flamatrix99
Well-Known Member
As far as bullet seating depth how close do your dimensions have to be to the book? For 9mm my Lyman manualhas a bullet length of 1.169" and a diameter of 0.380". If I am +/- 0.002 is that close enough?
Reloading Question
- Thread starter flamatrix99
- Start date
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sksshooter
Well-Known Member
plenty close enough. grab a box of factory ammo and give a few a measure and you may be very surprised.
flamatrix99
Well-Known Member
I did and yes I was!
BayouSlide
See ya at the range
GTG and good job. A variance of only .002 in pistol ammo is excellent. 
^This^
flamatrix99
Well-Known Member
ok thanks.. I didnt know what would be acceptable and not. I know if I seat the bullet too much then pressure goes way up.
BayouSlide
See ya at the range
Unless you're right on the edge, no worries. With my competition pistol loads which are all middle of the pack, on a progressive press and mixed brass good ammo might vary by .006 or more at the extremes, with most falling in a range of variance of maybe half that, off the top of my head. With the same brass lightly used, say 1X fired, everything will run .002 or under, in my experience.
Once you get your load development done and your setup dialed in, spot checks can make you aware of issues. A set of calipers and a case gauge are always good friends for a reloader to have handy
You're right in being careful...really short-seated rounds can spike pressures...normally, at worst, really long-seated ones won't fit your mags or feed.
Once you get your load development done and your setup dialed in, spot checks can make you aware of issues. A set of calipers and a case gauge are always good friends for a reloader to have handy
You're right in being careful...really short-seated rounds can spike pressures...normally, at worst, really long-seated ones won't fit your mags or feed.
I spot check (QC) with case gauge about 10 out of every 100 when I have to reload the primer tubes. Calipers do the same but a bit more time consuming. Depending on your load technique, you'll get where you can spot OAL issues.
Danny Abear
Well-Known Member
Before you load a few hundred of them, always run a few thru your pistol; you never know about the contour of the bullet matching your chamber.
general mills
Well-Known Member
Good advise from Danny Abear. I make one with no primer or powder to make sure the depth will function smoothly in my gun. If OAL falls in a .005 range of what I'm trying to get, I'm perfectly comfortable.
Danny Abear
Well-Known Member
Don't ask how I learned that
flamatrix99
Well-Known Member
I made about ten of those while adjusting the dies...
LOL, probably the unfortunate why alot of us did! Ending up with a couple hundred bullets that will not function in your gun. "Trial and Error, Live and Learn"
That length of 1.169 is max (safe max anyway) but if you look at each bullet weight and shape in the lyman manual they list the OAL for that bullet as min (shortest) with those powders and grains, go shorter than that and KB! Longer is fine, but you will not get the same specs as listed under that category.
load OAL for your pistol
if you want to find the correct OAL for your pistol, take a fired casing and stick a bullet in the casing and press it into the barrel until it stops on the lands. Take it out then measure the whole round and subtract a couple .001 and that is what your OAL should be for that gun. Adjust powder accordingly to length, it will take a chrono tho if you want specific velocities
if you want to find the correct OAL for your pistol, take a fired casing and stick a bullet in the casing and press it into the barrel until it stops on the lands. Take it out then measure the whole round and subtract a couple .001 and that is what your OAL should be for that gun. Adjust powder accordingly to length, it will take a chrono tho if you want specific velocities
if you want to find the correct OAL for your pistol, take a fired casing and stick a bullet in the casing and press it into the barrel until it stops on the lands. Take it out then measure the whole round and subtract a couple .001 and that is what your OAL should be for that gun. Adjust powder accordingly to length, it will take a chrono tho if you want specific velocities
More often than not, the magazine will be the limiting factor in OAL
You are so right scooterj !
I was just stating to find the correct OAL for that pistol that is the best way to do it, and it usually gives you the most accurate round, provided one has dialed in the proper grains of powder for that particular brand/burn rate. One of my favorite bullets is the Bayou Bullet 9mm 147grn Flat Point, but if I use the method I described they are too long to function properly in the stock magazine. But I found some other brands of magazines that they function flawlessly in and it makes for one heck of an accurate round. I am talking touching holes accurate at 30+ yards.
I was just stating to find the correct OAL for that pistol that is the best way to do it, and it usually gives you the most accurate round, provided one has dialed in the proper grains of powder for that particular brand/burn rate. One of my favorite bullets is the Bayou Bullet 9mm 147grn Flat Point, but if I use the method I described they are too long to function properly in the stock magazine. But I found some other brands of magazines that they function flawlessly in and it makes for one heck of an accurate round. I am talking touching holes accurate at 30+ yards.
