COL and OAL - first time reloading...

[Pubert]

Are these the same? Cartridge Overall Length (COL) and Overall Length (OAL)? Is that what they stand for?

I loaded some 9mm for my very first time this weekend and the recommended COL (using Hogdon's website for 125gr lead projectiles) was 1.125" and I loaded to 1.150". The rounds seem to fit my barrel and they fit in my magazine, so given that I'm over the COL (and from all I've read the COL is the minimum length), I should be good to go right?

FWIW - 9mm 125gr TC moly lead from Precision Bullets, using 4gr of HP-38, at a COL of 1.150"

Thanks for the help!

[iareConfusE]

COL and OAL are pretty much the same thing, one is just more specific than the other, but usually refer to the same measurement - Base of the case to the tip of your bullet.

There is no magical OAL for any particular round with any particular bullet. It's best to just "customize" your OAL to your gun's barrel/chamber. Set your die so that it presses the bullet in to the max accepted OAL, and then taper crimp the case. Drop it into your barrel (removed from the gun). If the round drops in nice and smooth without any resistance from the bullet contacting the lands, then you're good to go. If you are having some resistance, seat the bullet in deeper and deeper, little bits at a time until it finally falls into the barrel easily, and the base of the case is flush with the top of your barrel/chamber.

[bumpo628]

The Lyman handbook is one place to find the min and max OAL for a particular cartridge and bullet shape. I had one 9mm bullet that was too rounded to fit in the barrel as described above no matter what the OAL - without going below min. The bullet was just too rounded to fit. I had to find one that was more 'pointy'.

Basically you want to find an OAL that is above min, feeds in the clip, and goes into the chamber. Make a few dummy rounds w/o powder or primers to test. Then start at the min and work up your loads from there.

[GeoffLinder]

You are good to go at 1.150", any longer and you may have magazine fit issues in some semi-auto's

A good loaded length range for 9mm is 1.120-1.145

[Pubert]

The Lyman handbook is one place to find the min and max OAL for a particular cartridge and bullet shape. I had one 9mm bullet that was too rounded to fit in the barrel as described above no matter what the OAL - without going below min. The bullet was just too rounded to fit. I had to find one that was more 'pointy'.

Basically you want to find an OAL that is above min, feeds in the clip, and goes into the chamber. Make a few dummy rounds w/o powder or primers to test. Then start at the min and work up your loads from there.

Well, that kind of stinks - what did you end up having to do with the bullets?

[bumpo628]

Well, that kind of stinks - what did you end up having to do with the bullets?

I cast my own bullets, so I am just going to melt them down and cast them in a mold that fits my gun. I have about 1000 of them, so otherwise it would be a bummer. Just goes to show you that you should try things before you stock up.

FYI, the problem was with my Sig P225 and Missouri Bullet "Smallball" 125gr 9mm bullets. Their 115gr bullets would have worked, but I bought a Lee 6 cav. mold instead. It's nothing against Missouri Bullet, they make great stuff but it just didn't fit my barrel. FMJs feed fine too.

[J-cat]

Why don't you just seat them deeper and adjust the powder charge? Most 9mm's will feed OAL's as low as 1.000" without any issues. I have used 90's at 1.010" OAL, 124's at 1.050", etc.