What's the risk...

[Cerdan]

...associated with exceeding Maximum OAL for cartridges that headspace on the case mouth, eg .45ACP?

I'm just trying to visualize here... The bullet would just be a bit further down the barrel, what danger is there in that? Is it a question of pressure?

Thanks.

 

[curtmg]

my manual lists OAL max at 1.275" When setting the length, I've found that much longer than that and they don't fit the magazines very well. I don't know what would happen if you went longer in a gun with magazines that would fit them. I've never fired over length ones.

 

[apu]

my manual lists OAL max at 1.275" When setting the length, I've found that much longer than that and they don't fit the magazines very well. I don't know what would happen if you went longer in a gun with magazines that would fit them. I've never fired over length ones.

Curt is spot on it's just a feeding issue, it's only pressure concern if exceeds the in min OAL

 

[Cerdan]

Thanks both. So it's just a feeding issue. I thought that since exceeding min OAL increased pressure, exceeding max might do the opposite.

 

[saskgunowner101]

cerdan

I'm quite new to reloading, but I think you can have problems either way. Too short, and the pressure could jump to dangerous levels. Too long, on the other hand, could cause issues with the cartridge in the magazine, might even make problems from being too long when it hits the feed ramp, pushing the bullet tip up at a sharp angle, causing feed problems. The last problem could be the bullet too close to the barrel. From my understanding, if a bullet doesnt have a little 'jump' before it hits the rifling, pressure can go up. As stated, I'm new to this, but better safe than sorry. 4 fingers+thumb(2)= good

 

[RUPZUK]

some powders also spike pressures in larger cavities than recomended, can't remember which powders/cartridges one should watch out for but I do recall too little powder in a too large cavity can equal a destroyed gun.

 

[Cerdan]

...can't remember which powders/cartridges one should watch out for but I do recall too little powder in a too large cavity can equal a destroyed gun.

Surely these recipes wouldn't be included in reloading manuals if they're known to be dangerous? Not very reassuring seeing as I loaded a bunch of .38spl with 3.1gr of Titegroup, and was struck by how little powder there was in the cavity...


I have another "what's the risk" question (maybe this could become a running thread about risk-related questions ): Silly me, I thought magnum primers were automatically used in magnum rounds. Turns out they're only recommended for slower-burning powders (the Speer manual specifies which powders should go with magnum primers, but there's no such detail in Lee's and Hornady's manuals...). What's the risk associated with using magnum primers with faster-burning powders?

 

[curtmg]

As long as you do workups with magnum primers, I don't see any problem. Don't just start combining max loads and magnum primers right out of the gate, but if you end up there, as I seem to have (no high pressure signs), then all should be fine. I use Unique Powder. (8.2 gr, 185 gr speer gold dots)