What's the difference?

Dan-O-Mite

Dan-O-Mite

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I'm curious as to the effects of different overall lengths if powder charges stay consistant.
I load my .40 S+W to a length of 1.135", and my friend loads to 1.165". We shoot the same gun.
I don't have a chrony readily available, so I'm curious as to what effect loading my rounds longer will have on velocity, as well as felt recoil.

I understand that loading longer will lower my pressures, I'm assuming my velocities will drop. So then I would need to increase my powder charge to maintain my velocity to remain at Major Power Factor in IPSC.

Is there any benefit to doing all this since my current rounds function fine? Will there be any difference/improvement in felt recoil?

Please correct me if my thinking is wrong here.

Thanks

.
 
Your basic reasoning is fine, but in a high pressure round like the 40, I would take great care to stay within published limits.

FWIW, the Lee manual lists MIN OAL as opposed to Max, so you know how short you can go and stay within pressure limits.
 
According to "Quickload's" ballistic program, changing COL alone, has a very significant effect on chamber pressures, especially with fast (pistol) powders. A few 1/100 can make a big difference. As for recoil, what could it amount to anyway, especially when you're changing COL then diddling with the powder load to get the same MV with the same bullet ?
 
My brother's Puma M92 in .454 is a bit finicky with load lengths, so I was trying loads using the two different crimp grooves on one particular bullet. The grooves are about 1.5mm apart, with the shorter OAL giving about 50fps more velocity.
 
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