Relatively universal OAL for RMR 115gr FMJ

I'm looking for a relatively universal OAL for the RMR 115gr FMJ in 9mm. I only have a single barrel to plunk test against at the moment (Gen3 Glock) -- it will pass quite long.

What is a good OAL for this bullet that would work with most 9mm pistols, including CZ and Gen5 Glock?

 

There isn't one. CZ pistols are short.

Reloading for a CZ and not having it in your possession is asking for trouble.
I can tell you between a P09, shadow 2 and PCR I've got a .2 swing that's a big difference.

 

ELEY uses RMR 115 gr FMJ for their match 9mm ammunition and uses 1.150" OAL - https://www.eleyammunition.com/minor9_competition_pistol_pcc_rounds/

These were the reference firearms used for ELEY ammunition test: CZ Shadow 1 4.7” barrel, CZ Shadow 2 with 4.7” barrel, Glock 34 Gen5 5.31” barrel, Walther PPQ 4” barrel, Smith M&P Core 4.2” barrel and the Tanfoglio Stock 2 4.45” barrel, JP Rifle GMR 15 14.5” barrel.

For the factory/aftermarket barrels I use some with very short leade, I found 1.130" to work in all the various pistols I have shot including several PCCs.

These are max/working OAL for RMR 115 gr FMJ from the Barrel vs Bullet Max/Working OAL/COL for Reference thread - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...col-for-reference.848462/page-2#post-11465109

• Gen3 Glock 17/19, factory barrel - 1.169"
• Gen3 Glock 22, KKM 40-9 conversion barrel - 1.169"
• Gen3 Glock 22, Tactical Kinetics 40-9 conversion barrel - 1.140"
• Gen3 Glock 23, Lone Wolf 40-9 conversion barrel - 1.130"

Since 115 gr FMJ has shorter bullet base, neck tension could be an issue (especially .355" sized bullets with thinner wall brass) and I found seating them deeper down to 1.110" will improve accuracy. (RMR 115 gr FMJ are sized .3555")

FYI, Atlanta Arms used to load their 9mm Elite 115 gr FMJ AMU to 1.130" but now load them shorter to 1.110" - https://atlantaarms.com/products/elite-9mm-115gr-fmj-match-amu.html

BTW, accuracy test requirement for Elite AMU is 5 ten-shot groups at 50 yards with an average group size not to exceed 1.5 inches. Fired from a match grade barrel fixture.

 

In my 9mm barrels, the RN allows the longest loading among all the bullet profiles. I can understand why you want to develop a load that’ll fit what you have and what you might have, but I’ve learned the hard way you always want to check.
The limited amount of factory 115gr ammo I have measures quite long. WW white box is 1.159”, and of course not all RN profiles are the same. I would go with what @LiveLife had for Eley’s offering since they use RMR bullets and that’s the profile you’re loading. Good luck.

 

FWIW, I’ve had various CZs that had max plunking COLs that varied as much as .034” from pistol to pistol, depending on the bullet being plunked. If I include a Scorpion pistol, then the spread goes up to .050”.

I also had (emphasis on HAD) a Taurus G3 that wouldn’t plunk American Eagle 124gr FMJ, although it shot it just fine. I suspect it was headspacing on the extractor, but I’ll never know.

Point being, you can’t outguess the max COL for a particular bullet in a particular pistol. You have to measure it to be sure.

 

To be clear, I would definitely check for proper plunk before shooting, but I'm wanting something that is likely to plunk (like factory ammo). I could then justify having more loaded in advance.

Thanks for the replies guys, you've given me some good info and points of consideration to work with. I very much appreciate it.

 

My G3c has a short throat. Rmr 115's will go out to 1.09, Sierra 115jhp have to be 1. 06 or less. I know it's not head spacing on the extractor, if it goes in my case gauge, but won't plunk, it's because the bullets are engaging the lands.

 

I run them at 1.090 and my g17 ate them up....

 

I run the RMR 115 gn FMJ RN at 1.090” as well because a) the shorter bearing surface of the 115 and b) the True Blue I use seems to like the smaller space.

 

I ended up using 1.130; passes the plunk test and seems to perform well.

 

You’ll actually need to test them in your shortest chambered gun, which will probably be the CZ.
I wouldn’t load a bunch assuming they’ll plunk in the barrels of guns you don’t have yet.