9mm OAL question

[Mangy Cat]

[bhilliker@comcast.net]

My first question is if your range is 5.1--5.7 why are you loading at max?

[sethrus]

+1

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[Kmai24]

Assuming 5.1 is the low end and 5.7 is the max? I would take 10% off of 5.1 and start your ladder from there. If all of the guns you’ll be shooting these with function properly (feeds and cycle) @ 1.123 OAL, then go with it. Just be sure to check for pressure signs as you work your ladder, you may not even reach 5.7 before pressure signs start to show. Or you may not see any pressure signs at all since your OAL is longer.

[Mangy Cat]

My first question is if your range is 5.1--5.7 why are you loading at max?

I was using the 5.7 as an example of what I have been reading for 1.060 length. By no means was I loading it at that.

[Kmai24]

I didn’t say 1.123 is “long” persay, just longer than data at 1.060. As far as accuaracy goes, that’s the fun of reloading. Only way to find out is through your ladder. If you’re shooting from 10-15yrds, I highly doubt that minimal of a difference will greatly impact your accuracy. Now 25yrds and out you may notice it. Again, start a ladder at 1.123 OAL while working up the grains..see how well are your groupings for each ladder and gun (granted you’re a decent shot). If no signs of pressure are present at your max, start another ladder with the same grains but with the 1.060 OAL.

[Mangy Cat]

Thanks! Appreciate the help.

[Paseclipse]

Now issue is the seating dept to the bullet. I have made a dummy round at 1.123 and it fits fine within the barrel. However, most info I find from people and what some are claiming to be on Berrys site which I cannot find is that the preferred length is 1.060 at 1500fps with THP.

The ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2015 specification specifies 1.000"-1.169" OAL with a velocity range of 1,090-1,130 fps for 124 grain 9mm Luger through a 4" test barrel- http://www.saami.org/specifications_...MI_CFPandR.pdf

Take a look on page 27 for the cartridge dimensions and page 9 for the velocity ranges. Also, download and save the linked PDF to your computer for future reference. If your working loads up and staying within these ranges it should keep things safe.

[Trriemferent]

I was using the 5.7 as an example of what I have been reading for 1.060 length. By no means was I loading it at that.


From what I read in the reloading manual, max 9mm OAL is 1.165. I am really not sure how people get to that as I currently have factory rounds 147gr HP at 1.125. This is what I was basing my length at now.

If 1.123 is long, what is a good base length to start at? I don’t want to lose accuracy for being too long.

Increasing the OAL will decrease pressure so if the max is 5.7 grains for a 1.06 OAL, you should be fine if you increase the AOL to 1.123. Usually a .02 shift in OAL is worth about 0.1gr of powder in terms of velocity.

As far as accuracy goes, the general rule is that longer OAL gives better accuracy. If youve already tried 5.7gr at 1.06 OAL, you should be fine going up to a 1.123 OAL. you prolly wont notice a big difference. But you should still do a ladder test for safety reasons

[LeadPilot]

N350 is a clean powder like all VV powders but it’s rather stout. If you’re looking for less snap N320 is the way to go

[checkenbach]

1500 FPS is ridiculously hot!!!
Did you mean to say 1050 FPS???

[Mangy Cat]

The ANSI/SAAMI Z299.3-2015 specification specifies 1.000"-1.169" OAL with a velocity range of 1,090-1,130 fps for 124 grain 9mm Luger through a 4" test barrel- http://www.saami.org/specifications_...MI_CFPandR.pdf

Take a look on page 27 for the cartridge dimensions and page 9 for the velocity ranges. Also, download and save the linked PDF to your computer for future reference. If your working loads up and staying within these ranges it should keep things safe.

Wow, thanks for the info!

Increasing the OAL will decrease pressure so if the max is 5.7 grains for a 1.06 OAL, you should be fine if you increase the AOL to 1.123. Usually a .02 shift in OAL is worth about 0.1gr of powder in terms of velocity.

As far as accuracy goes, the general rule is that longer OAL gives better accuracy. If youve already tried 5.7gr at 1.06 OAL, you should be fine going up to a 1.123 OAL. you prolly wont notice a big difference. But you should still do a ladder test for safety reasons

Thanks. I started making the rounds at 1.120 at 4.7grs and working my way up to 5.7. Then will go down .005 each set until I get down to 1.060. to see where I like it the most.

Ah. I heard about n320 first and really wanted it but people were saying the 350 was even slower burn and had less recoil so I went with it to try it out. Plus it was $10 cheaper than n320 and since it was cheaper and technically is the same cylindrical shape/size I thought it would be perfect to use it as a test before I move up to the expensive powders.

1500 FPS is ridiculously hot!!!
Did you mean to say 1050 FPS???

Neg. 1500fps is what here Calgunners were talking about fps in a thread from like 2014. I am not well versed in 9mm as I own all .40sw handguns so I don't know how true it is.

[Kmai24]

Neg. 1500fps is what here Calgunners were talking about fps in a thread from like 2014. I am not well versed in 9mm as I own all .40sw handguns so I don't know how true it is.

[rdtompki]

Fast powder (e.g., N320) and light bullet (e.g., 115gr) is the generally-accepted approach to a light load. I don't know how readily your wife's gun can be tuned, but our 9mm 1911s will cycle with 3.7gr N320 behind a 115gr coated bullet. It's a very soft load, but even the generally clean N320 gets pretty dirty down low. As it turns out WSF and 124gr is even softer. I know it is because my wife swapped bullets with me at our last range session.

[kcheung2]

1500 FPS is ridiculously hot!!!
Did you mean to say 1050 FPS???

...
Neg. 1500fps is what here Calgunners were talking about fps in a thread from like 2014. I am not well versed in 9mm as I own all .40sw handguns so I don't know how true it is.

If you are referring to post #2 in this thread:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=943132&highlight=9mm+1500

or #2 in this thread

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=987767&highlight=9mm+1500

then it doesn't mean what you think it means. 1500fps is the general velocity limit for plated projectiles, but those velocities are only acheived in pistol caliber carbines. That is the limit to stay away from, not the goal to acheive, and certainly not in a 4" pistol.