How long is too long?

[aridan]

I usually load Zero 124gr JHPs, but now got a bunch of Berry's 125gr plated bullets because Newbold plates at our club don't fare too well when hit by JHPs.

My OAL with Zeros is 1.120". The Berry bullet can be seated a lot longer because of its shape. An OAL of 1.180" had easily passed the barrel test in my Shadow.

Now, clearing the mags is another story. 1.180" won't fit into CZ or Tanfoglio mags. I had to drop the OAL to 1.165" to give me a bit of clearance - which is still probably less than 1/32". With that ammo, I went on to shoot our club competition last night, and got a jam: one of the rounds was pointing way up, too high to chamber.

Is there a 'safe' minimal clearance that I should be observing? TIA.

 

[Hotwheels81]

My max OAL with 125 Berrys and 147 xtp's is 1.150 or they hang up in my mags, I run max length possible and work up loads to pressure signs then back down, some run minamum charges and seat deeper to take advantage of the pressure spike but I prefer to err on the cautious side... OAL is a hot topic among pistol shooters it seems

 

[Freyr_255]

Safe max length is whatever feeds without jamming. Accurate max length is whatever your gun likes.

Minimum length is a concern as it increases chamber pressures.

So your question about minimal clearance goes back to what I said above. If it jams your gun, it's too long. No other way to say it as every gun is different.