Short COL 9mm??

[Brew]

Grettings all.

I'm trying to get my Kahr CW9 running, and though I've loaded tons
of shotgun shells I'm new to metallic.

The Kahr seems to run well with loads that are shorter in overall
length. I've got some WWB FMJ at 1.154" that runs OK at best,
and some UMC FMJ at 1.105" that runs well.

I've loaded a 115gr. Winchester JHP over 4.9gr Bullseye and COL
of 1.145 and it runs like poop.

I'd like to come up with a JHP or EFMJ load that will run smooth,
and as best I can tell the key seems to be a short COL.

Can anyone recommend a load for the 115gr Win JHP's that is short
but safe? Like a dummy I bought 500 before trying them out, so I'd
like to use them if I can.

Beyond that, can anyone recommend a good load with short COL
being the main goal? If I can keep around the 1.105" I believe I may
be OK. If I can get the darn thing running, I'll then move on to explore
accuracy and stopping power and what-not. I've got Bullseye and
231 on hand, but I'd buy another powder to experiment with if needed.

Thanks much for any info, and if anybody can think of something I'm
missing or has anything to suggest it would be appreciated. A general
primer on cartridge length and how it pertains to various bullet types
and pressure levels would be read with interest... if anybody feels like
typing it for the newbie.

ZB

 

[WayneConrad]

CAUTION: The following post contains dumb advice that could lead to dangerous overpressure. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

I shouldn't admit this, but... I load a shorter OAL than the book calls for when necessary.

Sure, there's load data for a 115 gr truncated cone lead bullet, but the bullets I bought are from a different mold and are shorter than the ones that the load manual uses. So, what do I do?

I load to an OAL that's close to whatever the load book has for whatever bullet is closest, but adjust it. For example, if the load for a lead bullet has the lube bands outside the case, obviously they have to go in the case and therefore have a shorter OAL than the book called for.

Then I work up the load carefully from the minimum, in small increments, looking for signs of pressure all the way.

I know darned well that I could be above SAAMI max pressure this way. But, lacking the instrumentation to test chamber pressure, I don't know what other way I could do things.

Well, I could only buy the exact bullets that are in the load manuals, I guess.

All of my 124 gr 9mm loads end up at 1.100", no matter what bullet. Feeds well in all of our pistols, and nothing's blown up (or shown pressure signs) yet.

But remember: Until the last shuttle accident, the foam coming off of the external tank hadn't been a problem. Yet.