357 Mag - 158gr Berry's OAL?

[264swedmoor]

Hi all -
I'm loading up some 357mag using Berrys 158gr plated round nose bullets. I've loaded Berry's 158gr plated flat points to 1.575" before and they worked for me. If I load the RNs to the same OAL they will be seated deeper and (presumably) have a higher pressure when fired. What's a good OAL for a 357mag using Berry's 158gr RNs and vv N110? Lyman's 50th has a 160gr RN lead bullet at an OAL of 1.590" but that's a different bullet.

The firearm is a 5" GP100.

 

[264swedmoor]

Reviewing further, it looks like the maximum OAL published by CIP and SAAMI is 1.590".

 

[bangswitch]

Measure from the base of a 158 grain bullet that has a cannelure to the cannelure, and then seat the Berry's to that depth. That's probably the same depth as the flat point bullets go. You will probably have to give it an aggressive roll crimp since the plated bullet doesn't have a cannelure for the crimp to roll into. The OAL will probably be a tad longer than the flat points, which are similar to a JHP bullet. That won't matter as long as the round doesn't extend past the front face of the cylinder when you load them.