Very first loads. Check my numbers?

[joejoe05]

Made my very first loads using the following and was hoping someone could help check my numbers.

Bullets: Montana Gold 124gr JHP
Powder: Ramshot Silhouette
Casings: FC
Primers: CCI 500
Press: XL750
Pistol: CZ Custom Shadow Target 9mm


The closest bullet I found in Ramshot's load data was for the HDY XTP 124gr which is also a JHP. I found the bullet length data for the XTP (.574) vs Montana Gold (.579) and found that my Montana Golds are .005 longer. Because of this, I added .005 to the 1.060 OAL used in the XTP load data, and got my min OAL of 1.065.

I did the plunk test and found my max OAL to be 1.087. Took off .015 to get my safe max OAL of 1.072, and finally decided to make my rounds with a target OAL of 1.070. Most of my rounds are measuring between 1.067 and 1.073.

I made loads at .1 increments from 4.6 to 5.4 (following the same load range used for the XTP).

Does this seem right? Since my OAL is slightly longer than what was used for the XTP, should I expect my velocities to be slightly lower at each grain weight? Will I be slightly safer at the max load of 5.4 with the added OAL?

Any other suggestions/comments would be appreciated.

I'm just paper target shooting, looking for the smallest groups possible. Thanks.



Ramshot's load data:


Bullet lengths:

[painter]

The very minor change in your OAL doesn't affect things enough to worry. Because of the longer bullet the difference is really only .005 in seating depth.

Yes, your pressure, and velocity, will be slightly lower, but not enough to matter, or make any adjustments to the load.

Good work getting an OAL variance of +/- .003 on your first try.

[Wobbly]

I made loads at .1 increments from 4.6 to 5.4 (following the same load range used for the XTP).

Does this seem right? Since my OAL is slightly longer than what was used for the XTP, should I expect my velocities to be slightly lower at each grain weight? Will I be slightly safer at the max load of 5.4 with the added OAL?

• Expect all your velocities to be lower than reported because the testers use a longer barrel and a locked breech, which almost always generate a higher velocity.

• What is your seating depth going to be ?

• Good work on the bullet length comparison. So the "Bullet Length" table helped someone, that's great news.

• By starting at 4.6gr you'll be accounting for all the differences between Hornady and MG.

• My experience is that loads under ~1000 fps typically won't operate the slide. So you'll shoot the 4.6 and 4.7gr as planned just to be sure, but don't expect very favorable results. That is, don't start feeling all dejected and depressed. Starting that load series that low is exactly what you want to see. If I fired my bottom load and the pistol worked perfectly, that's when I'd be afraid !

• I'm sure you'll find a good load in there somewhere. You might even get prepared to come back and go 0.1gr higher than 5.4gr if velocities are really low.

• And you've seen this ? : https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=98459.msg759928#msg759928


Good work. 

[joejoe05]

Excellent. Thanks guys!

• And you've seen this ? : https://czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=98459.msg759928#msg759928

Sure did!