What if any dangers would I have if I load .44magnum to a COL of 1.78 inches? I've loaded dummy rounds to this specification and it chambers and cycles fine in my Marlin 336. My Speer manual says that cartridges over COL spec are for use in revolvers only???
Cartridge Overall length question.
- Thread starter daroccot
- Start date
If it works, it works. - dan
COL is important for revolvers as you only have a limited amount of cylinder length to play with. You would not want the end of the bullet too close to the front of the cylinder as it might cause the cylinder to not rotate.
Also COL comes into play with pressures. If you seat the bullet deeper in the case than recommended then the pressure can go up. Sometimes way up.
Conversely, in a rifle chamber, you do not want the overall length too long & have the bullet jam into the rifling when the cartridge is chambered. This can affect accuracy & can also spike up pressures.
Also COL comes into play with pressures. If you seat the bullet deeper in the case than recommended then the pressure can go up. Sometimes way up.
Conversely, in a rifle chamber, you do not want the overall length too long & have the bullet jam into the rifling when the cartridge is chambered. This can affect accuracy & can also spike up pressures.
Spiking pressure eh? The issue is I'm planning on using Hornady XTP 300gr on 22 grains of w296 and inorder to seat the bullet without compressing the charge I need to use the bottom cannalure on the hornady which gives a COL of about 1.78". With this receipe there is zero extra space in the case. I'm new to reloading and have only done reduced loads untill now. I don't want to blow my rifle up! This COL seems to be okay for my revolver too although I'd be a little hesitant to try such a load in it, I don't want to ruin it.
thanks
thanks
Cannot comment on your load. As far as cartridge overall length is concerned, in your Marlin - does the ogive of the bullet jam into or make contact with the rifling? - will the round cycle reliably through the magazine? - can an unfired round be easily extracted and ejected? As long as there are no problems here, the length should be fine.
One trick you can try is to put some carbon on the bullet. A smoking match or candle will do it. Then once the bullet has a nice coating on it, chamber it in the rifle.
I would suggest doing this with a test round ( no primer or powder ).
Then extract the round & see if you can see any marks where the bullet has contacted the rifling. Also, you should be able to tell by feel if it is touching the rifling. It there are no marks & it chambers & extracts easily, you are probably okay.
I agree with tiriaq as these are good points.
I would suggest doing this with a test round ( no primer or powder ).
Then extract the round & see if you can see any marks where the bullet has contacted the rifling. Also, you should be able to tell by feel if it is touching the rifling. It there are no marks & it chambers & extracts easily, you are probably okay.
I agree with tiriaq as these are good points.
I looked at the Hornady Manual, vol 4, Ruger Carbine 18inch bbl, the hotest load they list (Hornady XTP 300gr) for w296 is 20.4gn (mvel 1500fps), OAL 1.61. With this load your estimated max pressure is 7000 psi below max, if you add the extra powder, and increase the OAL (using quickload) you will get the same velocity, because the bullet is farther out of the case. Now this assumes that the bullet is not jammed, or very close to the lands, because then the pressure may spike. I am not sure there is a benefit to increasing you OAL, as Hornady Manual load is still only 95%. Even though the 20.4gn load is listed in the manual, it is close to max, I would work up to it, keeping in mind that a hot day could max out the pressures in your rifle, even if the load was safe on a cooler day.
Well I tried my starting load out (Speer data), 20.2gr w296 on the 300gr XTP seated to first cannalure for a COL of 1.78+/- . Not any more notable recoil than the winchester factory 240 JFP loads. However accuracy was vastly improved with my hand load 
nice to see that for a starting handloader... I'll have to borrow a chrony to work up to the max loads...
nice to see that for a starting handloader... I'll have to borrow a chrony to work up to the max loads...
