Reloading question for 9mm Luger

[LightningMan]

Hello, I know, I know, yes I have resorted to loading my own 9mm ammo, it's gotten that bad as you cannot find the stuff anywhere. I've got some FMJ 124 grain bullets and not quite sure what to hold my overall cartridge to. I have two loading manuals one says; "hold length to 1.080-1.100 for best feeding", the other manual just shows a dimensional diagram with the overall cartridge length being 1.169 for what looks like ball ammo. So what are any of you others whom reload the 9mm holding your cartridge lengths to? Thanks in advance, LM.

 

[cougar1717]

Check out http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp and look up 9mm loads. From that data, there is an exact load for this, including overall lengths.

 

[loadedround]

Just to stick my nose into the fray, Speer's #14 Manual shows an OAL of 1.135" with the 124 gr FMJ bullet. Why not remove your barrel and use it as a bullet gauge to determine correct OAL. If it drops in and seats flush, you should be OK.

 

[ants]

OAL is specific to the load listed in the data table you're reading

Loading manuals list the cartridge overall length of the load as tested. You can always load yours longer, but never shorter. Loading shorter will increase pressure, loading longer will decrease pressure. It's always safe to load longer, as long as they fit in your magazine and cycle through the pistol properly and fit the chamber correctly, as loadedround is advising in the post above.

 

[showmebob]

I load my 115 rn to 1.135 and have no problems in a M&P

 

[Walkalong]

I load FMJ bullets in 9MM to 1.130 to 1.135 and it works in my guns.

 

[armoredman]

1.122 for my P01. I've been loading 9mm for a few years now, and it's just as fun and frugal as any other caliber, especially since I started casting my own bullets, too. Have fun!

 

[Five of Clubs]

I load 125 grain cast lrn to 1.15", but the manual says I could go down to 1.10 IIRC

 

[FM-793]

OAL is specific to the load listed in the data table you're reading

+1 You're more likely to be happy if you use the OAL specific to the load you're developing. Follow your load table.

 

[1SOW]

PD 124gr FMJ Win 231 1.111 1065

+1 ants: Follow published load data

 

[rg1]

I seat RP, Win, Speer, 124 fmj's to 1.150-1.160" and they feed fine in a carbine and G19 pistol.

 

[Sport45]

Why not remove your barrel and use it as a bullet gauge to determine correct OAL. If it drops in and seats flush, you should be OK.

Or you could be seated way, way too deep.

The chamber is a good "no-go" gauge, but can't be relied on as a "go" gauge. Look for the posted minimum lengths and don't go below them. Winchester shows 1.169" length for their data on the Hodgdon site that cougar1717 posted. I'd try that length first and stick with it if it worked in my gun.

 

[RustyFN]

Same for me. I load 115 and 124 grain RN to 1.135 and HP & FP to 1.12.
Rusty

 

[something vague]

The lowest I will load any of my 9mm loads is about 1.080" but that is using a RN/FP as per Hornady's loading manual with Hornady's bullets. That's why you will notice that Hornady's data seems to be on the low end of things as they seem to be seating their bullets deeper during testing than most other companies. Like everyone has stated, use the length depicted in the data that you are using and work from there.

 

[1SOW]

something vague/LightningMan: Good recommendation IF the bullet HAS data. If it doesn't then 'similar' data might be second choice.

With Precision Delta 124 FMJs, I found them to be .2" shorter than Winchesters 124 FMJs. I seated them to the same depth I was seating Wins' and worked up to what I wanted.

I guess the point is it's not always spelled out in black and white for your components, but being conservative and careful should keep you safe.

 

[chbrow10]

LightningMan,

What kind of gun are you shooting? I have measured factory ammo and it appears to be on average, 1.05". In a Glock, most folks don't load past 1.135 because of the magazine, at least that's what I've gathered from the threads I've read.

 

[Five of Clubs]

I load for a Glock at 1.15 and never have trouble. They wouldn't fit in the mag if they were much longer though.