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There are all kinds of conflicting load data in various sources.

In general, I would rank order from most reliable to least reliable how I regard load data this way:

1. Data from the powder manufacturer (Hodgdon's online reloading data center is terrific, btw.)
2. Data from the specific bullet manufacturer (if I have it, although I am never comfortable with Hornady's published loads because it varies so much from other sources).
3. Data from Lyman's manual.
4. Data from Lee's manual.
5. Data from those caliber-specific "loadbooks" (e.g. Loadbooks USA "9mm Luger" Reloading Manual)

Then I compare the powder ranges (min-max) and recommended length for commonality across the sources and try one.

• The Hodgdon website lists 6.7 to 7.0 gr. at 1.125" for a Speer Gold Dot Hollow point.
• As far as a 9mm 115 gr bullet, my Hornady book only lists the HP-XTP (1.075") and the FMJ-RN. It shows a range of 5.7 to 6.4 grains
• The Lyman 49 book shows 5.7 to 7.2 gr at 1.090".
• The Lee book shows 6.7-7.0 gr at 1.125" (obviously the Hodgdon data).

Note here the Hornady data and the Lyman data both start at 5.7 gr, a full grain below what Hodgdon recommends with 6.7 grains. Yet both of these loads are significantly shorter (1.075"/1.090" versus 1.125").

So I would first seat this specific bullet in the case so that the truncated cone profile "looks right" in terms of the amount of shoulder showing above the case rim and see what length that yields. The I'd start the powder min charge to reflect the length.

I assume you are simply loading for range use here, so there is probably little point in figuring out a max load. Start at the min and if you get good pistol cycling and accuracy, you are done.

IANAL, YMMV, use at your own risk, etc.

Make it simple, start with lightest load, seat the bullet as above and dump a magazine at the range. If all fired perfectly, you are done. Reload as much as you want.

Reliability of feeding can be affected if the completed round is too short or too long - I usually make up a dummy round (no powder or primer) and seat the bullet a bit further out and test-cycle it though the cleared-empty firearm (from its magazine) and see how it reacts - pushing the bullet deeper in the die if required until I'm happy.

And keep in mind that this process *may* need to repeated if you're loading a calibre for multiple firearms. eg. I have long loaded 147gr 9mm that work great in a Hi Power, but won't chamber in a glock.

dedeye wrote:I think i may have have figured out a good depth to start with compared three different bullets with the one i actually seated in an empty cartridge, now i see that the three are very similar in depth,

Pix?

I get as much different data from as many sources I can find on th net for caliber and bullet weight . compare and decide what charge to use. they will differ from bullet and powder manufaturers. You will enjoy it.

For specific components, you can also try emailing the powder manufacturer as well.

I have found Alliant in particular very responsive and helpful with load data, which is more important now that their loading books only list Speer bullets.