I just got a Lees progressive pro 1000 9mm. I'm new to reloading and I'm trying to find out the oal for berry's 115 grn round nose bullet. I found one chart that had the oal as 0.550 and col as 1.169. I'm confused as to the oal, 0.550 doesn't seam correct
Reloading
- Thread starter Thurm
- Start date
fredj338
Member
You need to read the manual that came with your lee press. OAL is over all length. Coal is cartridge over all length. They are interchangeable terms in reloading. I have no idea where you saw an oal of 0.550" but that would ne about the length of just the bullet. Btw, the 1.169" is saami max, not related to any given specific bullet.
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COL - Cartridge Overall Length. COL is the most vague and misused piece of data supplied by load data. What is listed in the data is seldom what works best in your firearm or load.
That 0.550 is not a 9mm COL.
That 0.550 is not a 9mm COL.
The 9mm round with a military 115gr Ball can be around 1.12" in OAL length.
Some company's have "Their" 115gr bullets at 1.100"...........
some brands might be able to reach 1.15" but bullet support is getting on the weak side.
I like 1.12" for maximum fps and 1.14" for target accuracy............
if they will work in your pistol.
Have fun.
Some company's have "Their" 115gr bullets at 1.100"...........
some brands might be able to reach 1.15" but bullet support is getting on the weak side.
I like 1.12" for maximum fps and 1.14" for target accuracy............
if they will work in your pistol.
Have fun.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Welcome to the forum and welcome to reloading.
If you don't already have a reloading manual please get one and read the front of the book first, before you check the load data. There is a ton of great information there and reading it will make you a better handloader.
I suggest the manual published by Lyman, the current one is the 50th edition. Later on you can add one from the bullet company who's bullets you use most like Hornady, Sierra, Nosler and others.
If you don't already have a reloading manual please get one and read the front of the book first, before you check the load data. There is a ton of great information there and reading it will make you a better handloader.
I suggest the manual published by Lyman, the current one is the 50th edition. Later on you can add one from the bullet company who's bullets you use most like Hornady, Sierra, Nosler and others.
I started loading about 1979. Nobody ran around with technical question about COAL. Most people didn't even have a dial caliper! We took a factory round that functioned in our pistols and used it to adjust our dies to. The IMPORTANT thing is, If the bullet has a canalure adjust the bullet depth so the case mouth and the canalure are lined up after whatever crimp you use. With 9mm, this should be a taper crimp.
Then the crimp need to be tight, but don't cut into or crush the bullet. Running a finger nail over the edge of the seated bullet, you will feel the case mouth, you need to, this is where the case headspaces in the chamber. (again, reference a factory round)
The two reasons the loading manuals give you OAL/COAL is to let you know where this particular bullet fits and the chamber pressure is safe at this length. If you play with the COAL much you MAY need to adjust the powder load. But that usually only happens at the top and bottom end of the listed loads. If you are using a load from a manual, X.X grains of XYZ powder, any of those rounds that fits in your gun will be safe in you gun. It is when you confuse the wrong component that you run into trouble. So read and re read the listings!
Then the crimp need to be tight, but don't cut into or crush the bullet. Running a finger nail over the edge of the seated bullet, you will feel the case mouth, you need to, this is where the case headspaces in the chamber. (again, reference a factory round)
The two reasons the loading manuals give you OAL/COAL is to let you know where this particular bullet fits and the chamber pressure is safe at this length. If you play with the COAL much you MAY need to adjust the powder load. But that usually only happens at the top and bottom end of the listed loads. If you are using a load from a manual, X.X grains of XYZ powder, any of those rounds that fits in your gun will be safe in you gun. It is when you confuse the wrong component that you run into trouble. So read and re read the listings!
Welcome to a rewarding part of shooting.
I agree with the advice to use a factory cartridge as a reference for 9mm. There's just not that much wriggle room for 9mm. Other cartridges, such as rifle cartridges, can have more variance due to varying bullet length, chambers, throats and so on.
And, don't forget the "plunk test" where you drop your loaded round into your removed barrel to test that it chambers correctly.
