New reloader question, 9mm

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

livingawareness3

Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2014
Messages
4
Location
Northern Illinois
Hello everybody, I am just getting started in reloading and had some questions about what I am doing. I found some information in previous posts, but not enough for me to be comfortable making my first rounds.

I am reloading 9mm luger using Federal brass and primers, Alliant Power Pistol powder, and Speer 115gr tmj rn bullets. I have "Modern Reloading" by Richard lee, and the "Hornady Book of Cartridge Reloading", as well as the 9mm loading info that came with my Lee dies and the Lee auto-disc powder measure. I am using a Lee 4 hole turret press.

None of the books give me the data for 115gr tmj rn bullets with Power Pistol powder. I have also checked the Speer website and the Alliant website with no luck. I read that I could possibly use a fmj formula if I reduced it by 10% for the tmj. What I came up with was a starting load of 4.3gr up to 5.8gr. I thought I would make 5-10 rounds of each to try and examine for excessive pressure signs.

Before I try this I wanted to ask if I am in danger of physical harm with this formula? I am a bit concerned about blowing up my pistol and myself from incorrect figuring and lack of reliable info.

I also see that the Minimum O/A length seems to change with different powders(Modern Reloading). Why would the powder type change the O/A length? I am seeing minimum lengths from 1.060-1.142 for copper plated which, from what I have read on this forum and some others, is how I should look at my TMJ bullets. The factory ammo I have been using is Federal RTP9115 115gr fmj rn and it has a O/A length of 1.152. These variances in length are a bit confusing, as well. :banghead: Doesn't the change in O/A length affect the pressure? ex- seating the bullet deeper or shallower should affect the remaining space in the case, changing the pressure?

I am shooting a Kimber Custom Stainless II 1911, XDM 9, Ruger p89, and XDS 9.

If anyone has any helpful info on the safety of my formula and some explanation on the differences in case length, I would really appreciate it.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.

P.S. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Speer 9515 manual and the Lyman 49th edition manual to give me a wider range of combinations. Thanks again.
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the forum and someone will be along soon to help you out. Correct me if Im wrong someone, but those OALs are just what the manufacturers tested the load with, so theyre a bit negotiable, not an end all, be all length in other words.(DONT just pull an OAL out of the air though- search plunk test) .This one confused me for awhile myself.


Disclaimer
Im still a noob myself..
 
Last edited:
If it's a round nose, you can use data for round nose 115gr bullets in the manual.

I'm not too familiar with the TMJ. If it's plated you can use upper end lead data, or lower end jacketed data. You just can't go over the fps stated by the manufacture.

If it's jacketed, just use any round nose 115gr jacketed data.

As far as OAL, that's gun specific. Google plunk test or search on here for plunk test, and read up on it. The plunk test is what you'll want to do to find your proper OAL.

Welcome to the addiction.
 
I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Speer 9515 manual and the Lyman 49th edition manual to give me a wider range of combinations.
Click to expand...

That's a good thing! I've found that more info is very nice to have with this hobby.



Disclaimer
Im still a noob myself...
 
Last edited:
I believe it does. I have the Speer manual and trying to remember off the top of my head. I'm not a big fan of the Speer manual, but I believe it does have the TMJ bullets in it.
 
I too have been collecting manuals. So far, my Lyman 49th has been the most useful but all of them seem to have pieces that the others don't.
 
My Lyman 49th Ed. shows a 115 gr HP for Power Pistol at 5.9 1102 fps to 6.5 1212 fps.
My One Book/One Caliber shows a Speer 115 gr TMJ (Speer part # 3995) at 6.2 gr 1122 fps to 6.7 gr 1212 fps with a tested OAL of 1.135.
 
Speer does in fact have data for the TMJ bullets. TMJ (total metal jacket) is a Speer process that totally encapsulates the lead with the jacket. No exposed lead at the base.
 
Speer reloading data as follows:

Speer 115 gr. TMJ, - Part # 3995
OAL Speer used - 1.135"
Power Pistol - 6.2 gr. - 6.7 gr.

Work up from the minimum 6.2 gr charge until the firearm cycles properly. And any time you change components, or use a different OAL you should work back up again from the minimum published charge.

When crimping 9mm and other cartridges that head space off the mouth, only crimp enough to remove the bell, no more than that or neck tension will be degraded.

GS
 
The powder choice doesn't have anything to do with the OAL chosen. The OAL is chosen for function. A hollow point or a flat point will be loaded shorter than a RN. Any bullet chosen has to be loaded short enough to fit the barrel. I load RN at around 1.130 to 1.135 OAL and FPs or HPs around 1.050 to 1.060 ish.

OAL does affect pressures, and in the small high pressure 9MM round it can affect pressure dramatically if the OAL is shorter by even .020. Be careful when choosing an OAL.

You can use any 115 Gr jacketed round nose data for the Speer 115 Gr TMJ. Start low and work up.
 
Walkalong said:
The powder choice doesn't have anything to do with the OAL chosen. The OAL is chosen for function. A hollow point or a flat point will be loaded shorter than a RN. Any bullet chosen has to be loaded short enough to fit the barrel. I load RN at around 1.130 to 1.135 OAL and FPs or HPs around 1.050 to 1.060 ish.

OAL does affect pressures, and in the small high pressure 9MM round it can affect pressure dramatically if the OAL is shorter by even .020. Be careful when choosing an OAL.

You can use any 115 Gr jacketed round nose data for the Speer 115 Gr TMJ. Start low and work up.
Click to expand...
My confusion was in the Modern Reloading book where the info for copper plated 115gr gives different minimum lengths from 1.130 to 1.142. Those were for the same bullet, but different powders were listed.

I thought I had read that tmj bullets should be considered as plated and use the tables from those, is this incorrect? Should I be using jacketed data instead? I was under the impression that the tmj/plating would add length to the bullet, thereby reducing the empty space in the case if pressed to the same OAL as a jacketed.

Thank you for the information.
 
I would use the data the gamestalker provided as it comes from Speer's manual for the bullet you are using. Whenever I use a bullet by a manufacturer that has their own loading manual, I use their info for my starting loads.
 
For TMJ, use jacketed data, or just use the TMJ data itself in the Speer manual. TMJs are made by Speer. Why not try their data?

Lose the Modern Reloading stuff. It's just derivative anyway. Go buy some original data. Speer, Lyman, Hornady, Sierra, etc. Read the "front matter." There you will find good solid info on OALs, and a myriad of other reloading techniques.
 
While the TMJ is plated, it is thicker than the plated bullets that suggest using less than jacketed data. Speer has been making heavy duty plated bullets for some time.

Plenty of info out there about them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

J
  • Locked
Considerations loading 9mm with 147gr bullets
Replies
19
Views
4K
LoonWulf
LoonWulf
M
  • Locked
115gr 9mm RN...
Replies
10
Views
845
Sunray
S
J
OAL is different for reloads than commercial - why?
Replies
7
Views
328
Carl N. Brown
Carl N. Brown
S
  • Locked
9mm projectile selection
Replies
13
Views
640
rcmodel
R
M
  • Locked
9mm Reloading Question
Replies
12
Views
888
NMexJim
NMexJim
Back
Top