New reloader question. Is this normal?

[Teletiger7]

I just started finally getting into reloading after wanting to for a long while. Found good deals on a single stage Lee and a dillon 550. As a beginning project I've been working on a load for my 9mm Glock on the single stage and when I find what works best I will try to use the same recipe in the 550. Here is my concern: I loaded 10 rounds of 9mm using 124 gr bullets, 3.8 grains bullseye, using cci primers and winchester brass with OAL of 1.155" But when I weighed the completed cartridges I had a difference of 1.2 Grains! between the lightest and and heaviest completed cartridges. Lightest was 188.8 and heaviest was 190.0gr. Is this normal? Am I being paranoid? Does this indicate an overcharged cartridge? Or is this because of variations in weight of bullets, brass, and primer? I just wanna make sure I'm being safe. I individually weighed each charge on a chargemaster(3.8gr). BTW, before seating them, I weighed the pack of bullets individually and found a 0.5 variation in bullet weight from 123.7-124.2 gr.

[esheato]

Guarantee the weight difference is from the brass...that's why nobody ever weighs loaded cartridges.

Don't worry about it.

Ed

BTW, are you using identical headstamped cases? The weight variation will be more with different brands...ie Winchester vs. Federal vs. Remington etc.

[gobabygo]

I've seen 2+ grain spreads in bullets also. I wouldn't worry about it. Also, your two weights are only 0.2grains different.

[Mikeb]

It looks OK to me. But, the difference between 188.8 and 189 is .2. That said I think the most important thing is you being satisfied that the powder weight is the same. It sounds to me like you were carefull about confirming charges and insuring that the cartridges were assemble properly. I load on a progressive press and I make a point of looking at the powder charge and satisfying myself that it looks like the correct charge. I don't weigh every charge but I do look for a case that is under charged and one that is over charged.
As far as where the difference (fault ) lays, I don't think you'll know unless you weigh everything. My rule of thumb is " look at every charge, if they look about the same, you''re good to go".
sound like you are being careful...good work
Mike

[Teletiger7]

TYPO fixed

Thanks for the advice. Oh yeah, typo on my part. the weights were 188.8gr-190gr for the lightest and heaviest cartridge.

[What Just Happened?]

Brass will vary from case to case. It's an additional sorting step that some rifle shooters take cuz' they want that additional measure of consistency. As long as the powder charge is consistent, you'll be fine.

[f4tweet]

Good question, you're being careful.

[ar15barrels]

2gr or more would not be an uncommon spread in bullets or brass alone.
I weighed through a few hundred pieces of federal 308 brass a couple weeks ago and found a 3+gr spread and that was the Gold Medal Match brass.
The american eagle was another 3-4 grains larger in spread.

9mm cases are smaller though so I would not expect to see the spread between cases be as much.

Still, pistol bullets are not nearly as precise as rifle bullets.
Weights will be within a couple grains on bulk bullets and perhaps less than a grain on good bullets.
Primers are really consistent.

[rayra]

Relatively normal. But maintain your vigilance in powder charging procedures. Particularly if you are using powder charges near the recommended maximums.