CZ Shadow & OAL

Zeb

Zeb

Regular
Rating - 100%
50   0   0
Location
Edmonton, AB
My Shadow likes 1.10 or less OAL. I am trying some different bullets (147 gr FMJ from Cam Pro). According to the 48th Lyman recipe (pg 323 147gr TMJ), they use an OAL of 1.115. I made a few dummy rounds at this OAL, and they won't feed into the gun. If I shorten the dummy rounds to 1.10 - 1.09 OAL, then they feed great.

My Question:

Since I am using less OAL than what is listed in the Lyman recipe, should I cut back on powder to start ? Using W231, book recipe starts @ 3.5gr.
 
OAL in the books if I'm not mistaken is MAXIMUM length..I set oal for my shadow at 1.10
whatever works in your mag.

How do you find the Cam Pro? I'm currently using Aim Projectiles, but my local store is bringing in some Cam Pro so I'd like an oppinion.
 
As for Cam Pro quality...I find the bullet weights can vary as much as 1 or 2 grains. As for accuracy, I'm still a newbie reloader/IPSC'er, so can't really provide valid input. I bought them from P&D in Edmt. Not many other products to choose from, so I buy them.
 
Just finished playing with some load lengths. With Cam Pro 147 TMJ I need to load to 1.085 to not hit the rifling in my Shadow. Any longer and the round hits. Enough that it marks the bullet. Curious to see what velocity I will get with these tomorrow night. I used to load to 1.120
 
Zeb said:
My Shadow likes 1.10 or less OAL. I am trying some different bullets (147 gr FMJ from Cam Pro). According to the 48th Lyman recipe (pg 323 147gr TMJ), they use an OAL of 1.115. I made a few dummy rounds at this OAL, and they won't feed into the gun. If I shorten the dummy rounds to 1.10 - 1.09 OAL, then they feed great.

My Question:

Since I am using less OAL than what is listed in the Lyman recipe, should I cut back on powder to start ? Using W231, book recipe starts @ 3.5gr.
Click to expand...

i use vihtavuori powder VV340 in a combo including a 147grs CMJ FP/winchester cases....vihtauori suggest an OAL of 1.142(lol@myshadow) for a minimum load of 3.8 grs...

me, i do 1.100 OAL(wich is close to -5% in OAL VS recommanded) and lowered the min charge to 3.5 to make sure overpressure weren't going to be an issue....only to find i had low pressure signs, then increased my charge to the viht minimum recommended of 3.8grs wich work great in my shadow even using a shortened OAL .

you must lower your powder charge if you're using a significant shortened OAL (recommanded) by reducing equaly the charge vs the % of the reduction in OAL to play safe, then increasing(if need is) by small increments.
 
Last edited:
New shorter rounds seem to work ok. Will chrono this week and see what the results are.
 
I had chrono on me last night (in car's trunk), you could have had a clue I had one as I had all the other stuff on me :D

OAL will depend on the bullet's shape, I load diff bullets with diff OAL, ranging from 1.1111" (no jokes pls) to 1.085". Also, as a pointer, use Federal primers to watch pressure signs as they are soft and show signs when say CCI won't show anything with same load. Personally, I didn't see/feel much difference between 147gr and 124gr bullets, thou 147 grainers are supposed to have less felt recoil and be (in theory) more accurate as they are subsonic (no wobble during sound speed barrier break).
 
I had one in my trunk too. But didn't want to bother during class.
I've been shooting Gold Dots for so long its weird to see these short TMJs. But I gotta shoot what I'm given and the Campros are proving to be as accurate as I need for competition. But I'm keeping a couple cases of Gold Dots for the hell of it.
I notice a huge difference between 147s and 124s. 124s are just a but snappier. Although they do shoot more POA with a stock CZ front sight. You need a 6mm to work with 147s properly.
My Stock II likes longer rounds than the Shadow, I could seat to 1.130 for it with TMJs. The Shadow won't even go into battery with that load.
 
I'm gonna stick to Frontier and Berry's for now, 115s and 124s respectively. Best prices I could come across.
I got 5.5mm, 6mm and 6.5mm front sights in 1.0mm and 1.5mm to play with :D So far, 5.5mm in 1.5mm with green FO rod works the best for ME (on Shadow), accurate enough and faster to see than red; I got green on 75SA first to try and liked it, got it on Shadow too, thinking of getting green on .45 Spartan (CDP).
Pretty happy with 124gr bullets so far, 115s are ok too; I need to play with diff powders thou. 700X is my fav for now from the cheapies.

Worked on my exrtactor past night, turned out I had factory extractor spring that was 'over-sized' in diameter, so it was binding/sticking. Replaced it with +25% spring (cut 1 coil), smoothed extractor itself with emery board (got like 10 at local store) and took some metal off in one place :D Tested at home with dummies, works perfect so far.

Shoot, I need to reduce trigger reset on my 75SA, it's too much longer than Shadow...
 
Last edited:
I never had a lot of love for Frontier back when I shot Berettas. Berries have been ok, but I'm really loving the Campro bullets. We'll see how I like em after 50 to 60,000 of them have gone downrange in the next year.
 
CeeZer said:
I had chrono on me last night (in car's trunk), you could have had a clue I had one as I had all the other stuff on me :D

OAL will depend on the bullet's shape, I load diff bullets with diff OAL, ranging from 1.1111" (no jokes pls) to 1.085". Also, as a pointer, use Federal primers to watch pressure signs as they are soft and show signs when say CCI won't show anything with same load. Personally, I didn't see/feel much difference between 147gr and 124gr bullets, thou 147 grainers are supposed to have less felt recoil and be (in theory) more accurate as they are subsonic (no wobble during sound speed barrier break).
Click to expand...

What is your OAL using Frontier in your Shadow? I am trying to find a better bullet profile, I have a GP6 and my OAL are soooo short with Aim and CamPro. I got a sample of BDX 124 Gr round nose and the bullet profile looks so much like the factory ones, but are more expensive.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom