M&P 9c and "Sticky Nose" Lee 358-125-RF

[wha-tah-hey]

I get great accuracy, sized .357" over 4.3 gr Bullseye and 1.095" OAL.
Problem is the nose sticks in the rifling, with an occasional FTC. A tap on the slide rear takes care of it though.
It will take an OAL of ~1.000" to chamber freely and I can't find a starting load for that short a loading.
I also have #5, Unique, Clays, Universal and WSF if anyone has info or experience with such short rounds.
Thanks!

 

[JHB51]

Back the powder charge down seat the bullet deeper and work your powder charge back up.

 

[wha-tah-hey]

Well yes, but how much?
My bullets actually run 131 gr, I'm loading 4.3 gr @ 1.095" and the load data I have shows 4.4 gr BE starting load for a 125 gr with an OAL of 1.150".

 

[JHB51]

The worst thing that can happen if you go to low on the powder charge is you will stick a bullet in the barrel. The OAL and charge weight you have to work out. Also when you do things like this a chronograph will keep you out of trouble.

 

[wha-tah-hey]

I have a chronograph but I'd rather avoid a stuck bullet.
I've read in other threads (maybe not on S&W) of 9mm short throats necessitating 1.000"ish loads.

 

[wha-tah-hey]

More research, head scratching and checking and seems it's just dumb*ssitude on my part.
Another hour at the bench and now all's well.
Turns out my barrel will accept 1.065" OAL with this bullet, I just wasn't fully removing the bell which along with variations in the brass added up to too much interference.

Tnx again for the replies, guys!

 

[Nevada Ed]

Glad to see you found the problem.

My Lyman lead data is a lot lower with that weight with a lead bullet.
Sierra shows a maximum of 4.4grs of Bullseye with a 125gr JHP at 1.075" OAL.

Just as a note, my 125gr plated does well with just 3.8gr of bullseye
and a 125gr coated at just 3.8grs hit 938fps from a 3.5" barrel.
At your loading, "My" coated 125gr RN would have a compressed load at around 1092fps.

Safe loading.

 

[tndrfttom]

Lee 358-125-RF

I cast the Lee 358-125-RF and use it in both .38 and 9mm but size to .356 for both applications. For 9mm cartridges I just seat it to the crimp groove which gives the results shown in the photos. I use anywhere from 3.3 to 4.2 grains of BE depending on the pistol I'm loading for. This length cartridge functions fine in the half-dozen 9mms I've tried it in including 2 9mm M&PS. Of course, different guns may give different results.

 

[wha-tah-hey]

Thanks Ed, Tom.
Now that I know proper OAL with this bullet I'll redo my work-up.