Metal Case Master Factory Ammo
20-Jun-09 T = 90 °F

Ave Vel = 1180
Std Dev = 10.19
ES = 33.27
High = 1197
Low = 1167
N = 8

Walther P- 38

115 gr FMJ Master Brand Factory
18-Mar-07 T = 49 °F
Ave Vel = 1158
Std Dev = 3.6
ES = 9.55
High = 1164
Low = 1154
N = 6

 

[Stover954rr]

What about the fullness of the case? I am guessing if I am working up my powder grains following the manual I will not have a full case. From what the manual says this is not desirable.

 

[MEHavey]

If it's in the manual (between Min & Max) ignition will be OK.

BEST performance is usually w/ a full/near full case -- especially in rifles.

Pistols can perform satisfactorily with lesser case-fill ratios (between Min & Max again). Having a high case-fill fraction, however, mininizes the chance of loading blunders/double-loading/empty cases, etc as it's more visually obvious.

Load powder in all your cases at one time; put them in the loading block as you go; and then visually scan every case in that loading block under the light to ensure everything looks the same before seating --- and you'll be fine.

 

[GaryL]

Not a stupid question.

bds & Slamfire1 gave some great advice.

FWIW, your firearm is most likely NOT a pressure test barrel either, so that is why everyone recommends starting low and working up. In other words, you can never really duplicate the factory setup.

But, get a couple more references. Most reloading shops will have powder manufacturers load data manuals for free. And a second or third reference book never hurts either. Their numbers are often a little different, so you can see how minor changes in components and test setups introduce variations.

I have found that using the search function in this forum, and comparing what some people like to my manuals allows me to focus on a few loads worth pursuing.