OAL for .45 ACP 200gr. FMJ

[MarineTech]

Recently, I picked up some Rainier 200gr. FMJ .45ACP bullets in a gunshop. They had been orderred by somebody, but never picked up and the dealer was selling them at a BIG discount. (I picked up 500 bullets for about $20 with the tax).

I normally use 6.4 gr. of Unique under a 230gr. Sierra FMJ bullet seated to 1.270" OAL for practice ammo, but cheap bullets are cheap bullets. I've found load data for Unique and 200gr. JHP bullets that I can work from, but nothing for 200gr. FMJ so I'm a bit hesitant on deciding on the OAL that I should seat to.

Any suggestions?

 

[antarti]

What profile are these?
Does FMJ = RoundNose in your post?

Also, Rainiers are totally plated, not jacketed, and there is a difference. Don't crimp these heavy, or at all, they are very soft. I leave the case mouth at .472 when loading these (and I skip crimping with the Lee FCD) or they get swaged down.

Accurate lists 2 Rainier 200grn bullets at different depths:

1) Rainier 200 SWC seated at 1.220"
2) Rainier 200 HP seated at 1.205"

Is it either of those?

 

[MarineTech]

It's a normal round nose profile.

 

[Murphster]

MarineTech: We're not ignoring you. This just might be one of the great secrets of the reloading world. I've checked every powder, bullet, & reloading source I normally tap into and I can't find anything on what the OAL is supposed to be. Found lots of references to using them (the bullets) and liking them, but nobody really laid down a definite length. Good luck.

 

[Sunray]

1.178" for a 200 gr jacketed in my Lyman Pistol and Revolver book. 4.0 to 6.5 of Unique. Load for the bullet weight, not the style of bullet.

 

[Murphster]

Sunray: that data's for a jacketed HP, isn't it? That may be as good a starting point as any.

 

[MarineTech]

Murphster's correct Sunray. That's for the JHP bullet. I have the same Lyman manual.

Guess I'll just have to experiment a bit. I'll see about seating out to about 1.250 and work inward from there.