.40 cal C.O.L.?

p3ordie · February 13, 2002, 10:18 PM

Hello,
I need some help, This is my first reload. So far I have all cases cleaned, deburred, primed and the case mouth flared ready for bullet seating. I am using Rainier 165gr FMJ. I am using the book that came with the Rock Chucker press, Speer #13. According to the data the COL for 165gr. is 1.120", does this mean for the Speer bullets only? or is 1.120" a standard length for all 40 S&W?

Thanks,
Mark

WESHOOT2 · February 13, 2002, 10:42 PM

1.130"+/-.005"

ryucasta · February 13, 2002, 10:48 PM

It all depends, on the model of gun that'll you be shooting with. For example standard 40 S&W wont run well in 1911's with 45ACP length magazines so most competitors use 1.160 to 1.200.
Caution: The rifiling leade must be cut longer to accomodate these lengths.

But the norm for most of the reloading manuals is between 1.120 and 1.135.

Tree Rat · February 14, 2002, 05:17 PM

Ditto WESHOOT. COL 1.126 good all-around. VP-66?:barf:..........VP-68 alumni here.

Tree Rat.

IRock · February 16, 2002, 05:14 PM

I have shot many thousands of rounds at 1.125 OAL, AA#5 8.2 grains. Ran through my Colt .40 flawless. Very accurate. If gun is tuned properly they should run at 1.125 OAL. I use magazines made for the .40 . Colt and others make them.

ryucasta · February 16, 2002, 08:30 PM

IRock,

My mistake I should have been more specific, what I meant to say was doublestack 1911's ie Para Ordnance, SV, Caspian and STI. On my Infinity 40 S&W single stack 1911 I use 10 round 45ACP mags since to my knowledge the largest magazine capacity for single stack 1911's in 40 S&W is 9 rounds.

Hope this clarifies my earlier statment.

Knowledge is power

ryucasta · February 16, 2002, 08:31 PM

PS,

I also have tried 10mm magazines but the 9 round limit sent me back to 45

ryucasta · February 16, 2002, 11:45 PM

www.laser-cast.com
Here's a quote from Laser-Cast Reloading Manual First Edition:

"Standard overall length .40S&W rounds often wont run in guns with 45ACP length magazines and steep supported feed ramps. Long loaded .40s operate at a bit less pressure, restoring some case life and ssafety to the reloader."

The OAL's they mention for the various loads range between 1.165 and 1.190

DavidS · February 17, 2002, 03:22 AM

Hi VP-66,

I shoot a Glock .40 and I reload using Ranier 180 grn bullets and have been seating them for an OAL of .128 and the chart shows .135 as Maximum OAL.

So I would think that .120 to .125 would about right for a 165 grn
bullet.

I imagine it possibly depends of what type of gun you have and how they feed but that should be fairly standard from one gun to the next depending on bullet design.

I'm using a load of 5.2 grns of Unique for a target load but feel that I need to reduce it a bit to get better accuracy.

As many .40 barrels do not fully suport or completly surround the cartridge over the feed ramp, such as Glock, it is important to start with lighter loads for the powder that you are using.

Remember that most reloading books shows maximum loads that need to be reduced by 10% for a starting load.

Hope this helps,

DavidS

February 13, 2002, 10:42 PM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	1.130"+/-.005" __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

February 17, 2002, 03:22 AM	#9
DavidS Junior Member Join Date: February 16, 2002 Location: Coarsegold, Ca. Posts: 1	.40 OAL Hi VP-66, I shoot a Glock .40 and I reload using Ranier 180 grn bullets and have been seating them for an OAL of .128 and the chart shows .135 as Maximum OAL. So I would think that .120 to .125 would about right for a 165 grn bullet. I imagine it possibly depends of what type of gun you have and how they feed but that should be fairly standard from one gun to the next depending on bullet design. I'm using a load of 5.2 grns of Unique for a target load but feel that I need to reduce it a bit to get better accuracy. As many .40 barrels do not fully suport or completly surround the cartridge over the feed ramp, such as Glock, it is important to start with lighter loads for the powder that you are using. Remember that most reloading books shows maximum loads that need to be reduced by 10% for a starting load. Hope this helps, DavidS __________________ 'Freedom Now & Forever'! 'No More Tyranny Ever'! If you fail to plan, plan to fail! Stand United & fight together and servive! We fought like Hell once before and by God we can do it again if necessary! Long Live Freedom!

February 13, 2002, 10:18 PM	#1
p3ordie Member Join Date: November 18, 2001 Location: SE WI Posts: 49	.40 cal C.O.L.? Hello, I need some help, This is my first reload. So far I have all cases cleaned, deburred, primed and the case mouth flared ready for bullet seating. I am using Rainier 165gr FMJ. I am using the book that came with the Rock Chucker press, Speer #13. According to the data the COL for 165gr. is 1.120", does this mean for the Speer bullets only? or is 1.120" a standard length for all 40 S&W? Thanks, Mark

February 13, 2002, 10:48 PM	#3
ryucasta Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 431	It all depends, on the model of gun that'll you be shooting with. For example standard 40 S&W wont run well in 1911's with 45ACP length magazines so most competitors use 1.160 to 1.200. Caution: The rifiling leade must be cut longer to accomodate these lengths. But the norm for most of the reloading manuals is between 1.120 and 1.135.

February 14, 2002, 05:17 PM	#4
Tree Rat Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2000 Posts: 138	Ditto WESHOOT. COL 1.126 good all-around. VP-66?:barf:..........VP-68 alumni here. Tree Rat.

February 16, 2002, 05:14 PM	#5
IRock Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2001 Posts: 291	I have shot many thousands of rounds at 1.125 OAL, AA#5 8.2 grains. Ran through my Colt .40 flawless. Very accurate. If gun is tuned properly they should run at 1.125 OAL. I use magazines made for the .40 . Colt and others make them.

February 16, 2002, 08:30 PM	#6
ryucasta Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 431	IRock, My mistake I should have been more specific, what I meant to say was doublestack 1911's ie Para Ordnance, SV, Caspian and STI. On my Infinity 40 S&W single stack 1911 I use 10 round 45ACP mags since to my knowledge the largest magazine capacity for single stack 1911's in 40 S&W is 9 rounds. Hope this clarifies my earlier statment. Knowledge is power

February 16, 2002, 08:31 PM	#7
ryucasta Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 431	PS, I also have tried 10mm magazines but the 9 round limit sent me back to 45

February 16, 2002, 11:45 PM	#8
ryucasta Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 431	www.laser-cast.com Here's a quote from Laser-Cast Reloading Manual First Edition: "Standard overall length .40S&W rounds often wont run in guns with 45ACP length magazines and steep supported feed ramps. Long loaded .40s operate at a bit less pressure, restoring some case life and ssafety to the reloader." The OAL's they mention for the various loads range between 1.165 and 1.190