Shortening the OAL of Wolf Ammo... Safe to do so??? Update range report.

The ROC

The ROC

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
55   0   0
Location
Ontario
Just wondering if it would be safe to shorten Wolf 124gr TMJ RN from a OAL of 1.111" down to a OAL of 1.090" or even 1.080" without causing a spike in pressure?

The reason is so they chamber in the CZ Shadow more confidently.

Thanks for the help.
 
Last edited:
It will increase pressure!

If it is safe or not is a trial and error ordeal. I would not recommend it. Reload, and work up to a safe charge at that length yourself.
 
Yes, it will increase the pressure.
How much? No way to tell for sure.

Would I do it?

In a heartbeat.
Shorten a couple mag-fulls to 0.010" below the shortest length you might use, fire 2 shots and have a real good look at the brass. I expect it'll be just fine, if so, burn the rest of the shortened ammo and have a good look at all the brass.
Extreme pressure signs on 2-or-more pieces mean the load is too hot.(don't worry if it feeds unreliably, you made it too short on purpose)

Srsly, you don't have much to worry about I've fired a CZ75 with 9mm Para loaded to a power-factor of 190, to make the old Major and I fired a few thousand 9mm Major in a P-35 (and a couple hundred in a 1911 with a standard barrel (not recommended)).
 
Who can say it raises pressure by seating the rifle bullet a bit deeper? Do you have access to a pressure testing barrel?
Some manufacturers, ie Weatherby, gave their rifles free bore to reduce pressure. Free bore just means boring out the lands to give the bullet a further distance to travel before it hits the lands.
Seating the bullet deeper has the effect of free boring. So, IF seating the bullet deeper will raise pressure, giving it free bore will reduce pressure.
 
I'd be more concerned about the case slicing through the plating ...and jamming up your gun (it can leave little rings of the plating in your chamber).

It happens sometimes if you don't have enough bell in the case mouth when you seat the bullet...so I would imagine the issue would be even worse with loaded rounds.

I've only ever had this issue with 9mm...

I wouldn't do it.
 
Range Report...

Just got back from the range, unfortunately it began to rain so my chrony was just 2 strings placed out 12ft from the bench.

- CZ Shadow
- Wolf 124gr TMJ with a OAL of 1.110" - 1.113"
- Reseated the bullets to 1.090", then 1.080, then 1.070 and finally 1.065"

It was only till I test fired the ammo with a OAL of 1.065" did I see the flatening of the primer but there was no trace of black carbon.

4735431387_0cd1383c46_b.jpg

4736126306_23f15ceb8b_b.jpg


I feel I'm safe with reseating the Wolf ammo down to 1.075" so that it will feed into my Shadow without the bullet jamming into the rifling.

Chrony results throught the Shadow with a OAL of 1.070":

String 1:
1 - 1128
2 - 1133
3 - 1133
4 - 1134
5 - 1145
Low - 1128fps
Hi - 1145fps
Ave - 1135fps
ES - 16.66
SD - 6.24
PF - 141

String 2:
1 - 1132
2 - 1138
3 - 1127
4 - 1122
5 - 1144
Low - 1122fps
Hi - 1144fps
Ave - 1133fps
ES - 21.77
SD 8.71
PF - 140
 
Try a few and look for pressure.

If you buy Wolf for your gun, why not sell what you have and phone mr. Wolf and oder a few thousand rounds with the OAL you want, and ask him to load with 0.2 gr less powder?

Your gun will function and you will sleep better.

The only part of this proposed seating that bothers me is that the bullet may get chewed up.
 
I must thank you for an educational post. I would not have tried seating factory ammo to fit, but apparently it can be done to an extent. I have never needed to do this, but I know for next time, and the proper procedure should I need to try it.
 
Here are a couple of old threads on the subject.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=320822

Starting at page 3 here:

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=322686&page=3

Read and learn.

The pressure increase will depend on how fast a powder was used. If they were loaded using a fast powder, then pressure WILL go up substantially faster than if loaded with a slow powder. Note that fast powders are much more economical when loading large quantities.....

Will elevated pressure "kaboom" a gun? Not directly, but what DOES happen is your FACTOR OF SAFETY decreases SUBSTANTIALLY. Do you feel lucky?
 
H4831 said:
Who can say it raises pressure by seating the rifle bullet a bit deeper? Do you have access to a pressure testing barrel?
Some manufacturers, ie Weatherby, gave their rifles free bore to reduce pressure. Free bore just means boring out the lands to give the bullet a further distance to travel before it hits the lands.
Seating the bullet deeper has the effect of free boring. So, IF seating the bullet deeper will raise pressure, giving it free bore will reduce pressure.
Click to expand...

Not quite right when talking about small capacity, straight walled cartridges. Peak pressure in a 9mm is generated before the bullet moves 1/4". Moving the bullet back in a short, straight walled case, reduces case capacity a major PERCENTAGE compared to a bottlenecked round.
 
On a related topic, I've had to do this with another commercial reload supplier's ammunition (Frank from Kitchener/Cambridge). The ammo is fine quality, but the OAL averages a 1.115", and is for a Tanfoglio Match in 9mm which prefers 1.100". Generally speaking I've found no over-pressure signs on the primer at that length. Anything lower though, and there are. YMMV.

-- L.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom