playing with a starting load for my 9mm

[laserdoc]

115 grain LRN, HP 38 powder. CZ 75 compact
Load table from hodgdons says 4.3 to 4.8
I was going to load up 3.8 , 4.0 , and 4.2  . Is to low ? Should I start at 4.3?

[painter]

If you are also sticking to the published OAL, why reduce the charge below starting?

[Riptide439]

I am with painter on this one. Good to stick with the published data.

PS - How is your wife feeling?

[laserdoc]

Heck I don't know? Safe side maybe?
I have 20 of each already loaded.3.8,4.0 and 4.2. Was going to see which ones grouped best.
Can I shoot these ?
 I guess I need to start my new ones at the 4.3 instead per the table.



[Modified for language.]

[painter]

You might have cycling issues with the 3.8 and 4.0. I don't think HP-38 has dangerous tendencies when under-loaded. Mr. W would be the one to ask that question.

Since they're loaded, I'd probably shoot the ones at 4.2.

[Wobbly]

Laserdoc -
Welcome back. Hope the wife is doing well after her first treatment.

The published load is:

115 GR. LRN     Hodgdon     HP-38     .356"     1.100"     4.3     1079     28,400 CUP     4.8     1135     32,000 CUP

(You left out the OAL, which is always an important part of the recipe.)

If you are going to load at 1.100" or longer, then there is no need to start any lower. There's no under-loading penalty with this powder, it just won't do anything for you except waste your time and resources.

The only reason to load lighter is if you intend to shorten up the OAL. How much more you shorten the OAL would have the biggest impact on how far you downgrade the powder.

Form memory I believe the load will go higher than the published 4.8gr, so 0.2gr increments would work fine.

 

[Wobbly]

I have 20 of each already loaded 3.8, 4.0 and 4.2. Was going to see which ones grouped best.
Can I shoot these ?

Sure you can shoot them, but they are probably not going to group because you'll be fiddling with manual extraction and checking for squibs.

And why did you load so many? 6-8 would have sufficed just fine for a test of any kind. Just saying.

I guess I need to start my new ones at the 4.3 instead per the table.

No not really. There's not going to be any humanly measurable difference between 4.2 and 4.3gr. You may as well use the 4.2gr you have (least you flitter away more time and resources) and then go... 4.4, 4.6, 4.8gr. That plan may actually fit your gun better for many reasons, like if you have a reduced recoil spring.


This might be a good day for a drive to the country. 

[laserdoc]

It might be Richard. Let me run it by the wife. Might be a plan after the 12 noon hour