So I've been reloading 9mm for a few months now. It's my first handgun reload, and my first on a progressive press. No problems. I'm probably more careful than I need to be. I usually count up 20 cases and load up 20 primers in the feed tube. Don't want to go too fast until I really know my press and what I'm doing. I probably go through the 20 in under 6 minutes, which is plenty fast enough for me at this point going from a single stage and powder trickler. :rock: Then it's 20 more primers in the tube, wash, rinse repeat. As I've never had any light or heavy powder charges (RCBS powder check/lockout die in place) I should probably just buck up and load the full 100 primers in the tube. Maybe next month...:redface:
That's just some background to let you know where I'm coming from in terms of exprience, which is precious little. I was wondering if anyone has knowledge of how loads are developed, especially OAL. I measured some 115 grn FMJ factory loads at 1.15. But my manual, and yes, I should probably have more than one, gives me an OAL of 1.09 for 115 grn. I understand how OAL can play around with pressure, and I'm very happy with the accuracy and gun function of 4 grns with a recipe that lists the "starting" grains as 3.5, and top listed as 4.8. 3.5 gave me 2 stovepipes out of 20, and 4 has been very accurate, and at about 500 rounds malfunctions from the gun. but I'm just wondering how this stuff gets figured out!
That's just some background to let you know where I'm coming from in terms of exprience, which is precious little. I was wondering if anyone has knowledge of how loads are developed, especially OAL. I measured some 115 grn FMJ factory loads at 1.15. But my manual, and yes, I should probably have more than one, gives me an OAL of 1.09 for 115 grn. I understand how OAL can play around with pressure, and I'm very happy with the accuracy and gun function of 4 grns with a recipe that lists the "starting" grains as 3.5, and top listed as 4.8. 3.5 gave me 2 stovepipes out of 20, and 4 has been very accurate, and at about 500 rounds malfunctions from the gun. but I'm just wondering how this stuff gets figured out!