Oal for 9mm

[1SOW]

Load that sucker from 1.125 to 1.135 and watch the bull disappear.  No FTFs, no bull.

Many 124RN bullets like that oal (WIN, MG and ZEROs to name three) , BUT that is just an opinion from one reloader.
This is what makes reloading as challenging and as enjoyable as shooting---almost.  Load 'em the way you and your pistol like 'em.

[johnnyrees]

ezbob I think you should stop everything and start from scratch...the max OAL you keep telling us you are getting is above sami max and I dont think a stock 75b will (AT LEAST IN MOST CASES)not load to sami max. Judging from your posts, I would suggest you stop trying to learn how to reload of the internet . Find a friend who is an experianced reloader, let him show you the basics...no offence mate.

[Wobbly]

The man's doing OK. He's asking intelligent questions, and taking it all to heart. Although I prefer and recommend the mentor method, 9x19 is a more difficult round to reload than one might imagine. I enjoy the 'give and take' of the forum format, and think one gains a lot more insight from the multiple points of view being offered. Personally speaking, I learn something most every time I open up this web page, thanks in part to the multi-person format.

With any RN bullet (hollow base or not), you should NOT have any feed issues at all. The feed ramps are generally optimized for RN. It's the sharp angular cones, like those of an XTP, that generally get more persnickety about OAL.

I've had zero issues with Berry RN in the 1.125 to 1.140" OAL range, and excellent shooting performance. Plus I have a set of targets proving that 1.140 is better for accuracy than 1.160". So this is not just my opinion.

 

[ezbobdad]

I agree with the mentor method. Just when in the boonies it's hard to find them. And you guys are great. I do not plan on putting my self in danger shoot a reload any time soon. Trust me there. My wife might get upset. I also in no way shape or form want to replace a gun due to bad ammo. So I do measure and extra measure everything  I'm a bit anal when it comes to reloading. Just trying to make the gun cycle better with the reloads. And as far as shooting better I did do about 15 rounds at oal 1.145 and I had to shoot one low so I knew I was hitting something. I stacked about 5 in a row in a quarter space at 10 yards.
You guys on here are the best. Every question I have whether stupid or not has always been answered. Way better then any other forum out there.
Thanks

[harkamus]

I agree with the mentor method. Just when in the boonies it's hard to find them. And you guys are great. I do not plan on putting my self in danger shoot a reload any time soon. Trust me there. My wife might get upset. I also in no way shape or form want to replace a gun due to bad ammo. So I do measure and extra measure everything  I'm a bit anal when it comes to reloading. Just trying to make the gun cycle better with the reloads. And as far as shooting better I did do about 15 rounds at oal 1.145 and I had to shoot one low so I knew I was hitting something. I stacked about 5 in a row in a quarter space at 10 yards.
You guys on here are the best. Every question I have whether stupid or not has always been answered. Way better then any other forum out there.
Thanks

Keep it safe and have fun. Good to hear you taking safety into extreme consideration. Reloading is one of those things that can be very rewarding if done correctly, but also very dangerous if done improperly. Better to do it right the first time around. Ask any more questions that you may have. Someone will be able to answer it.

[painter]

ezbob I think you should stop everything and start from scratch...the max OAL you keep telling us you are getting is above sami max and I dont think a stock 75b will (AT LEAST IN MOST CASES)not load to sami max. Judging from your posts, I would suggest you stop trying to learn how to reload of the internet . Find a friend who is an experianced reloader, let him show you the basics...no offence mate.

The Berry's 124gr HBRN, and I'm assuming the regular 124gr RN, will most certainly load to SAAMI max in my 85, and the push test was very similar to ezbobdads's results. It's a very versatile bullet. I push tested a LRN bullet recently that pushed at over 1.2". I also tested a LRN that pushed at 1.103. It reinforces why the push test is so important.

While I agree that internet info can often times be flat out wrong...I learned to re-load right here...from people like you...and Wobbly...and many others. While some of the advice has definitely been based on opinion, I don't think I've been given one bad piece of advice here and certainly nothing that would put me in danger.

Mentors are hard to find up here in the hills too. This place has been a great resource.

[Wobbly]

Every question I have whether stupid or not has always been answered. Way better then any other forum out there.

That's because in reloading the only "stupid questions" are the ones left unasked.

 

[Riptide439]

Answering questions are these guys specialty. I was a real pain in the a**. They put up with 14 pages of questions when I started.

[Wobbly]

Answering questions are these guys specialty. I was a real pain in the a**.

I just checked my Moderators Log Book. You still have 2 frownie faces in the PIA column. The good news is you're down from 5.

    

[RichB]

While the mentor system is most likely the best way for someone to learn the downside is that only that person learns. Many people learn when there's a question asked and answered on a public forum. This is a great website and I especially enjoy reading and gaining knowledge from the reloading postings.

[Riptide439]

I just checked my Moderators Log Book. You still have 2 frownie faces in the PIA column. The good news is you're down from 5.

    

Only 5! Let me start over again.

How to get Started Reloading?
I was thinking about reloa...

[Wobbly]

Only 5! Let me start over again.

How to get Started Reloading?
I was thinking about reloa...

Note to self: watch this guy.

 

[1SOW]

5 Aw SHooTS= 5² ATTA BOYS

[Wobbly]

So of I did the test right. My max oal is 1.185. Soooo the 1.160 or the 1.155 should be fine. Right?

As I read this again, I came up with yet another interpretation of what you're saying. So that you can better understand the instructions, let's go back and touch on this one subject.



The load reipe determines the Min OAL out of concerns for safety. The barrel determines the Max OAL from the physical necessities. I think you got that. But the "maximum" is simply that. I think you might be confusing "maximum" with "useful" or "real world".

Let me explain it this way: Your car's "maximum speed" might be 110 MPH, but the useful speed is set by the speed limit signs on the side of the road. Yes, you can always go faster, but it's not always wise, due to other "real world" considerations.

So the "Max OAL" is merely a boundary, a limit. The useful OAL is set by other concerns like preventing setback, having a useful crimp surface, having a length that the mag can reliably feed, etc. The Max and Min merely provide the chalk lines on the ball field, but that's not where we generally play the game.

In some weird cases, especially when you get down around the 1.000" OAL, where Luger cartridges seem to start having feed issues, if your Max OAL is 1.010", then you might want to use the Max OAL as your Useful OAL.

But in your case, you have plenty of room to shorten up and still build a better cartridge.

Hope this helps. 

[SMSgt]

This COL question is getting way too complicated. Wobbly's diagram says it all. The COL data in a load table is not a hard and fast dimension, it's only data from that particular source for that particular powder for that particular bullet weight/style in that particular firearm or test barrel.

If it fits, the mag; if it fits the chamber; if it feeds reliably--it's good to go. Most loads will give best accuracy at the longest COL that does all three.