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Info on OAL specs? .45acp

rediceredice Member Posts: 1,550 ✭✭✭✭✭
I just started reloading, actualy just shot my first 5 reloads monday.

Anyhow im starting with .45acp and was looking at 3 different loads to start with I ended up starting with Accurate #2 with a 185grain jhp round and I believe it was 6.6grains of powder unfortunetly I dont have my load book right in front of me, think its in the car somewhere, anyhow.

It specified a oal of 1.210 if I remember correctly, and the other 2 loads I had were like 1.168 and 1.147 however I had some factory umc rounds that were fmj and they were an oal of 1.286 I believe. Now my question arrises that with an oal of 1.219 im looking at a fairly sharp transition from bullet to case, and when I tried out those first 5 rounds I had 2 failures to feed, it seems almost as if they may be catching on the case lip.

Now what are my options here? I dont recal if my dies had a crimping option for .45acp or not, but if not would changing the oal be a way to curtail this? and or what happens when you change the length from that specified in the manual. I mean staying within the saami specs of course?

Heres a pic of one of the rounds.
1483745acp.jpg

Comments

  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello I have been loading 45ACP for 40+ years 5000-7500 a year . My first advice would be to get a taper crimp die. and crimp the case mouth to .469-.470 .this in its self will cure most feed failures. Now for OAL . in my opinion remove the barrel from the pistol and drop a loaded round of each type of load in the chamber . The base of the shell should be flush to .010 of an inch below flush to the end of the hood on the barrel but oal must be short enough to fit in all your magazines. As a rule longer will shoot better groups and have less feed problems but IF the bullet is too long "projects past the hood of the barrel then it will cause major misfeeds.
  • mpolansmpolans Member Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Generally speaking, .45acp length should be between 1.260 - 1.280" for a a round nose round. Adjust accordingly for hollow points and flat points. Also, if you're shooting an STI/SVI, your max OAL will have to be 1.260".

    In any case, 1.168 and 1.147 sound WAAAAAAAAAY short. Heck, 9x19 is supposed to be 1.150".
  • rediceredice Member Posts: 1,550 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by mpolans
    Generally speaking, .45acp length should be between 1.260 - 1.280" for a a round nose round. Adjust accordingly for hollow points and flat points. Also, if you're shooting an STI/SVI, your max OAL will have to be 1.260".

    In any case, 1.168 and 1.147 sound WAAAAAAAAAY short. Heck, 9x19 is supposed to be 1.150".


    How would one adjust accordingly? Again im new to reloading, so im still learning some of this stuff.

    Also why are there different lengths stated for different loads? Is it just to compensate for the length of the bullet or?
  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hello you adjust the seater die to adjust OAL For example MY 230 GRAIN hardball is 1.265 In my Ball Gun but my 200 Grain semi wad lead H&G 68BB style is 1.240 and my Nosler 185 Grain JHP is 1.185 both of these in my WAD Gun. For function and group size longer up to a point is better but You must check against the chamber in your barrel.
  • rediceredice Member Posts: 1,550 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by perry shooter
    Hello you adjust the seater die to adjust OAL For example MY 230 GRAIN hardball is 1.265 In my Ball Gun but my 200 Grain semi wad lead H&G 68BB style is 1.240 and my Nosler 185 Grain JHP is 1.185 both of these in my WAD Gun. For function and group size longer up to a point is better but You must check against the chamber in your barrel.


    I gues im just not understanding what you mean by the barrel hood, from my recolection the hood is the topmost rearmost part of the 1911 barrel which flushes up against the breachface when in battery, and im almost 100% sure thats correct because I built my 1911 and had to fit my hood to my slide.

    I am trying to picture what you mean in your previus post but just cant with that terminology. If you mean flush to the start of the chamber or feed ramp I can see it but flush to the hood it would have to be a 45 colt to do it heh.

    Im not trying to belittle you at all, that was just messing with my mind in trying to figure out what you mean I think I get it now.

    Your are saying start with the longest possible oal drop in the round and if the back of the case is to far past the end of the chamber seat it deeper, and I suppose different bullets would need different seating depths because they would strike the rifleing at different points?

    Also what else does seeting bullets to longest possible oal do? I mean its less of a jump to the rifling but what else, if anything does it do? And im assuming less of a jump to the rifleing=more accuracy. Sorry im still real new to reloading trying to figure this all out.
  • perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,105 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Re dice you have mail I set you a message "praise the HARDBALL gun"
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