Please give me your thoughts on my 9MM dimensions [Archive]

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SWThomas

07-31-13, 20:26

I'm setting up my dies and I think I got them ready to go. I'm using a Dillon 550 and haven't set my powder charge yet. Just getting everything else set. I'm using a Remington 115g FMJ RN http://www.midwayusa.com/product/252361/remington-bullets-9mm-355-diameter-115-grain-full-metal-jacket-box-of-500-bulk-packaged

After resizing the case width is 0.375.

After flaring the flare width is 0.390.

After bullet seating the OAL is 1.105.

After crimping the width is 0.376 at the crimp. It's 0.377 just below the crimp.

Do these numbers look good? I'm going to be using IMR SR4756 and CCI 500 primers to start because that's all I could find that was in my reloading manual.

T2C

07-31-13, 20:39

I own a RL550B and I think it is a great reloader. You should get years of use out of it.

I like a 0.001"-0.0015" crimp on my bullets and it sounds like you are at 0.001". When belling the case mouth, I like to bell it just enough that lead does not shave when loading. When I load FMJ projectiles, I don't bell it as much as with lead. If you bell the case mouth too much, you won't get as many reloads out of your brass. You will have to play with the belling adjustment until you find the sweet spot.

I highly recommend a loaded cartridge gauge to verify the ammunition will feed in most 9mm handguns. The gauge I use is this one: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/888465/le-wilson-max-cartridge-gage-9mm-luger. It does not take that long to check your cartridges and it will save you some headaches at the range. Until you pick up a gauge, you can remove the barrel from your pistol and use it as a makeshift gauge. If the back of the reloaded cartridge will not clear the barrel hood, it probably won't allow the pistol slide to go into full battery. What feeds in one pistol will not neccessarily feed in another pistol, so I strongly suggest ordering the loaded cartridge gauge.

When starting off with a particular cartridge, I start at the low end of the recommended charge weight. Any time I change the crimp or C.O.L. for a load I lower the powder charge and work my way back up until I reach optimum accuracy and function.

SWThomas

08-01-13, 04:27

Thanks for the info! I do have a case gauge and this round fits just fine. I'll got ahead and back the flare off a bit.

motoduck

08-01-13, 06:20

Sounds like your on the right track. For what its worth, I try to set up OAL as recommended per reloading manual. But its ultimately dependent on chamber dimensions (for accuracy, function) and magazine dimensions (feeding issues). When I initially started reloading 115 gr 9mm I was amazed at the huge range of OAL of factory rounds (Measured 15 different bands). I set my OAL @ 1.16 for 115 RN and it has worked well in all my 9 mm guns.

Be careful measuring your crimp dimensions. Once after resetting my dies I got careless in measuring the crimp dimension. I accidently set it at .375 instead of my normal .378. You wouldn't think that was a big deal. But, I had huge issues with accuracy and consistency until I traced the problem back to "over crimping". Just my experience, take it for what its worth considering it is "free internet info" :D

markm

08-01-13, 08:32

streck

08-01-13, 09:05

Take a barrel out of a pistol and make the round fit the chamber... .. make it look like a factory round... move on... enjoy life.

I found out the hard way that my loads for 9mm worked great in my Sig but then would not fully chamber in my XDsc. So if you have more than 1 gun, check each chamber.....

T2C

08-01-13, 09:34

I found out the hard way that my loads for 9mm worked great in my Sig but then would not fully chamber in my XDsc. So if you have more than 1 gun, check each chamber.....

I ran into the same issue. That is why I picked up a loaded cartridge gauge and a small base sizing die. Now my reloads will run in anything I own.

CrazyFingers

08-01-13, 10:44

This is your friend. (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/888465/le-wilson-max-cartridge-gage-9mm-luger)
And it's even on sale.

m1a_scoutguy

08-01-13, 10:56

The WORST thing I EVER did in reloading was get the calipers out and start head ****ing myself on stupid dimensions.

Take a barrel out of a pistol and make the round fit the chamber... .. make it look like a factory round... move on... enjoy life.

This is your friend. (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/888465/le-wilson-max-cartridge-gage-9mm-luger)
And it's even on sale.

I agree with the above !!! Its good to be safe/precise,,etc,,,but your waaay over thinking it ! ;) Make sure the over all length is good and the crimp is enough and you will be good !! If I'm going to a match I will check some rds in my BBL,if they drop in and fall out your good,,if they don't it could be crap brass that doesn't size right all the time,,I know CBC brass is junk,,there are a couple others but can't think of them at the moment !!

vicious_cb

08-01-13, 16:40

shootist~

08-01-13, 17:23

Nothing wrong with starting at the low end of OAL. The beauty of reloading is you can tailor your loads to your chamber and get better performance out of your ammo. I like to run my OAL alittle long at 1.15 as it seems to get me better accuracy.

Same here, although I'm around 1.142ish with jacketed bullets. Just be sure they will fall into your chamber - heavier cast or molly coated bullets sometimes have to be loaded much shorter.

SWThomas

08-01-13, 17:33

Thanks for all the help fellas! I have a case gauge so I'm good on that front. It sounds like I'm good on OAL and crimp as long as it functions in my G19 and XD SC. I'll dial back the flare some to avoid prematurely exhausting the brass.

I think I'll load a few with different OALs to see what my guns like.