Ammunition & Hand Loading > Cartridge and Shotshell reloading

Beginner Question(s)

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cckyle:
I'm very new to reloading, so sorry if these are stupid questions.  If I am doing anything wrong please point it out.  I managed to find everything I needed to get started reloading.  I am starting with 9mm as that is what I shoot the most.  Long story story I am starting with Rainier 124 grain copper plated round nose 9mm and winchester AutoComp as well as Remington small pistol primers.  I've had a hard time finding loading data for that grain and copper plated with the AutoComp.  I can find loading data for AutoComp, but not with that bullet.  I read on a couple of forums that people sometimes sub lead data for copper plated and start low.  So I compared some data online of AutoComp with other bullets and the load data in my reloading manual for the grain I am using but in lead.  I made up 3 different loads, small batches to see what might work. 
1st= 4.2g auto comp w/ 124g CPRN.  OAL 29.3mm+ I had four of these, they all fired but failed to eject/cycle each time.
2nd= 4.5g auto comp w/ 124g CPRN.  OAL 29.3mm+ I had three of these.  1st shot failure to eject, 2nd shot fired and cycled the gun, 3rd shot fired but failed to lock the slide back
3rd= 4.5g auto comp w/ 124g CPRN OAL 29.15mm+  I only had two of these, but the first one cycled the gun and the second one fired and locked the slide back. 

I don't know if it matters or not but I was using a Glock 19 for this. 

My question is where do I go from here?  I know the first two loads won't work.  The third (although I only had two to test) did work.  I think the OAL of the 3rd load compared to the 2nd was what made the difference(increased pressure, not that the first two were to lengthy).  Should I make up a larger batch of the 3rd load and test a bigger batch?  Should I try the 2nd load and step up a .05-.1 grain?  Maybe make a batch of both and test accuracy between the two?  Is there an advantage to a longer OAL and more powder grains vs less OAL with less powder grains? 

Maybe I am just over thinking this.   

Thanks

Dan W:
I can respond to this after work ( 6pm or so)

unfy:
I'll possibly chime in later tonight after work as well.  That'll probably be quite late in the night, though.  Will address the specifics of your load data etc, but Dan will prolly beat me to it and I won't need to say much :).

Many plated manufactures do suggest loading their bullets as if they're lead.  This is generally a great starting point.  Most lead based loads produce lower pressures, so you do have some wiggle room on the upper end (just a bit). The lower pressures and such are typically to reduce leading in the barrel and stuff.  Too much leading can get you into over pressure situations after continually firing rounds and 'lead plaque' builds up etc.

My personal experience has been to not have any problems with loading plated rounds on the lower / middle range of jacketed rounds.  Keep an eye out on your barrel to see how the bullets are treating it etc (fouling, etc).

Dan W:
I have loaded many thousands of Rainier plated bullets.

I have in my archives some load data that Rainier released on their website, but they no longer supply any load data other than the suggestion to use data for lead projectiles.

Unfortunately, the powder you are using did not exist back when the data was released.

MY best advice to you would be to load a bit long and increase the weight of powder in your second load until your pistol is fully reliable (2nd= 4.5g auto comp w/ 124g CPRN.  OAL 29.3mm+)

Personally I would load 4.8gr for 10 and check for reliable cycling snd then try and get a velocity reading.

 

cckyle:
Thanks for the advice.  I don't have a chronograph, yet.  I will see if I can't get one very soon.  I field stripped the glock after each load, the first two loads left a lot of small particles in the barrel, the third load not so much.  I also noticed on the empty cases there was more fouling on the brass(especially the first two loads) than I had noticed previously shooting factory rounds.  Is there any indications with this?  I haven't shot this G19 much so maybe it is the glock barrel?  I don't know if it matters but I am using a lee 3 die set that has the adjustable crimp, I don't have the factory crimp die.

I will probably not get time to get to the place I shoot until sometime next week, but that will give me some time to work up a load or two to test and maybe get a chronograph sometime.  I will stick with the longer OAL and increase the power weight like you said. 
I am enjoying what little of reloading I have done so far.  After I got my press set up I decapped/full length sized about a thousand cases I had saved up, tumbled them, primed a hundred, and worked up those few loads.  I have to say I enjoyed the work, and it was neat to see the end product of what few I made.  Then to go out and test what I had worked up was exciting. 

Anyways, thanks again for the advice!

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