Is OAL as critical for pistol as it is for rifle?

[Dad-Gummit]

I've just started reloading for a .45acp. This is the first pistol reloading for me,but have experience with rifle. Right now the load I've worked up is O.K. for accuracy, but I know that there is a more accurate load out there. For rifle I have worked as much as 20-30 different powder/oal/primer/bullet combos to find the "right" one. Is it the same for pistol? The pistol is a customized 1911 .45-so I know it can be more accurate. Any tricks? or spend tons of range time testing different combos?

 

[Bacchus]

OAL is important for pistol cartridges just as for rifles. I would pay attention to making sure that it's not too short and driving up case pressures. Also, the rounds may not cycle if the OAL is too short or too long.

I would suggest trying to get an OAL as close to what is published in the manuals.

 

[Poodleshooter]

Function, pressure, and accuracy
I change OAL to fit the first two goals for pistols, and all three for rifles.
I recommend not seating bullets to touch the lands in your revolvers

 

[Master Blaster]

I load alot of .45acp. OAL depends on the bullet style to some extent. SWCs that are loaded with the shoulder too close to the case mouth will cause jams, too long and they will not fit in the mag, and possibly not chamber. SImilar issue with LRN or Jacketed. Generally as long as you can without the rifling engraving the bullet when you chamber, and they still fit in the magazine.

I use 4.0 gr titegroup (hodgden) propellant, 200 LSWC 1.58 oal Penn or Russell hardcast. Crimp is .471 at the case mouth.

Other bullseye shooters at my club use same bullet and OAL, and use SOLO 1000 3.6 gr., or Bullseye powder 3.8 gr.

What is your load, and what type of shooting do you do? Plinking Bullseye, IDPA etc?

 

[Zorro]

SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO THE RULE!

Ruger Red Hawks and Super Black Hawks!

They have EXTRA long cylinders that are forgiving of extra long rounds.

VERY! good revolvers for beginning reloaders!

 

[rick_reno]

Is OAL important

Yes - in my Kimbers they will not go into battery if the OAL is even a hair too long (using Laser Cast 200 gr. SWC); some guns are more forgiving of this (Sigs, Colts, H&K's) but the Kimbers seem be tight.