May 29, 2005, 10:37 PM | #1 |
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.45 ACP Cast Bullets: OAL
I'm reloading some National Bullet Co 230 RN cast bullets. But I'm wondering what the OAL of the rounds should be here.
http://www.nationalbullet.com/41-6.html As you can see, the 230 .45 bullets have a bit of a step where the bearing surface ends and the ogive starts. If I load that 'step' even with the case mouth, the OAL seems a bit short... 1.250" or less. If I load to a greater OAL... say, 1.270" or so, that step just kind of looks bad and gets kind of battered in the feeding process. What would you do here? What OAL should I load this bullet to? Thank you! StrikeEagle |
May 29, 2005, 11:00 PM | #2 |
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1.275 is the standard OAL, but don't fret that. With lead you will get best accuracy headspacing off the bullet anyway. Battering of the front of a bullet does little of significance to ballistics. It's the squareness of the base that matters.
To headspace off the bullet, load it with the seating die backed out to where the cartridge is too long. Slowly inch it down until the cartridge head rests flush with the back of the barrel hood (barrel extension) on a 1911. For other pistols, let it get back against the breech face. For revolver, just make sure it doesn't stick out of the cylinder and interfer. Nick |
May 30, 2005, 08:16 AM | #3 |
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I load them to 1.250-1.275" with no problems and good accuracy. The only way to find out is to load some up and shoot them in your gun. Some guns like 'em long and some guns like 'em short.
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May 30, 2005, 08:22 AM | #4 |
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Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country)
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actual experience
Suggest an OAL as long as you can maintain 100% reliability; 100%.
Suggest an OAL of 1.250" (I use 1.242" for 230g LRN in MY gun). Some guns allow longer OAL's due to chamber shape, while some might require going as short as 1.220". Consider reducing powder charge slightly as OAL shortens.......
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May 30, 2005, 06:49 PM | #5 |
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Ok... I'll keep playing with it. Thank you all for the great advice.
StrikeEagle |
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