124 Grain LRN and Unique COAL recommendations

[linko]

I have loaded some 9mm 124 grain coated LRN with 4 grains of Unique with CCI 500 primers. I would like some recommendations on COAL as this combo is not a published load in any manuals. I have them set at 1.125 coal now.

[Finster101]

Might be a good idea to state the caliber. Might be obvious to some but not everyone.

[linko]

Geeze ! 9mm

[recumbent]

1.169" per Hodgdon https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=true&type=53

[Jhopson]

If they are 124 grain no groove round nose coated that most of the commercial guys sell you will need to seat them at 1.10 or so. Make sure you do a plunk test before you make too many.


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[Cottonpicker]

I use the Lee 356 124-2R Tumble Lube at around 1.130" OAL, shoots well in all my 9mm pistols, revolvers, and carbines.

[Taterhead]

Not all LRN bullets are the same shape, so seating depths will depend on the individual barrel(s). For a couple guns, a Lee 356-125-2R must be seated to 1.03" or it won't chamber. Another gun likes 1.065".

Best to pick a length that passes the plunk test consistently, then do a proper load workup. If seated relatively short, starting with lower charge weights is prudent.

[linko]

I am using this bullet:

HI-TEK SUPERCOAT 9mm RN 124gr .356 dia

https://cheycastbullets-com.3dcartstores.com/HI-TEK-SUPERCOAT-9mm-RN-124gr-356-dia-500-count-box_p_182.html

[Jhopson]

I am using this bullet:

HI-TEK SUPERCOAT 9mm RN 124gr .356 dia

https://cheycastbullets-com.3dcartstores.com/HI-TEK-SUPERCOAT-9mm-RN-124gr-356-dia-500-count-box_p_182.html

That is from a magma mold and you will probably need to start seating it at 1.10 and plunk test it. But more than likely you will need to go a little shorter and if you do then you will need to drop your powder load down some. I sell a lot of this style Bullet and the number one complaint that I receive is about the seating depth.


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[fredj338]

1.169" per Hodgdon https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=true&type=53

NO. OAL is gun & barrel specific. What you are quoting is SAAMI max. Few 9mm can actually load any lead bullet to SAAMI max.
To the OP, as noted, each barrel & bullet is specific. I would start @ 1.140" & work it up or down to fit your gun. Make a dummy round, see if it fits. If not, then shorten OAL 0.010" & repeat until it does. THat is your OAL for that bullet & that gun.

[derek45]

Plunk test

[gwpercle]

In working up a soft shooting load for a WWII era Walther P-38 (and two other newer 9mm lugers) with the Lee 124 gr. RN and Unique ... I didn't start getting close to reliable cycling until I got to 4.7 grs of Unique . 4.5 grs. and 4.6 grs were sketchy ... many occasional failures to function . 4.7 grs. was 98%. ... still not great
5.0 grains of Unique / 124 grain LRN = 100% functioning and is my pet P-38 / 9mm Luger load in general .
One of my newer 9mm's likes 5.2 grains of Unique with a 124 gr. boolit .

4.0 grains of Unique is going to be , in my experience , too light to reliably cycle a 9mm Luger pistol's action .
Do you have a Kinetic Bullet Puller ?
Gary

[jim147]

Geeze ! 9mm

I don't want this to sound mean but there are many 9mm's and a bunch more cartridges that boolit could be loaded in. It was asked for safety reasons. Your answer was not great.

[linko]

I don't want this to sound mean but there are many 9mm's and a bunch more cartridges that boolit could be loaded in. It was asked for safety reasons. Your answer was not great.

Yes you are correct. This is a 9mm Luger

thanks

[linko]

In working up a soft shooting load for a WWII era Walther P-38 (and two other newer 9mm lugers) with the Lee 124 gr. RN and Unique ... I didn't start getting close to reliable cycling until I got to 4.7 grs of Unique . 4.5 grs. and 4.6 grs were sketchy ... many occasional failures to function . 4.7 grs. was 98%. ... still not great
5.0 grains of Unique / 124 grain LRN = 100% functioning and is my pet P-38 / 9mm Luger load in general .
One of my newer 9mm's likes 5.2 grains of Unique with a 124 gr. boolit .

4.0 grains of Unique is going to be , in my experience , too light to reliably cycle a 9mm Luger pistol's action .
Do you have a Kinetic Bullet Puller ?
Gary

Thank you for that info.

I did a plunk test and the round chambers good.

And yes I do have a kinetic puller.

I will try what I have loaded in both my Browing Hi-Power and my S&W 9mm revolver and see where I am.

With safety is mind I originally asked for a recommended OAL as charge weight and seating depth affects pressure. I wanted to be sure I was in a safe zone to begin with.

appreciate the great feedback from the members.

[Conditor22]

Best COAL for any gun is what chambers, passes the plunk test, cycles, AND is not compressing the powder (there are some compressed loads out there I prefer to stay away from them)

Factory rounds generally run on the short size and have pointier/smaller nosed bullets to fit in more guns.

[gwpercle]

S&W 9mm Luger Revolver ...SWEET !
Revolvers will shoot 4.0 grains of Unique with no problems !

9mm Luger are loaded to high pressures so Unique is well suited to it .
For the Browning HP usually somewhere from 4.5 to 5.0 grains of Unique with the 124 gr. LRN will get it running smoothly ...you know the game , start low and work up slowly .
I started at 4.0 grs. myself ... don't load too many untill you find out what your gun likes .
The 9mm Luger with cast boolits can be a bit trying , don't give up .
Gary

[fredj338]

Thank you for that info.


With safety is mind I originally asked for a recommended OAL as charge weight and seating depth affects pressure. I wanted to be sure I was in a safe zone to begin with.

appreciate the great feedback from the members.
The OAL & pressures is vastly over done IMO. IT depends on the powder you use & the charge wt. With slower powders, you can get 100% compression & not even be close to over pressure. With uberfast powders, as long as you are not running max, you dont see significant pressure/vel increases until you are seating 0.060" deeper. So it just depends. I find Unique pretty forgiving with modest compression.

[Hanzy4200]

Start with the listed COAL in your manual, then work from there. 9MM's have without a doubt the widest range of throat, chamber, and bore sizes of any caliber. Find the longest COAL that will reliably function in YOUR 9mm. I have 9-10 9MM's from all over the world, ranging from the 1940's to last year. I use short COAL numbers to ensure reliable feeding in all my guns. Unique is a fantastic 9MM powder. Only choices better are Vihtavuori and Power Pistol.