SAAMI Pressure for 9mm

Ron Smith · 01-08-2011, 07:00 PM

The best way to determine what you want to know is start with minimum load, working up a 10th of a grain of powder at a time, until it cycles the toggle properly.

Every gun has a different personality. You just need to find what makes them happy.

tomaustin · 01-08-2011, 11:06 PM

is there a direct conversion of this to psi, etc. ??

checkfeo · 01-08-2011, 11:31 PM

The actual pressures are identical, but the numbers are different, sort of like measuring your height in inches or meters, the same height but the numbers are different. Most times the cartridges have a higher PSI maximum than the CUP number for high pressure cartridges, but opposite for lower pressure loads.

So, you can use either number, PSI or CUP. You just have to know which one your using or talking about.

checkfeo · 01-09-2011, 10:26 AM

Amen, Ron Smith, you get it!

Start out with a light load and keep increasing the pressure until it cycles.

Thats called "Load Development" and thats how its done.

sheepherder · 01-09-2011, 10:44 AM

My $.02...

I doubt this is unused military ammo; it does not have the lacquer sealed primers...I have a box in front of me...

Usage: Target/Range
Application: Indoor & Outdoor Range, Plinking, Target, and Match

I would say that pretty much eliminates Police use as well...For issue, anyway...

Practice ammo??? Maybe...but I don't think (judging by my experience qualifying with DoD Police in the 80's & 90's) that any Police agency would practice or qualify with anything other than issue ammunition...the bullet strike would be different...

It looks to be just general use 9mm cartridges, not anywhere near +P.

BTW: My Speer Reloading Manual says 35,700 cup is the maximum industry working pressure...

01-08-2011, 07:00 PM	#1
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	The best way to determine what you want to know is start with minimum load, working up a 10th of a grain of powder at a time, until it cycles the toggle properly. Every gun has a different personality. You just need to find what makes them happy. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

01-08-2011, 11:06 PM	#2
tomaustin Lifer X5 Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: texas Posts: 708 Thanks: 87 Thanked 523 Times in 202 Posts	CUP copper unit of pressure is there a direct conversion of this to psi, etc. ??

01-09-2011, 10:44 AM	#5
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,208 Thanks: 1,425 Thanked 4,474 Times in 2,343 Posts	My $.02... I doubt this is unused military ammo; it does not have the lacquer sealed primers...I have a box in front of me... Usage: Target/Range Application: Indoor & Outdoor Range, Plinking, Target, and Match I would say that pretty much eliminates Police use as well...For issue, anyway... Practice ammo??? Maybe...but I don't think (judging by my experience qualifying with DoD Police in the 80's & 90's) that any Police agency would practice or qualify with anything other than issue ammunition...the bullet strike would be different... It looks to be just general use 9mm cartridges, not anywhere near +P. BTW: My Speer Reloading Manual says 35,700 cup is the maximum industry working pressure... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

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01-08-2011, 11:31 PM	#3
checkfeo User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 41 Thanks: 1 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	The actual pressures are identical, but the numbers are different, sort of like measuring your height in inches or meters, the same height but the numbers are different. Most times the cartridges have a higher PSI maximum than the CUP number for high pressure cartridges, but opposite for lower pressure loads. So, you can use either number, PSI or CUP. You just have to know which one your using or talking about.

01-09-2011, 10:26 AM	#4
checkfeo User Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 41 Thanks: 1 Thanked 20 Times in 8 Posts	Amen, Ron Smith, you get it! Start out with a light load and keep increasing the pressure until it cycles. Thats called "Load Development" and thats how its done.