45 SWC for glock, OAL?

[curtmg]

I just bought a big box of 200 gr jacketted SWC, for my glock 21. Just wondering if anyone else uses same, should I use the same OAL I've been using (1.268)? They don't actually look much different in profile than the speer gold dots, I've been using. Pretty decent price, $112/1000 from wholesale sports here.
Thanks.

 

[ElmerFudd]

I haven't shot the jacketed SWC but I've used 200 gr. LEAD SWC a fair bit. Although in a 1911 not a Glock. Your OAL sounds a bit long and checking my Lyman 48th, it lists a 185 gr. jacketed SWC at a OAL of 1.135". I would start by making a dummy round and slowly push the bullet further and further down. The bullet should be far enough out of the case that all of the case is contacting the bullet (understand?) and short enough that it feeds in your gun. Do some testing in the gun and see how it feeds from the mag. The bullet should be about 1mm out from the mouth.

I'll check some of my 200 LEAD SWC to see the OAL.


Fudd

 

[curtmg]

My speers #14 manual lists the max OAL at 1.275, it's lists OAL tested to be 1.200 for everything, except the semi-wadcutters which it has at 1.275 (230 gr RN is 1.260, but I never use those). I have some Remington factory that I measured at 1.255. So I don't think I'm doing anything especially odd on length. I didn't use any special science to arrive at 1.268, it was just kind of where they ended up, that they looked good, fit the chamber + magazine, and were below the max. I took some pics of one of my loaded gold dots next to a remington factory case, for comparison. I'm not averse to trying shorter lengths, I'm just concerned about whether they'll feed proper, or maybe build too much pressure. I'm still pretty new to the game, haven't worked out all the kinks (not by half).
Here's the pics, mine's the Hollow Point, the remington is Round Nose.

Here's a picture of the bullets themselves to compare, SWC on left, Gold Dot on right.

 

[curtmg]

Just an update, turns out for the glock, with these SWC, I was way too long. The rounds wouldn't chamber, and if I tried to push the slide forward, all that happened was I got the bullet stuck in the rifling, when I tried to eject the case, an empty case, 8 or so gr of loose powder, and a stuck bullet in the barrel. So I changed the length to 1.240, and they seem to chamber really easy. I'll have to try them, hopefully soon. I had actually taken the long ones to the range for a very short, very frustrating trip, it'll teach me to check to make sure things work before driving 40 minutes each way. Luckily, I also had some of my gold dots, so I got some shooting in, but I hate to use the good ones just for paper ($$$$).

 

[ElmerFudd]

Here's a picture of the bullets themselves to compare, SWC on left, Gold Dot on right.

OK, there seems to be some confusion here that is leading you to the wrong information. The bullet here on the left is not a semi wad cutter (SWC) but just a jacketed flat point. Wad cutters and thus semi wad cutters are designed to cut nice sharp round holes in paper. They will have a sharp 90° angle at the front or shoulder of the bullet to give a nice cut. The bullet you have won't cut the paper any nicer than a round nose bullet.

The Speer manual doesn't show a bullet close to yours for the 45 ACP because they don't make one. This is an excellent reason to get more than one manual by the way.

I've been loading 200gr. JFP to 1.175" and would suggest that you start in that area.


Fudd

 

[HKMark23]

Hi Curtmg. I find that with JSWC in 45ACP the shoulder of the bullet extends less than 1 mm past the case mouth when the bullet is properly seated. With a 185g bullet this will give a COAL of about 1.135". This again is for 45 ACP not GAP. I'd also cross reference my load data if I were you as things can get confusing.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243133

"Size Matters".