First Reloading Experience: Questions???

Gary H · September 1, 2001, 07:14 PM

Using Universal Clays and West Coast .40/155's. Want to load light. Hornady calls for C.O.L of 1.125 and 4.9 -6.5gr. / Speer calls for C.O.L. of 1.120 and 6.2 - 7.0. I started loading 5.1 gr. / 1.123. Some of my rounds came out a bit long and some short. My powder charge was pretty consistent. What range of C.O.L. should I consider to be useable? I've been shelving anything under 1.19 and reseating anything over 1.126. I would think that I could accept a larger range of C.O.L. when using light charges, but I don't have any experience. I can't imagine that even .01" short would result in overly high pressures.

WESHOOT2 · September 2, 2001, 08:21 AM

Suggest, based on YOUR SPECIFIC LAUNCH PLATFORM, that OAL should fall between 1.120-1.135".
Use feed reliability as your guide, but do NOT reduce OAL under 1.115".

Let us know how they shoot.

Waitone · September 2, 2001, 09:02 AM

The reloading forum is pure gold. Use the search engine to your heart's content.

Gary H · September 2, 2001, 11:10 PM

What I get from reading the posts is that you can load beyond the tested C.O.L., but do not exceed the caliber's stated maximum.

Waterdog · September 7, 2001, 12:19 AM

Why such a large deviation in COL, typically mine don't exceed .002 in deviation. Somethings not right.

Waterdog

Gary H · September 7, 2001, 09:28 AM

The deviation was more than expected. I'm using new Redding Dies, Lee Factory Crimp, RCBS Pro 2000 and pretty consistent lever pulls. My bell is just enough to place the bullet with confidence, but not so much as to deform the case.

September 1, 2001, 07:14 PM	#1
Gary H Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2000 Location: Texas Posts: 2,267	First Reloading Experience: Questions??? Using Universal Clays and West Coast .40/155's. Want to load light. Hornady calls for C.O.L of 1.125 and 4.9 -6.5gr. / Speer calls for C.O.L. of 1.120 and 6.2 - 7.0. I started loading 5.1 gr. / 1.123. Some of my rounds came out a bit long and some short. My powder charge was pretty consistent. What range of C.O.L. should I consider to be useable? I've been shelving anything under 1.19 and reseating anything over 1.126. I would think that I could accept a larger range of C.O.L. when using light charges, but I don't have any experience. I can't imagine that even .01" short would result in overly high pressures. Last edited by Gary H; September 2, 2001 at 01:09 AM.

September 2, 2001, 08:21 AM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	ASSUME NOTHING Suggest, based on YOUR SPECIFIC LAUNCH PLATFORM, that OAL should fall between 1.120-1.135". Use feed reliability as your guide, but do NOT reduce OAL under 1.115". Let us know how they shoot. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

September 2, 2001, 09:02 AM	#3
Waitone Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2000 Posts: 2,904	The reloading forum is pure gold. Use the search engine to your heart's content. __________________ "Given a choice between good intentions and human nature, I'll go with human nature every time."--Me, 2002.

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September 2, 2001, 11:10 PM	#4
Gary H Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2000 Location: Texas Posts: 2,267	What I get from reading the posts is that you can load beyond the tested C.O.L., but do not exceed the caliber's stated maximum.

September 7, 2001, 12:19 AM	#5
Waterdog Junior member Join Date: January 6, 2000 Location: AZ Posts: 1,236	Why such a large deviation in COL, typically mine don't exceed .002 in deviation. Somethings not right. Waterdog

September 7, 2001, 09:28 AM	#6
Gary H Senior Member Join Date: April 26, 2000 Location: Texas Posts: 2,267	The deviation was more than expected. I'm using new Redding Dies, Lee Factory Crimp, RCBS Pro 2000 and pretty consistent lever pulls. My bell is just enough to place the bullet with confidence, but not so much as to deform the case.