.40 S&W, heavier = longer?
- Thread starter Beer_drinker
- Start date
No. OAL is determined by the magazine size and chamber. Bullets with similar nose shape will have similar OAL, regardless of weight.
Not a stupid question. A good question to ask if you want to learn something.
Not a stupid question. A good question to ask if you want to learn something.
BattleRife
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I can't quite agree with that. Maximum OAL is determined by the physical dimensions of the gun, but most rounds are loaded somewhat under maximum, so there is room adjust OAL if the specifics of the cartridge demand. For example, bullets that are well under the typical weights for a caliber are very likely to result in a noticeably short OAL. On the other hand very heavy bullets may require seating the bullets over the published SAAMI maximum, but it can be made to work in specific guns, by modifying the gun or by adopting special practices. An example of the latter is loading 80grs match bullets in AR-15s, generally done by loading the gun as a single shot as the OAL won't work through the magazines.
In a cartridge like the .40 S&W many bullets don't have cannelures or crimp grooves, so you can seat the bullet to any depth you like, leaving you free to adjust powder volume and OAL to your specific needs.
