CamPro 124gr + CZ Shadow barrel - OAL and sanity check

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@simple

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Hi,

Thanks every body who helped me to get a powder. So I have finally installed my press and made a few dummy rounds with different OAL to find max OAL for my CZ Shadow. So.. max OAL is 1.1495". I am using CamPro 124gr RN and N320.
There are no data for CamPro from VV or Lapua, but they have data for Rainier RN 124gr: OAL: 1.142, min 3.8gr, max 4.1gr

Is it safe to use 1.142" for my new loads or I should use 1.1345" (max OAL - 0.015")?

Thanks!
 
If the longer OAL works in your gun, it's ok.

It's when you're forced to go shorter than the data, and start playing around at the high end of the data, that you need to take care, as pressures will increase quickly in a small case.
 
I have a Shadowline which is similar to the Shadow. I run N320 with Campro 124 HP.

4.1 gr at 1.10 OAL gets me 1068 fps. This is with Win brass and Federal primer.

I would not use 1.142 with the CZ, they run better with a shorter OAL.
 
Check what OAL works in your CZ.

I found Campro's, in 147 at least, allow you to load longer than other copper plated projectiles in a CZ.

I use to load 147 AIMs at 1.100 and can load 147 Campro's at 1.125 and they function fine.
 
There will be some play and movement on the OAL from the press as your batch of loads proceeds. I find I seem to get a couple of thou variation through a batch of a hundred rounds from random checks. Likely due to a flake of powder under a head or not pulling the lever quite the same or just due to more drag from the odd piece of nickel brass. Stuff happens during a run and small variations show up.

If 1.1495 on my calipers was the length that fit and provided it cycles well in the gun I'd likely aim for 1.140. Then as I randomly check through a batch I'd be good with the odd one coming out longer by even as much as .005. Typically you won't see that much variation but it gives you the safety room that is good to have.

Going with -.015 is overkill for avoiding chamber binding. But again this is what the gun accepts for the chamber plunk test. The OAL that cycles well is the other test.
 
OAL is a CZ is determined by the short chamber throat - not by an OAL listed in a book.

take the barrel out of the gun and start with a long seated bullet and notice how the bullet engages the rifling. Keep seating deeper until the case mouth hits the chamber edge and the bullet does not touch anything.

Make a note of that OAL. That is the Max for that bullet. Make your ammo about 10 thou shorter than that.
 
You do not need data for CamPro from VV or Lapua. Load for the bullet weight and cast or jacketed. Nothing else matters.
1.169" is the OAL for a cast 124(it being a SAAMI spec CZ may not use), but if you drop the loaded round into the chamber(that being the best gauge) and it doesn't fit right, use the shorter OAL.
 
My Shadow cycles the 124 gr Campro RN fine at 1.165. I load the 124 gr Campro HP at 1.125. Both are loaded over 4.8 gr of IMR 7625. Both cycle well and are accurate.
 
There is good advice here. Remove your barrel and test your OAL as suggested. I've found that max. OAL has been different by +/- 0.02 in different CZs. One had many thousands of rounds through it (the one with the longer max. OAL) than the other (which was brand new).
 
Thanks everybody for your comments. I have decided to use recommended OAL 1.142" (it will be -0.075 less than max OAL in my case) and powder in recommended range. I can publish data from chrono here, if somebody is interested.
 
@simple said:
Thanks everybody for your comments. I have decided to use recommended OAL 1.142" (it will be -0.075 less than max OAL in my case) and powder in recommended range. I can publish data from chrono here, if somebody is interested.[/QUOT\

Wanted to reply sooner but didn't have the time
I have had the same problem with this gun I have the Shadowline and found the following the hard way

With Berrys Bullets you can run OAL 1.142
With the Campro's i tied the same thing and they got stuck and jammed

I would run OAL 1.125 with campro's

I am currently running 4.1gr of titegroup and 124gr bullets based on above
Click to expand...
 
I'm also running 1.125 with Campro 124 JHP and 3.8-4.0 of titegroup (my powder drop has some variability). This was based on test chambering rounds starting at 1.145 until it seated effortlessly. I've found that there is a lot of variability between JHP manufacturers. Zero 124 JHP needed 1.080 for example. I'm now keeping charts in case I have to swap between different projectiles due availability.
 
Bigturk said:
My Shadow cycles the 124 gr Campro RN fine at 1.165. I load the 124 gr Campro HP at 1.125. Both are loaded over 4.8 gr of IMR 7625. Both cycle well and are accurate.
Click to expand...


I used several 8 pounders of 7625. great powder. It has been discontinued. If you like it, and if you can find any, stock up. There won't be any more.

Too bad. It has the speed of Unique and measures much better.
 
Well, first 20 rounds was: CamPro 124 FCP-RN - OAL 1.142"- CCI - 3.9gr of n320 - Remington (R-P) case.
No issues, low recoil - I like it, but... no PF.

Data from my chrono:
Shots:, 5
Min, 971, Max,1006
Avg, 995, S-D, 13.8, ES, 35

Series,Shot,Speed
1, 971, ft/s
2, 1006, ft/s
3, 999, ft/s
4, 998, ft/s
5, 1002, ft/s
 
Last edited:
Today I added 0.1 grains (to 4.0 of N320).

CamPro 124gr FCP-RN, 4.0 gr n320, OAL 1.142", CCI primer, Remington (R-P) case - no issues

Shots:, 7
Min, 967, Max, 1016
Avg, 1000, S-D, 16.2, ES, 49

Shot,Speed
1, 967, ft/s
2, 997, ft/s
3, 1009, ft/s
4, 1016, ft/s
5, 995, ft/s
6, 1009, ft/s
7, 1007, ft/s
----,----,----

So 0.1 gr added only 4 ft/s. Next test with reduced OAL from 1.142" to 1.14"

CamPro 124gr FCP-RN, 4.0 gr n320, OAL 1.140", CCI primer, Remington (R-P) case

Shots:, 7
Min, 984, Max,1018
Avg, 1001, S-D, 11.1, ES, 34

Shot,Speed
1, 1000, ft/s
2, 1013, ft/s
3, 997, ft/s
4, 1018, ft/s
5, 984, ft/s
6, 1003, ft/s
7, 998, ft/s
----,----,----

Nothing changed again - same average velocity. So I decided to change case from Remington to Federal and.....

CamPro 124gr FCP-RN, 4.0 gr n320, OAL 1.140", CCI primer, Federal (F-C) case

Shots:, 5
Min,1001, Max,1022
Avg, 1009, S-D, 7.7, ES, 21

Shot,Speed
1, 1007, ft/s
2, 1007, ft/s
3, 1022, ft/s
4, 1010, ft/s
5, 1001, ft/s
----,----,----

Wow, another 4 ft/s just for case.

Bad news - required PF is not reached.
 
Cam pro told me to use 1.110 for CZ's with the 124 RN, and 1.090 with the 124HP. Can you shorten your OAL and reduce your loads and work back up?
 
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