185 gr. SWC

[wodaddy]

Got some of these bullets that I'm getting to load. I've seen many different OAL in various place, Lyman, Hornady, Speer manuals, and on handloads.com. Has anyone loaded these and what OAL did you use?

I will take the barrel out and check that as well, but just have seen many lengths fluctuating from 1.135 to 1.23, etc.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[rcmodel]

Mmmmmm?

Is this like for a .45 ACP, or something like a .45 Colt??

SWC bullets for auto pistols should be seated with about a thumbnails width of the front driving band sticking out of the case mouth.

Whatever OAL that turns out to be?
It is the correct one for that bullet brand & design.

Longer will probably hit the rifling leade.
And shorter will be inside the case mouth.

rc

 

[wodaddy]

sorry, .45 acp

 

[41 Mag]

Like RC said, load them to where your finished round has about 1/32 or so of the shoulder sticking out of the mouth of the case. If they will pass the plunk test in your barrel your good to go.

They aren't meant for loading to top end anyway and with most powders even Bullseye or AA-2 this should work well. I have never measured mine so I couldn't tell you what the OAL is. I load like RC suggested, and all is well. My loads are around 4grs of BE which gives me +/- around 700'ish FPS (guessing as I haven't chronoed them yet) they shoot great so I haven't worried about the velocity.

I am using home cast H&G 130 and a clone of the #68. Both will shoot tighter than I can hold.

 

[stu1ritter]

C.O.L. depends on the bullet you are using. As long as you don't exceed SAAMI spec of 1.275" and you can pass the drop test, you are good to go. As an example, I load the Magnus #801 185 gr LSWC and the overall is just 1.140". But my 185 gr H&G 68 loads to 1.240, so it is totally bullet dependent. I use a Wilson gauge for the drop test and a Lee Factory crimp die and haven't had a failure to feed or go into battery on my 1911's since I started that procedure.
Stu