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wpsdlrg · March 31, 2013, 01:43 PM

One "standard" COL ? Ha ha..... if only it actually worked that way.

Reality is that COL needed for reliable feeding, with different brands and models of 9mm pistols, will be all over the place.

Case in point: My Stoeger (nee Beretta) is marvelously tolerant of COL differences. Depending on bullet shape, it will feed almost any COL - as long as the round will fit in the magazine. On the other hand, I've now had two successive S&W 3rd generation pistols that will feed jamb anything, except a RN bullet, if the COL is longer than 1.09" - period. My Sig Sauer is even more finicky. It will feed jamb with COL's that the Stoeger and S&W's like just fine.

Go figure. So, I load to the longest COL I can, which will function in all. Fortunately, since I am loading only cast bullets at this point, I am not loading anywhere near max. pressure for the cartridge - so I can get away with this without any "drama".

March 31, 2013, 01:43 PM	#7
wpsdlrg Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2009 Posts: 826	One "standard" COL ? Ha ha..... if only it actually worked that way. Reality is that COL needed for reliable feeding, with different brands and models of 9mm pistols, will be all over the place. Case in point: My Stoeger (nee Beretta) is marvelously tolerant of COL differences. Depending on bullet shape, it will feed almost any COL - as long as the round will fit in the magazine. On the other hand, I've now had two successive S&W 3rd generation pistols that will feed jamb anything, except a RN bullet, if the COL is longer than 1.09" - period. My Sig Sauer is even more finicky. It will feed jamb with COL's that the Stoeger and S&W's like just fine. Go figure. So, I load to the longest COL I can, which will function in all. Fortunately, since I am loading only cast bullets at this point, I am not loading anywhere near max. pressure for the cartridge - so I can get away with this without any "drama".