Newbie 9mm O.A.L. Question...

[thoughtpolice59]

I'm looking at my Lee reloading manual for 9mm 147g plated bullet data.
The table gives OAL's from 1.142 to 1.160 depending on the powder used.

Does it not matter what type of bullet you're loading? I would have thought that a 147g flat point might need a different OAL than a 147g round nose?

[J-cat]

It does.

RN can be loaded to 1.169". FN, depending on nose shape, to about 1.150" in most 9mms.

[CGT80]

You need to take the barrel out of your pistol and see if the ammo chambers fully without the bullet getting caught in the rifling. It should go plunk when it falls in and then it should fall right out when you flip the muzzle end up. Pistols, and even rifles, will vary in throat lead or taper. You can have your barrel reamed if you later find it is not forgiving enough. Usually you can just seat deep enough to chamber a round easily. When you seat deeper, the pressure can go up. Start with a beginning/low load and work up while looking for signs of pressure.

You want a very slight crimp on the brass where it meets the bullet. Too little crimp and the flare that was put on the case will not be straightened out, and it will hang in the chamber. Too much crimp and the round will not headspace correctly and you will dig into the bullet, which can cause a plated bullet to separate.

Most of my loads are light, so I seat only as deep as needed. On full power loads for my 460 mag revolver, I go by the book. Other magnum pistols also use powder that has a very small window of usage, so you can not load much under the max load. 9,40,45 have more of a usable range, especially with a nice powder like hp38/win 231.

[thoughtpolice59]

Thanks for the replies!

I've a lot to learn - I thought the Lee book would give me what I needed to get started.