Loading the little cartridges is always nervous for me.

by JimT, Texas, Thursday, September 19, 2024, 08:52 (75 days ago)

I get "hinky" packing all the powder into such small spaces. Probably comes from growing up with .45 Colt. When I got older I graduated to little cartridges like the .357 magnum. The 9mm and 380 still worry me.

Anyway ... there's not a lot of data in the books with the 9mm and Blue Dot. The LYMAN CAST BULLET MANUAL =
BULLET = Saeco #383 140 gr.
6.3 gr. Blue Dot (max)
1.160" OAL
1072 fps 30,200 CUP

SPEER RELOADING MANUAL #13
BULLET - 124 gr. Gold Dot (jacketed)
7.9 gr. Blue Dot (max)
1.120" OAL
1238 fps

LYMAN RELOADING MANUAL
BULLET - 125 gr. JHP
7.1 gr. Blue Dot
1.075" OAL
1163 fps 32,400 CUP

I would think your 7.0 gr. load would be ok if the Overall Loaded Length is not shorter than the top load I listed. 1.160" .... I don't like that last load I listed.

PS .. I AM NO EXPERT ON THE 9MM SO PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY WORD ABOUT LOADING IT AS THE GOSPEL.

--
Ele era velho.
Ele era corajoso.
Ele era feio.

I guess I was right to be concerned.

by AaronB, Thursday, September 19, 2024, 10:09 (75 days ago) @ JimT

Considering I'm loading to an OAL of 1.060" as a matter of practicality (longer cartridges won't cycle with this bullet), it looks like 7 grains is out.

That's OK. 6.0 grains cycles the action, feeds and extracts, and makes holes in the target as one would expect. Works nicely for practice ammo, which is the goal I have in mind.

Thanks.

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