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Posted: 6/18/2012 12:55:12 PM EDT
| I've been reloading 9mm with a soft load for Steel Challenge (3.2 Clays behind 115 MG FMJ, 1.11 COL, 980 FPS) for a while now and had pretty good luck with it. I am relatively new to reloading, and am trying to learn as much as I can. My press is a Dillon 650. Some reloading data I've seen has raised some questions in my mind about overall length VS accuracy. I'm seeing quite a variation in specified COL when comparing 115 gr bullets from different manufacturers ( I realize that the different bullet shapes drastically affect COL). The gun I'm using is a SIG P226. Question is, Does COL affect accuracy? meaning, if I were to load the same bullet, but vary the setback from the rifling by changing the COL, how much of a variance would I tend to see in accuracy? How can I measure the setback? A couple basic question, I'm sure, but I'm at the basic level...Thanks for any and all input on this!! |
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I'm shooting a CZ-85 and my loads are accurate in my pistol. Light target load, 122 gr cast FP, 3.0 grs Clays, OAL 1.065 General shooting, 115 gr FMJ, 4.4 grs TiteGroup, OAL 1.10 Cast 122 gr FP, 5.0 grs Unique, OAL 1.065 Full power, 115 gr XTP, 8.0 grs Blue dot, OAL 1.10. Work up to this load. Some muzzle flash. 115 gr XTP, 6.7 grs Power Pistol , OAL 1.10. Work up to this load. Lots of muzzle flash. 124 gr FMJ, 6.6 grs True Blue , OAL 1.15. Work up to this load. Some muzzle flash. Remember with pistol rounds use the OAL given in the reloading data. Seating shorter than listed OAL in data will raise pressure to unsafe levels. Seat longer and round may not feed. And as always confirm any load given with published data, and work up the powder charge watching for pressure signs. Most of my data above is from Lyman 49. I have also tried Bullseye, W-231 and Silhouette. If I could have only 1 powder to load in 9mm, it would be True Blue. A ball powder that works well in light cast bullet loads and full power jacketed loads. |
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In a Rifle, bullet jump can and usually will affect accuracy
In a Pistol, I've never been able to load a round long enough to crowd the lands that would fit in the magazine. Loading them much longer than the max length created more feeding issues than I cared to deal with. For me, it wasn't worth the effort but I had to give it a try. 
Variations in the overall length also affect pressures; so, be safe 
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Myself, I load straight wall pistol rounds same as bottleneck rifle; about .010" off the lands. In my mind OAL is determined by:
Published data can't take all that into account. BTW, Clay's is not a great 9mm powder esp. if you start using heavier bullets. I shoot 124GR and am seeing much better accuracy with WSF. |
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I use a ton of Clays for all my cowboy action shooting loads (.38 pistol, .38 rifle, and 12 guage) so I tried to develop a 9mm load using Clays. I just couldn't make it work. 3.2gr was too light to lock the slide back in my Caracal. 3.4gr was starting to show signs of high pressure even though ejection was still weak. The load was amazingly soft shooting though . If there was a lighter weight recoil spring available for the Caracal, this load might make a great steel challenge load. Accuracy sucked with the Clays loads, most likely due to inconsistent metering.
I'm going to buy a pound of WSF to try. |
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I have been working on trying to find an acceptable load for my M&P for over a year. I have tinkered with different bullets, different powders, different OAL and different crimp. It seems my M&P likes lead 125 grain and jacketed 115 only.
Each gun is different but my best recipe for the RIA in 9mm has been 4.1 of Titegroup Armscorp 124 JRN 1.130 oal crimp .378 CCI SP primer The M&P seems to really like 3.7 Titegroup Missouri 125 LRN 1.130 aol .380 crimp CCI SP primer As with all things reloading, YMMV. Please do not use this information as a gurantee of safety if duplicated in your handguns. I am listing this from memory so please compare data to a manual for a sanity check. |
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