XD Talk

onemanwolfpack · 08-02-2011, 10:44 PM

Ok here goes. Im trying to figure a good starting oal for 9mm 124 gr xtp win231 win sp primers Hornady book lists min oal at 1.060 Lee lists 1.090 for min and the lee lists different min oal for different powders i havent checked the lynam yet. The dummy rds I made are 1.105 to 1.108 is this a good starting point or should i go longer. Thanks for any help. Im just getting started reloading and after reading on here decided on the 231 over the titegroup i had already bought.

Jack the Toad · 08-02-2011, 10:51 PM

I have loaded hundreds at 1.060 with Power Pistol and winchester sp primers. No problems at all.

fredj338 · 08-02-2011, 11:59 PM

THis is one thing all newb reloaders need to learn; cartridge OAL IS BULLET & BARREL specific. Regardless of wha ANY manual tells you, the loaded round MUST FIT YOUR BARREL. So use your removed bbl as a guide & load to the longest OAL that the mag & bbl will allow. If you are way over OAL, fine, you are just running less vel/pressure than book. If you are way under OAL, then you need to back down on your powder charge 0.1-0.3gr depending on burn rate & how much shorter you are loading. ANy powder & any bulelt can be loaded to any OAL that fits the gun & cycles. Before the last 10yrs or so, OAL wasn't even mentioned in most loading manuals. Does it matter, sure, especially w/ small volumn high pressure rounds, but don't get too spooked by it. Until you get about 0.06" shorter OAL, w/ most powders, pressures aren't moving around a lot.

onemanwolfpack · 08-03-2011, 12:34 PM

Ok thanks guys. Fred I have read a lot of your posts and you always seem to have good informative answers. I will make some longer and see how those work also. My current set up is a Rockchucker SS press but im sure i will be wanting a progressive before long as i shoot about 250 rds a week but the progressives look complicated lol

fredj338 · 08-03-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onemanwolfpack

Ok thanks guys. Fred I have read a lot of your posts and you always seem to have good informative answers. I will make some longer and see how those work also. My current set up is a Rockchucker SS press but im sure i will be wanting a progressive before long as i shoot about 250 rds a week but the progressives look complicated lol

Depends on the progressive, some are quite simple, like the 550B. When you get to a LNL or 650, the auto this & that get a bit busy, but easily sorted out if you already understand the reloading process. Even when you do go to a progressive, you'll find you still use the ss press quite a bit, at least I do.

panther308 · 08-04-2011, 06:55 AM

I currently load 124 XTP's using TG at 1.100" and no issues

Ski098 · 08-04-2011, 08:45 AM

My OAL may be completely wrong since I'm writing this from memory. But like FredJ explained, it is bullet and barrel specific. The Ojive(?) curve of the bullet makes a difference as to where the curved portion of the bullet makes contact with the rifling of the barrel inside the chamber. Both what I've read and experienced with reloading says that the closer you make that contact point, the more consistent the bullet path will be.(consistency = accuracy)

On my particular XDm loading Montana Gold 124gr the bullet will "kiss" the rifling in the chamber at 1.162 - 1.166. That is a rather long OAL for a 9mm. I typically load to 1.158 to keep those engagement surfaces as close as possible. Once I have my OAL I work up my charge load with whatever powder I'm using. Based on Fred's(I use his recommendations alot, both from here, glock talk, and a couple other sites I frequent) suggestion I've been using WST and WSP. Currently my load is a 124gr MG loaded to 4.8gr of WST @1.158 OAL. Both the bullet and pistol are much more consistent(consistency = accuracy) than I am.

For a couple good reads check out these links from 38super.net:

(And again, Thanks to FredJ I think I stole these from a post he made ages ago)

38 Super Overall Length

Bullet Design and Feeding Reliability

onemanwolfpack · 08-04-2011, 08:09 PM

Thanks for the info I will check out those links! So I should load mine longer I will have to get out the barrel and see what works. I remember seeing a thread or post about measuring to the lands or rifling in a barrel I will have to see if i can find it.