Questions about OAL

[dvfd12]

I'm loading .40 S&W more or less just for fun. My question is how close to the OAL do I need to be? Is there a range I need to stay in (like within .005") or does it have to be dead on? Thanks any help.

[kingudaroad]

I would start dead on with the c.o.l of the data for the exact bullet you are planning to load for. Then you can adjust if you are having reliability problems.

Do not confuse max c.o.l for that cartridge with the load data recommended c.o.l for that bullet.

For example...max c.o.l for the 40 s&w cartridge is 1.135", however per my Hornady manual the load data for all of their bullets call for 1.125".

If you are loading for fun, its always funner when there are no feed issues.

[dvfd12]

Thanks.

The reason I ask is because my seating die isn't seating all of the bullets to the same depth. I'm trying to get 1.125" and the actual length may be 1.123" to 1.128". I have had no feed problems with any of these, I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't affecting the chamber pressure too much.

[kingudaroad]

That should be no problem. Load away!

[dvfd12]

Thank you for the help.

[cheygriz]

Yuor loads should be no problem. Some folks get WAY,WAY too hung on OAL.

Unless you're shooting bench rest, OAL is important, but not critical.

[mrawesome22]

1.125" and the actual length may be 1.123" to 1.128"

This is probably because of differences in each bullet.

[castnblast]

probably inconsistancies w/ the ogive of the bullet. I had that problem w/ some cheaper 22 cals I was loading for my 22-250. I was going nuts w/ it, and discovered it didn't make a hill of beans on that particular round... I've had the same issue w/ my 357, and not had any accuracy problems...(that I could detect anyhow...)