45 ACP OAL of factory ammo

[Radom Guy]

Hello there, out of curiosity, I would like to know the OAL of some factory 45 ACP 230 grain FMJ RN ammo. Can someone or a couple people with such factory ammo let me know the OAL and what brand ammo they are measuring for me? I’m looking for the big popular ammo brands such as CCI, Federal, Remington, Norma, Fiocchi, Winchester, etc.

And if you are curious why I ask, it’s simply because I am curious. I am starting to load 45 ACP (I already reload many other calibers). I’ve noticed very clearly that most factory 9mm and 380 ACP ammo, for example, has a much shorter OAL than what is typically suggested in established load data. I of course understand why big ammo manufacturers do this and how they are able to do what your average Joe Reloader cannot do (pressure testing, for example).

I WILL follow load data - this post is just for curiosity.

And to be clear, the only actual question in my post is what the factory ammo OAL is of some 230 grain examples. The rest of what I typed above is for those wondering why I am asking this question. I placed this post in the reloading forum because we reloaders are the ones who have calipers handy and understand one another’s questions about OAL and other such abbreviations.

Thanks, folks!

 

[Russ57]

Speer Lawman 230 grain TMJ is 1.257".

TMJ = total metal jacket. I'll see if I have any other ball ammo anywhere tomorrow.

 

[Radom Guy]

Speer Lawman 230 grain TMJ is 1.257".

TMJ = total metal jacket. I'll see if I have any other ball ammo anywhere tomorrow.

Awesome, thanks! I wasn’t sure if there was actually any big name factory ammo that used copper plated bullets in centerfire handgun rounds, so I left TMJ out of my post. I had forgotten about Speer.

I look forward to hearing about whatever else you may have, too.

Whether you have another factory round OAL to share or not, either way is good. Thank you for your help and the time it took out of your night.

 

[Russ57]

Winchester "white box" 230 grain FMJ (ball) = 1.2675.

The rest of the jacketed stuff is JHP (2 brands). Let me know if you want that.

 

[Radom Guy]

Winchester "white box" 230 grain FMJ (ball) = 1.2675.

The rest of the jacketed stuff is JHP (2 brands). Let me know if you want that.

That’s very helpful, thanks! And since you are offering, I am in fact interested in learning the JHP OAL’s, too (along with the bullet weight).

Thanks again!

 

[CQB45ACP]

All 230gr RN

Winchester 1.262”
Magtech/CBC 1.258”
Remington/R-P 1.263”

(Magtech was $15/box BTW)

 

[ballman6711]

I started reloading 45acp about five years ago, and all the 230gr RN ammo I measured was 1.260" or greater. FWIW the Hornady 230gr FMJ bullets I had would not plunk at factory ammo OAL. I had to shorten them to about 1.245" ~ 1.250" to plunk in my gun. I have since learned that specific gun has a tight chamber.

I've got some Federal I can measure later, it's in the room the GF is sleeping in and I don't want to wake her up.

chris

 

[ballman6711]

Federal 230gr FMJ 1.266"

chris

 

[CQB45ACP]

Federal 230gr FMJ 1.266"

chris

So now she’s awake cause the forum’s more important to you?

 

[ballman6711]

So now she’s awake cause the forum’s more important to you?

LOL! No, I went down to the basement and saw the box of Federal that I thought was tucked away in the bedroom.

I don't wake her up in the mornings unless it's important, she can be a bit grumpy before her coffee. Maybe a bit more than a bit!

chris

 

[JmacD]

I’m chiming in because I’m a curious sort and I’d like to know to.
Fwiw, my dads 1911 likes 1.267. Or even a bit longer but with a really good crimp.

 

[Russ57]

Remington Golden Saber Bonded 185 grain = 1.21
Remington Golden Saber Bonded 230 grain = 1.214
Remington Golden Saber Bonded 185 grain (+P) = 1.216
Speer Gold Dot 185 grain = 1.199
Federal HST 230 grain = 1.208

It's hard to get an accurate measurement so take these with a grain of sand. Also all this ammo is older stuff so might not reflect current offerings.

 

[higgite]

LOL! No, I went down to the basement and saw the box of Federal that I thought was tucked away in the bedroom.

I don't wake her up in the mornings unless it's important, she can be a bit grumpy before her coffee. Maybe a bit more than a bit!

chris

I used to wake up grumpy every morning.... until I divorced her.

 

[CQB45ACP]

I used to wake up grumpy every morning.... until I divorced her.

Thought it was funny but not going to “like it” seems like bad luck

 

[rfwobbly]

Hello there, out of curiosity, I would like to know the OAL of some factory 45 ACP 230 grain FMJ RN ammo. Can someone or a couple people with such factory ammo let me know the OAL and what brand ammo they are measuring for me? I’m looking for the big popular ammo brands such as CCI, Federal, Remington, Norma, Fiocchi, Winchester, etc.

Please consider this.... The 45ACP cartridge stands alone among all other auto cartridges. Since it was introduced in 1911, it has a 60-80 year head start on most other "auto" cartridges. Therefore, IMHO, it is much more likely that new 45ACP handguns are all tailored to the existing cartridges, which negates a lot of OAL experimentation.

Now, you may say the 9x19 Luger was introduced in 1903, but it wasn't really until the 1990's that it came into common use in modern auto-feeding handguns. Same for 40S&W, 357SIG, 10mm Auto, 38Super and a host of others.

What I'm saying is that the OALs for 45ACP, as listed in your load manual, are pretty much THE recommended OAL, simply because of their 100 year head start.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Hello there, out of curiosity, I would like to know the OAL of some factory 45 ACP 230 grain FMJ RN ammo. Can someone or a couple people with such factory ammo let me know the OAL and what brand ammo they are measuring for me? I’m looking for the big popular ammo brands such as CCI, Federal, Remington, Norma, Fiocchi, Winchester, etc.

And if you are curious why I ask, it’s simply because I am curious. I am starting to load 45 ACP (I already reload many other calibers). I’ve noticed very clearly that most factory 9mm and 380 ACP ammo, for example, has a much shorter OAL than what is typically suggested in established load data. I of course understand why big ammo manufacturers do this and how they are able to do what your average Joe Reloader cannot do (pressure testing, for example).

I WILL follow load data - this post is just for curiosity.

And to be clear, the only actual question in my post is what the factory ammo OAL is of some 230 grain examples. The rest of what I typed above is for those wondering why I am asking this question. I placed this post in the reloading forum because we reloaders are the ones who have calipers handy and understand one another’s questions about OAL and other such abbreviations.

Thanks, folks!

When I get a chance I will go digging through my loaded ammo for some commercial 230’s. I don’t think I have any though. It’s been a long time since I bought shelf stock .45Auto.

 

[Radom Guy]

Thanks everyone, that’s very helpful as well as interesting. Just what I was looking for.

 

[Radom Guy]

Please consider this.... The 45ACP cartridge stands alone among all other auto cartridges. Since it was introduced in 1911, it has a 60-80 year head start on most other "auto" cartridges. Therefore, IMHO, it is much more likely that new 45ACP handguns are all tailored to the existing cartridges, which negates a lot of OAL experimentation.

Now, you may say the 9x19 Luger was introduced in 1903, but it wasn't really until the 1990's that it came into common use in modern auto-feeding handguns. Same for 40S&W, 357SIG, 10mm Auto, 38Super and a host of others.

What I'm saying is that the OALs for 45ACP, as listed in your load manual, are pretty much THE recommended OAL, simply because of their 100 year head start.

Good take on the cartridge, thank you. It is surprising to me how close all that factory 230 gn RN ammo is to the SAAMI spec OAL. Which is also very close to the recommended minimum OAL’s in the load data. Again, much different than the way 9mm is treated.

I’ll repeat what I said before, though: this is purely academic. I am interested the details, but I will be following powder manufacturer load data.

Thanks again.

 

[Hole maker]

Hello there, out of curiosity, I would like to know the OAL of some factory 45 ACP 230 grain FMJ RN ammo. Can someone or a couple people with such factory ammo let me know the OAL and what brand ammo they are measuring for me? I’m looking for the big popular ammo brands such as CCI, Federal, Remington, Norma, Fiocchi, Winchester, etc.

And if you are curious why I ask, it’s simply because I am curious. I am starting to load 45 ACP (I already reload many other calibers). I’ve noticed very clearly that most factory 9mm and 380 ACP ammo, for example, has a much shorter OAL than what is typically suggested in established load data. I of course understand why big ammo manufacturers do this and how they are able to do what your average Joe Reloader cannot do (pressure testing, for example).

I WILL follow load data - this post is just for curiosity.

And to be clear, the only actual question in my post is what the factory ammo OAL is of some 230 grain examples. The rest of what I typed above is for those wondering why I am asking this question. I placed this post in the reloading forum because we reloaders are the ones who have calipers handy and understand one another’s questions about OAL and other such abbreviations.

Thanks, folks!

Herter,s 45 auto 230grn FMJ - 1.2570-1.2685 / Nosler 45 auto 185grn JHP - 1.1985-1.1995, the Herter,s is made in the USA and mine have Winchester brass, as you can see after checking several rounds the OAL varies a bit but the Noslers were very consistent in OAL , they both shoot/feed fine in my Tisas 1911A1 45acp Service Special, and the cost was $25-$29 per 50ct, Ron.

 

[Radom Guy]

Herter,s 45 auto 230grn FMJ RN - 1.2570-1.2685 Nosler 45 auto 185grn HP - 1.1985-1.1995 as you can see after checking several rounds the Noslers were very more consistent in OAL, the Herter,s I have are with Winchester brass and made in the USA, they both shoot/feed fine in my Tisas 1911A1 45 Service Special and price in order was $25-$29 per 50ct, Ron.

That’s actually the exact same gun I am using. Good to know, thank you