OAL Question??

NorthernPF

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I just finished loading a batch of Hornady 230gr FMJ-RN. I compared them to the Remington UMC 230gr FMJ-RN that I bought and the remington ones are 0.030" longer. I looked back in my Hornady manual since I used Hornady bullets and it says for 230gr FMJ-RN, C.O.L. is 1.230". I managed to get most of them between 1.228"-1.232". Then I look in my Lyman 49th and it says that for a 230gr FMJ-RN C.O.L. should be 1.275".

Are my bullets going to be okay? I don't want the whole kaboom effect!:runaway:

Which manual should I side with?
 
I find 1.200" works the best in my Glock. Oddly enough, my reloads always end up working best fairly shorter than factory. So long as they feed well, and aren't below any minimums, especially if they are near max loads. I'd say try a few different lengths, and see what feeds best.
 
Use the barrel of your gun to determine OAL. For my 1911 it's 1.220

45seatingpossibilitiesxyn4.jpg
 
Use the barrel of your gun to determine OAL. For my 1911 it's 1.220

45seatingpossibilitiesxyn4.jpg

Thank you for this, its nice to have diagrams :)

But will this really tell you the overall length since the straight walled pistol cases headspace off the mouth?

I just tried with three different pistol loads in my glock 17, some factory ammo, some at 1.15" and some at 1.13" They were all virtually flush
 
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But will this really tell you the overall length since the straight walled pistol cases headspace off the mouth?

I just tried with three different pistol loads in my glock 17, some factory ammo, some at 1.15" and some at 1.13" They were all virtually flush
 
You're correct. Size matters.

Hornady's COL = 1.230 is for the 230 gr FMJ HP ! Recommended COL for 230 gr FMJRN is 1.275

According to Quickload software the 45ACP 230gr FMJRN over 5.4 gr 231 with COL = 1.230 will produce pressures of 20,997 psi. SAAMI PMax is 21,000 psi.

Quickload recommends not using the round.
 
You're correct. Size matters.

Hornady's COL = 1.230 is for the 230 gr FMJ HP ! Recommended COL for 230 gr FMJRN is 1.275

According to Quickload software the 45ACP 230gr FMJRN over 5.4 gr 231 with COL = 1.230 will produce pressures of 20,997 psi. SAAMI PMax is 21,000 psi.

Quickload recommends not using the round.

I cannot load to 1.275 they will not feed. I load 1.220" with 5.7gr W231 (230gr FMJRN) and have fired a few hundred with no issues. YMMV

EDIT: I went and measured and the RN I was using have a little bit of a flat nose that is why they are only 1.220" the equivalent in a real RN would be very close to 1.275"
 
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You're correct. Size matters.

Hornady's COL = 1.230 is for the 230 gr FMJ HP ! Recommended COL for 230 gr FMJRN is 1.275

According to Quickload software the 45ACP 230gr FMJRN over 5.4 gr 231 with COL = 1.230 will produce pressures of 20,997 psi. SAAMI PMax is 21,000 psi.

Quickload recommends not using the round.


What edition of the Hornady manual do you have? I have the Hornady 7th Edition and mine has 4 bullets for 230gr

HP-XTP: C.O.L. 1.230"
FMJ-RN ENC: C.O.L. 1.230"
HAP: C.O.L. 1.230"
FMJ-FP ENC: C.O.L. 1.200"

Can anyone else confirm this for me?
 
What edition of the Hornady manual do you have? I have the Hornady 7th Edition and mine has 4 bullets for 230gr

HP-XTP: C.O.L. 1.230"
FMJ-RN ENC: C.O.L. 1.230"
HAP: C.O.L. 1.230"
FMJ-FP ENC: C.O.L. 1.200"

Can anyone else confirm this for me?

.45 ACP / .45 Automatic Handgun Data (Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading 7th Edition) Reloading Data

[SIZE=-1]Printable Version[/SIZE]
.45%20ACP4.gif
[SIZE=-1]Warning! Notes: handgun: Colt Gov't Model; barrel: 5", 1 in 16" Twist; case: Hornady; primer: Winchester WLP; bullet diameter: 0.451"; maximum C.O.L.: 1.275" (C.O.L. for the 230 grain HP-XTP 1.230"); max. case length: 0.898"; case trim length: 0.893"[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data.[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Wt.[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Bullet[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Powder [/SIZE]
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Personally, I'd try shootin em. Despite the Quickload warning, I'd be willing to bet that, thanks to the conservative practices of both SAAMI and Quickload, the cartridge would be hot but ok. If you do shoot em, it would be great if you could chrony several rounds. Thats the key to knowing if you're well within safe parameters. In the past, I've tiptoed on the edge according to Quickload, with PISTOL rounds and found they chrony well within acceptable velocities as projected by several manuals I use. Putting the test before the lesson like this isn't a recommended practice so don't do it with your .338 LM :eek:.

As you already know, different manuals often recommend different max and min loads for a given cartridge. Quickload is just part of that mix and I've cited it here so you'd have some guidence. Again my personal course of action would be to shoot em, preferably making use of a chrony, then load the next batch with COL as close to spec as will reliably feed.
 
I find the OAL by starting long and seeing if they will fit the magazine. Once I have that established, I see if they will eject as live rounds. If they will, I fire a few rounds into a block of wood in the shop (I live on a farm) and see if they feed ok. Sometimes I have to seat a bit deeper to get good feeding.

I have two 40S&Ws. A CZ and a AMT. The mag lengths are quite different. Although the AMT mag will hold a longer round, they won't feed unless I set the bullet in deeper.

I have never looked at the OAL suggested in the book. I establish what works in my mags and gun. But I start my load development low, and work up, looking for the best group. That is usually a mild load. In my 45 it is 3.5g 700x with a 200gr bullet, which is actually under the published start load. It will put all the shots in the black of a bullseye target.

My best 40 load is 5.5 gr of 7626 under a cast 170 LSWC. Again, very mild.

If I was load real hot, like your load, I would lok at the published minimum length, because seating a pistol bullet deep does increase pressure.
 
I find the OAL by starting long and seeing if they will fit the magazine. Once I have that established, I see if they will eject as live rounds. If they will, I step I fire a few rounds into a block of wood in the shop (I live on a farm) and see if they feed ok. Sometimes I have to seat a bit deeper to get good feeding.

ummm, might not want to admit to that so freely in a public forum.
 
I find the OAL by starting long and seeing if they will fit the magazine. Once I have that established, I see if they will eject as live rounds. If they will, I fire a few rounds into a block of wood in the shop (I live on a farm) and see if they feed ok. Sometimes I have to seat a bit deeper to get good feeding.

I have two 40S&Ws. A CZ and a AMT. The mag lengths are quite different. Although the AMT mag will hold a longer round, they won't feed unless I set the bullet in deeper.

I have never looked at the OAL suggested in the book. I establish what works in my mags and gun. But I start my load development low, and work up, looking for the best group. That is usually a mild load. In my 45 it is 3.5g 700x with a 200gr bullet, which is actually under the published start load. It will put all the shots in the black of a bullseye target.

My best 40 load is 5.5 gr of 7626 under a cast 170 LSWC. Again, very mild.

If I was load real hot, like your load, I would lok at the published minimum length, because seating a pistol bullet deep does increase pressure.


Where would I find this minimum lenth?
 
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