Minimum OAL for loaded 9mm

[pastprime]

In your opinion, what would be the minimum OAL for a 9mm with 5.7 gr. of Unique, 115 gr. JHP Montana Gold bullet, Win SP primier in a Win case???

Shooting in a Glock 17 with either a stock barrel or a Lone Wolf...

The JHP just "looks" better seated a little deeper but I don't want to up the pressure too much...

[gokyo]

I think Sierra states the minium case length is 1.050 for JHP and 1.100 for RN.

I have found that Sierra is a relatively conservative reloading manual. It is however very accurate.

[DssG19]

I think Sierra states the minium case length is 1.050 for JHP and 1.010 for RN.

I have found that Sierra is a relatively conservative reloading manual. It is however very accurate.

Shorter for round nose?

Hornady says 1.075 for 115gr JHP

[saunderscc]

Lyman's 48th says OAL of 1.090" and a max charge of 5.8 gr of Unique.

[gokyo]

Shorter for round nose?

Hornady says 1.075 for 115gr JHP

Sorry my dyslexia is kicking in

1.100 for RN
and
1.050 for JHP

[pastprime]

I am going to try 1.120" which looks like it will be fine with 5.7 grs of Unique....

Got to get a couple new manuals....this is my first time loading 9mm with Unique and while I like being able to see the charge near the top of the case, I've got this thing about compressed pistol loads...not much else makes me nervous except liberals and my wife's driving..

Thanks for the info

[918v]

Load the bullet so that the whole of the ogjive clears the case mouth, and some of the bullet shank sticks out, but not too much as to prevent reliable chambering. In addition, make sure the OAL is short enough to fit in the magazine.

The MG bullet looks like a Hornady XTP. I would go with 1.050" to 1.100" keeping in mind the above parameters. Also, you can call MG and ask them what OAL they like.

[pastprime]

I did e-mail MG a week or so ago and they declined to give me any recommendations....maybe a phone call would be better....no paper trail..

[918v]

You can try this:

Load the bullet long, something like 1.150". Crimp only to remove the bell from the case mouth, but not so much that the case mouth digs into the bullet shank. Drop the round in the barrel. I bet the case rim will portrude past the barrel hood and the bullet will hit the rifling. Seat the bullet deeper in .010" increments until the bullet chambers properly. That will be around 1.125" OAL. That will be your longest OAL. Now examine how much bullet shank you have in the case. You need at least .15" for the round to be sturdy. I like at least .2". Seat the bullet deeper as appropriate, keeping in mind that you do not want to seat the bullet so deep as to push ALL of the bullet shank into the case. You always want a little bit of the bullet shank to stick out past the case mouth so that the bullet can sit aligned with the bore while the round is chambered.

[pastprime]

I loaded some today and put them in the barrel...seems like an OAL of 1.123" - 1.125" works fine....plenty of case on the bullet and they fit the magazine just fine...

Will try them next week to see how they compare to the FMJ round nose's for accuracy...(what am I saying "me, accurate" ha,ha)..