Dudey
Member
This is my first post to this forum. I've been handloading for about 6 months now - 38 Special and 45ACP using HP-38. My 9mm ammo inventory is running low, so decided to start loading that. And, I haven't been able to find any HP-38, so I picked up a lb of Unique. Got some recipes from the various loading manuals and decided to try working up a test batch, starting with 4.6 gns under a Berry's 124 gn plated round nose, with Winchester brass and Remington primers, loading to COL of 1.120" (and then to 1.150"). Got everything all setup and noticed as I was dialing in my powder measure for 4.6 gns the case was much more full than I am used to seeing with the 38 Special and 45ACP. So, I got the calipers out and took some measurements. I calculated that this Berry's bullet will seat about 0.22" into the case (0.59" bullet length, less 0.37" sticking out of the case when seated to 1.120"). A rough measurement of the depth from the case mouth to the top of the charge indicated a measurement of about 0.17". Which means that the bullet will compress the charge by 0.05" when seated. Of course, if I seat the bullet to 1.150", I will gain 0.03" more room, but it is still compressed, and all this with a "starting" charge weight of 4.6 gns.
Before I proceed, am I missing something? Again, this is my first experience with loading 9mm, so maybe this is the norm. Any comments for this newbie would be most appreciated!
Before I proceed, am I missing something? Again, this is my first experience with loading 9mm, so maybe this is the norm. Any comments for this newbie would be most appreciated!