Help re reloading specs-

[Phyffe]

Guys, I am making a trip to one of only 2 really reputable reloaders where I live.

Usually, people just give em their old brass and the next day they give you back a bunch of reloaded ammo.

Could I ask for your recommended specs so that they will be more reliable on CZ barrels for both practice and (God forfend self defense)? If at all possible I would like to be able to use it in all my 9mms from a CZ75B to a P10S.

Any help is appreciated

[tdogg]

There isn't general guidance that can be given that will make them work in all your 9mm pistols.  Reloading requires specific data about your pistol(s) and chosen cartridge components.

What you can do is take your pistol barrels to the ammo remanufacturer and plunk test the ammo you intend on purchasing.  This will ensure there aren't dimensional issues with the cartridges they are producing in your barrels.  This won't guarantee they are safe and accurate, it just confirms they will chamber.

Cheers,
Toby



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[Wobbly]

The only way you can do all you're asking for is to make all the measurements, and then reload and test the ammunition yourself.

• As TDOGG suggests, you should follow ALL the suggestions found in the Buying Ammo directory in the Stickies at the top of this forum. This includes a Plunk and Spin test to insure that the new ammo will not hold the slide in an "out of battery" condition. Since CZ's have a very short freebore, this is a VERY real possibility. And a VERY real danger.

• I would also find out what their practice is if the rounds are too long. Exactly what will they do, and will there be extra time or charges involved to correct THEIR reloading mistake.

• What we teach here on this forum is extremely advanced reloading techniques. You can read the writeups and say, "Um, that all sounds pretty easy." But you should not assume that even 1 in 10 reloaders understands or practices what we teach. We do it because the CZ chamber demands it, but the vast majority of reloaders work with Rugers and S&W and have never heard of any of this. And they are content with that knowledge.

9 out of 10 reloaders really believe...
- That all 9mm ammo is standardized
- That (due to SAAMI) all 9mm chambers are cut to the exact same dimensions
- That the OAL listed in the reloading manual is the optimal OAL
- That you can use any 9mm bullet in any 9mm gun

In short I'd be asking a lot of questions. If they do not ask you to bring your barrel, then I'd be VERY hesitant.

Just my 2 cents.

[Phyffe]

The only way you can do all you're asking for is to make all the measurements, and then reload and test the ammunition yourself.

• As TDOGG suggests, you should follow ALL the suggestions found in the Buying Ammo directory in the Stickies at the top of this forum. This includes a Plunk and Spin test to insure that the new ammo will not hold the slide in an "out of battery" condition. Since CZ's have a very short freebore, this is a VERY real possibility. And a VERY real danger.

• I would also find out what their practice is if the rounds are too long. Exactly what will they do, and will there be extra time or charges involved to correct THEIR reloading mistake.

• What we teach here on this forum is extremely advanced reloading techniques. You can read the writeups and say, "Um, that all sounds pretty easy." But you should not assume that even 1 in 10 reloaders understands or practices what we teach. We do it because the CZ chamber demands it, but the vast majority of reloaders work with Rugers and S&W and have never heard of any of this. And they content with that knowledge.

9 out of 10 reloaders really believe...
- That all 9mm ammo is standardized
- That (due to SAAMI) all 9mm chambers are cut to the exact same dimensions
- That the OAL listed in the reloading manual is the optimal OAL
- That you can use any 9mm bullet in any 9mm gun

In short I'd be asking a lot of questions. If they do not ask you to bring your barrel, then I'd be VERY hesitant.

Just my 2 cents.

This is the suggested spec that a member of my local CZ community gave me. These are supposed to be the specs for training rounds for the local Shadow 2 community.

N310 3.8gr, 125g heads, OAL 1.140. Power Factor should be around 130 to 132 PF.

or

 147g heads, OAL 1.120 N320 3.4gr and PF should be around 130

[nicky]

That is with their barrel. It dose not mean that yours will have the same.  Your need to have the drop and spin test done with your barrel.

[cracker57]

N310 3.8gr, 125g heads, OAL 1.140. Power Factor should be around 130 to 132 PF.

or

147g heads, OAL 1.120 N320 3.4gr and PF should be around 130

Also not all 125g heads or 147g heads are created equal the ogives can be different. as stated above YOUR barrel with Your
 bullets need to be verified to get YOUR aol

[Wobbly]

This is the suggested spec that a member of my local CZ community gave me. These are supposed to be the specs for training rounds for the local Shadow 2 community.

N310 3.8gr, 125g heads, OAL 1.140. Power Factor should be around 130 to 132 PF.

or

147g heads, OAL 1.120 N320 3.4gr and PF should be around 130

• First of all, his terminology is that of a first grader. That alone should send up 100 red flags. Reloading is a HIGHLY technical endeavor, not a hip or casual pastime, on par with getting a tattoo. There's a vast difference between getting a rose with the word Mom applied to your buttocks, and setting off an explosion with 30,000+ psi within 20" of your head. And IMHO, it should be treated as such.

Then there are a lot of words, but NO information. What bullet ?? What gun ??

• What I suggest is that you START by reading ALL the information in the Stickies about reloading AND buying ammo. Some of it is redundant, but that's OK because you are actually doing both actions.

Then it may occur to you how utterly worthless the information from your buddy in the local shooting community really is. I'd spell it out for you here, but that's already been done for you in the Stickies.... so please read it there.

All the best.

[Gnnut2]

Phyffe, these fellows are pointing you in the right direction. I haven't posted here in months and this is a opportunity to tell my story about loading for CZ pistols. When I joined the forum I was seeking specific information for loading the 9mm. The cartridge is a dandy, but it is very persnickety. The case has very limited space to work with and due to this fact a reloader can easily get in trouble. You must select the right bullet, powder, and primer for optimum success with the 9mm.

I have recently been loading cast bullets for my revolvers and several centerfire rifles. While reviewing some of my load data I looked at my data books for my CZ 9mm pistols that I developed using the information found in the Stickies here. Actually, I just yesterday, I reread the great treatise written by Radom in 2010. I do know that Wobbly penned some updates to the document. This document takes one from A-Z in loading the 9mm cartridge. It's the best instructional that i have ever read on the subject.

I want to thank Radom for sharing his knowledge with us and for taking the time to write it all down to benefit all who read it.

Gnnut2

[Wobbly]

Actually, just yesterday, I reread the great treatise written by Radom in 2010. I do know that Wobbly penned some updates to the document. This document takes one from A-Z in loading the 9mm cartridge. It's the best instructional that I have ever read on the subject.

"Stanley, set the wayback machine for 2003."

Actually, what Radom wrote were the original Stickies on this forum. That document was once multiple, individual posts. Soon, 6 or 7 separate documents in the Stickies, plus all the new stuff we were adding, started to crowd out the regular user posts. To cut down on the Stickie space we had to Copy & Paste those individual posts, and then tag them onto the first post of the series. Since I created the follow-on posts, my name appears as the author... but I am not. It's all Radom, with a spell-check by me.

That guy came back to CZF several times, all under different usernames. I think one of the others was "FEG". I want to give Radom all the credit, but even as Admin, I cannot change authorship.

 

[bang bang]

Welcome

just some unsolicited hints...

> doing a new hobby can be fun.

> but if you want to get into this, as mentioned, readup on reloading.   Educate yourself on your new hobby so you can talk geek (shooter to reloader).  Know who you are buying reloads from. 

> be aware there are some people that i would be afraid of and their guns/reloads.  Not the pointing at me and pulling the trigger, but standing next to me and pointing gun down range and pulling the trigger.   

> Then learn about your gun.  Not that it just goes bang if you pull the trigger.  Learn how it works and its not just about the gun and ammo, but you have to do your part too. 

> You wont get the "easy" button on this and it will take time, but it will be worth it and you may find out you enjoy it where you may want to try reloading.  If you dont want to educate yourself, then its your choice and your risk and maybe those standing next to you.


At the shooting range im a member, i was there early to get some shooting done.  A guy shows up and sits 2 tables away and starts shooting. Mind you there are 30 other benches.  No problem.  I had my spotting scope since im shooting 50/100 yards and its a "general purpose" range where you can shoot handguns.  I was test flying my various 22 trainers.  Range rules are you are suppose to be on paper all the time. 

In any case, a handful of shots later, he asks if i can see any shots on his target using my spotting scope.  I look and dont see anything. Mind you, he is shooting 50 yards from a bench and using a rest.   I ask what he's shooting.  His reply 44 mag.  I ask what ammo.  His reply -----" i dunno".   I asked where he bought, his answer "i reloaded them".   i asked, what powder/bullet..."i dunno".

In any case, i packed up and left. 

another day, i was there early again.  Some guyt shows up and again, decides to use the bench next to me. Mind you, there are 30 other benches on either side.   But he breaks out his reloader while smoking.  I didnt say anything since its posted and i know what answer i would get.  But he just started to reload.  No manual/data info in sight.  I didnt want to ask or be nearby. 

My 1st revolver was a 44 mag.  it was really expensive for me to buy ammo when i was making < 5 bucks/hr way back in the 70s.  So i started to reload.  Just began reading about what i was getting into.  but i had bought some reloads from a guy and asked about his 44 mag specs.  he said they are "to book"  I took a chance and bought some since they were less expensive than factory and worse case, i use the brass for my own reloads.  They worked in my revolver but i didnt have a chrono at that time to check or see what i was shooting.  My friend had a ruger 44 autoloader and we tried to shoot them in that.  They would not cycle the bolt enough to eject the case.  So my take was that they may have been "to book" but they were not for an autoloader.  Lesson learned.

I reload for economy.  So for me and my components, im looking at the lowest charge i can safely use to shoot whatever bullet i may have or use and to get as many bangs for the 1lb of powder.  I usually dont go for bottom end, but somewhat above that since i have many different 9s.  If i have a chance i may take them ALL out, but more than likely not.  I do love shooting my CZs more, so i will do the plunk test on the CZ guns i shoot the most. 

If you are going to shoot competitions and need a specific PF, then do some T&E - Trial and Error tests.   

Its not like you MUST buy ALL of your AMMO at that moment -  correct?  Let the person know what you want and ask if you can get maybe 5, or 10 test loads using whatever powder/bullet, setup.  Then get a chrono if you dont have one and so some testing.   Repeat until you get the PF you want/need.

also, when asking for help on ANY board, give more info.  Sometimes its like pulling teeth and people forget that we dont read minds - at least i dont - and CZ is a GLOBAL? board where people come from all walks of life and live in different countries.

And again, educate yourself.  Look for a reloading data manual and read it.  Do you have a library card? you can see if your local library has any books.  They can also "order" it from other libraries if they dont have any.    or if you want, start googling.  I love books and being able to relax and read wherever and not worry about signal/wifi or batter life.