Reloading Safety Questiion

[hitch61]

I purchased an XD 9 Service Pistol several weeks ago and have decided to get back into reloading. I purchased dies, bullets, primers and powder and of course have the spent cases from my previous shooting outing. I have checked the reloading data at the various powder mfgs. sites as well as Handloads.com. I am loading a Hornady 124 grain FMJ Flat Nose bullet in the 9mm cases using Herco Powder. I have gone from 5.9 grains to 6.5 grains as advised in the loading data. I guess I didn't realize how small the 9mm cases were because even with the lightest charge I have a compressed charge. The cases are almost full of powder. Does this sound right ? The smallest caliber I have worked with in the past was .38 Special and .357 Magnum which are of course much larger/longer cases. I have encountered compressed charges in . 357 Magnum loads and in loads for a 6mm Remington rifle with no problems. The 9mm cases have been filled with powder and the bullets set in place but I have not seated them or put a taper crimp on them. I am not new to reloading but I am new to reloading 9mm loads. Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[yochujr]

Having a slightly compressed charge is good as it will keep you from "double charging" the case. In the even you do double charge, it will overflow and the bullet won't want to see so therefore, you're more likely to catch it. I try to stay away from anything more than slightly compressed however.

[fredj338]

I haven't loaded Herco, but my working load of Unique is slightly compressed & the BlueDot loads are very compressed. Hornady data shows 4.8gr max. (seems low) & Speer shows 6.2gr max. so tread lightly w/ the 6.5gr charge.