9mm 115 gr RN FMJ, Need correct OAL?

[Rule3]

What OAL do you load 9MM 115gr RN FMJ? I am using HP38/W 231. None of the load data I have or online lists this most common load?? Pretty much the same factory load sold by Winchester and dozens more.

Anyone know of a data source for basically reproducing factory loads in 9mm, 40 SW and 45 ACP??

 

[Rule3]

What OAL do you load 9MM 115gr RN FMJ? I am using HP38/W 231. None of the load data I have or online lists this most common load?? Pretty much the same factory load sold by Winchester and dozens more.

Anyone know of a data source for basically reproducing factory loads in 9mm, 40 SW and 45 ACP??

 

[OKFC05]

I use HP38 to load all three for IDPA and USPSA.
The loads were initially developed from a 1995 Winchester loading manual that I still have.

Max length for the 9mm Luger is 1.169. I load to about 1.15 (not critical) with 115 and 124gr.
These loads are used is several different brands of pistols without problems.

Factory loads have varied over the years, but I have standardized loads that make minor power (plus some) for 9mm, and major power for .40 and .45. I am reluctant to list specific loads on the internet, but if you PROMISE to DOUBLE CHECK to make sure you are within current load manuals, here they are. I take no responsibility for your loading. All are for HP38/231.

115gr Jacketed 9mm 4.8gr
124gr Jacketed 9mm 4.5gr

180gr .40 S&W Jacketed 5.1gr 1.13 OAL

For .45 ACP, I load a 200gr Berry plated bullet over 5.8gr HP38 for 880 fps(measured from 5" Colt 1911). I long ago quit shooting jacketed .45 for range use.

 

[Rule3]

OKFCO5,

I promise.

I already have the 9mm charged with 4.7 grs of HP38 so pretty darn close to yours.

What length are you using on the 45 Auto, 200gr?
Are your 40's RN or Flat(trucated)?

Many thanks.

PS: I check the manuals, and the web site. It is just strange that no one lists the most common range ammo of 115 gr Fmj?? Do the shapes and lengths of brand xyz vary thant much??

 

[WR Moore]

OCD- bullet seating stems generally contact the curve (ogive) of the bullet nose shape rather than the tip of the nose. This helps center the bullet and doesn't distort the tip during seating.

The ogive profile on ball type bullets varies somewhat from maker to maker. As a result, the seating depth and overall length will change-sometimes surprisingly. The amount of change depends upon where the seating stem contacts any particular bullet shape.

 

[Steve C]

I generally use a factory load to set my OAL. Just make sure your loaded round fully chambers in a removed barrel to the same position as a factory round and you should be good to go. Its worked for me for over 30 years.

FWIW the Sierra manual say they set the OAL for their 115gr FMJ at 1.090". The 2000 Edition of Alliants "free" load book lists 1.120" as minimum OAL for the 115gr FMJ, Speer #13 says 1.135" for their 115gr FMJ. 1.169" is maximum SAAMI OAL.

Confused yet

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by Steve C:
I generally use a factory load to set my OAL. Just make sure your loaded round fully chambers in a removed barrel to the same position as a factory round and you should be good to go. Its worked for me for over 30 years.

FWIW the Sierra manual say they set the OAL for their 115gr FMJ at 1.090". The 2000 Edition of Alliants "free" load book lists 1.120" as minimum OAL for the 115gr FMJ, Speer #13 says 1.135" for their 115gr FMJ. 1.169" is maximum SAAMI OAL.

Confused yet

I do believe you have stumbled upon the reason for my question.

My Lyman manual does not list it, the Hodgdon 2009 annual magazine manual lists the max spec, and their web site does not list it. So yep, just a bit confused.

 

[Wayne Dobbs]

I've loaded 115 FMJ/RNs to 1.125" for many years. Works great in all magazines and chambers of the many 9mms I've fired them in.

 

[Rule3]

Originally posted by Wayne Dobbs:
I've loaded 115 FMJ/RNs to 1.125" for many years. Works great in all magazines and chambers of the many 9mms I've fired them in.

Thanks
Many different brands of bullets??

I just loaded some using Blue Dot ( I have another thread going on that

) and as the cases where almost full to the top, I used 1.135

 

[Wayne Dobbs]

Winchester, Remington, Zero and Ranier 115s.

 

[Noah Zark]

When I first started loading 9mm Luger in the early 70s, I had problems with OAL -- I didn't know where to seat the bullet. So I seated it like I did for 38 Spl/357 Magnum reloads, which is for 9mm, too far in. The pressure was p-r-i-t-t-y high.

I asked a local part-time gunsmith in whose basement shop I used to hang out and do chores for him, and he told me, "Seating depth for 9mm Luger? Easy. Seat the bullet so that the cartridge just fits and functions in the magazine of your pistol (Browning High Power), and not more than 0.015" to 0.020" deeper."

It's worked for me ever since.

Noah

 

[Rule3]

Thank you for the tip.
I have a lot of 9mm pistols one of which is a Browning HP. I could use that as a guide and check the loaded rounds in the magazines of other guns. Would like to have one size fits all.

I have loaded them for a while now but it just seems odd that there is not more information on the plain old 115 gr FMJ RN, hence my question.

It is the most common/popular NATO round there is. Every factory round I have measured is different so I have come to the conclusion that the correct OAL is somewhere between min OAL listed in the powder info and the max 1.169. Most of the min lengths are in the 1.100 range so I averaged that with the 1.169 and come up with 1.135 (rounded). Guess there are just to many brands of bullets to have a specific OAL.

 

[Bruce51]

When it comes to the 9MM OAL I think we need to consider the importance of its relatively small case capacity. Due to the variety of bullet types and length, what really matters is how much of the bullet is in the case. The deeper we seat the bullet with a given charge the higher the pressure is going to be. I decided to measure and photo some loads for a comparison just to get a better idea.

In the picture from left to right the cartridges are as follows.
124grFP Ranier Bullet length .530" OAL 1.120"
147grHP Ranier Bullet length .648" OAL 1.130"
96grRN 1947 factory Bullet .625" OAL 1.162"
115grRN Rem Bullet length .550" OAL 1.100"
115grRN PMC Bullet length .590" OAL 1.154"
135grHP FEDPDA Bullet length .610" OAL 1.100




It is interesting that the 96gr bullet is the longest for it's rather light weight. It does have a lead core and a copper plated steel jacket. The 1947 ammo was loaded with 5 grains of a powder that resembles Alcan with the white flake identifier. The Remington had 3.5gr of a small round flake powder. The PMC had 3.9gr of a small round flake powder. The Federal PDA had 4gr of a small round flake powder.
So as you can see your best bet is to follow the recommended OAL that is provided by the powder manufactures and your reloading manual data for a given bullet type and weight. I hope I haven't added to the confusion.Bruce

 

[Rule3]

Bruce,
I agree with you 100% and thanks for the comparison, it gives me more to work with.
However, That is exactly my question. Out of all those bullets were can load data be found??
I have Lee, Lyman and all the Hodgdons on line and yearly magazine manual. None of those or other bullets are listed. Lee Modern only lists a min OAL for all bullets and powders.
My Berrys plated 115gr is .547" so that would be close to the Remington provided the powder was the same.
Unless one is using a specific name brand such as a GDHP or a Speer, there is no data I can find for a Remington Bulk 115gr FMC or Ranier , Berrys etc. At least with lead bullets you can go by the cannelure. I just posted another thread on 45ACP.

 

[Bruce51]

I guess you need some more manuals.

I added another picture so you can see the pulled bullets. I usually prefer to disassemble ammo in one of my 9MM's but your thread got me to thinking about all the different bullet shapes and how they affect OAL and bullet depth in the case. When you have bullets of the same weight then it is the ogive which will determine the length of the bullet. My first two examples are reloads and the flat nose or TC bullet will be shorter than a roundnose. I know I will look in several manuals to determine what might be the best powder charge and OAL for a bullet that may not be listed. If a 147grGDJHP is listed then I'm pretty sure a 147gr Ranier plated bullet can be seated to the same depth with the same charge of powder. Just be sure not to exceed the powder charge recommendation and seat the bullet no deeper than the recommended OAL. IN the 9MM bullet depth equals increased pressure. Always keep that in mind and you will stay safe. Bruce

 

[Rule3]

Did you mean no deeper than the MIN OAL??

Thanks for tha added information and copy of the Speer manual. I will pick one of those up also.

Here is another example. I bought 500 Winchester bulk 124 gr RN FMJ yesterday. The only data listed on Hodgdons online site for a 124 gr FMJ is WSF (a shotgun powder) at a oal of 1.169. Which is the MAX spec. So there seems to be no rhyme or reason for a lot of this info.

 

[Littledragon777]

I load 115 FMJs with 6.4 grains of AA#5 with a C.O.L. of 1.137" and they feed flawlessly in my M&P.

 

[Sidneyw]

Given the same bullet weight & shape; shorter OAL means the bullet seats in the case deeper ... with the same powder and charge, shorter OAL = more pressure.

 

[novalty]

This thread brings back old memories.

 

[tim c]

1.125 works for me