OAL

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David Winkley

David Winkley

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I am shooting 124 gr Xtreme FN plated bullets using 6.1 grs HS6 out of my G17 that has a Storm Lake barrel in it. I like the combination but have a feeding problem if I get above 1.060" OAL. They will jam on feed ramp. I am shooting this gun in MA so must use 10 round mags that have at time had follower problems. Does this make sense?
 
Sounds like switching to the Xtreme 124gr RN might solve the issue. Need to adjust the OAL based on the different length of the FN and RN though.
 
As I said I have been shooting this load with a OAL of 1.060" and get good feeding I was afraid it was to deep but see no signs of pressure. I will go back to the Xtreme 124gr HP as the HP has a different shape that feed better.
 
Hodgdon lists 6.6 HS6 as a max with lead 6.8 as a max with jacketed. (the jacketed was at 1.09) I haven't loaded HS6 but it seems like 6.1 should be ok shorter OAl.
Hopefully some HS6 loader will chime in if I am out to lunch here.
It's not just OAL per say its more how much of the volume of the case is taken up by bullet, different bullets at the same OAL will take up different amounts of space in the case.
If the FN shoots and feeds well for you at 1.06 I wouldn't worry about it, change bullets if you want to but I wouldn't panic about 1.06, lots of the CZ guys need to load shorter.
Just be aware you MAX charge goes down as the OAL goes down.
I have no idea of pressure but in some tests I did with BE86 load going from 1.10 to 1.08 gave about 25fps more, about the same going from 1.08 to 1.06.
 
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TheDomFather said:
Have you tried polishing your feed ramp?
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No, I would not polish the feed ramp of any Glock. :eek: Why would you? My G17/19/26 and G22/23/27 with 9mm conversion barrels fed lead SWC loads without issues. My G22 with 9mm KKM barrel will even feed empty resized brass and reliably feed full wad cutter loads like these - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-plated-for-38-question.822818/#post-10578514

index.php


David Winkley said:
124 gr Xtreme FN plated bullets using 6.1 grs HS6 out of my G17 that has a Storm Lake barrel ... have a feeding problem if I get above 1.060" OAL. They will jam on feed ramp.
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With any new bullet, you need to determine the "max OAL" then "working OAL" that will reliably feed and chamber from the magazine before conducting powder work up - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...l-with-your-bullet.506678/page-2#post-8864541

So incrementally decrease the OAL (say by .005") from 1.060" until you have reliable feeding and chambering from the magazine which will be your "working OAL" that will be used for your powder work up. Keep in mind that OAL can vary depending on the consistency of the nose profile/ogive and could swing quite a bit.

Once you determined the working OAL, calculate the bullet seating depth by subtracting bullet length from working OAL to check if max powder charge will be compressed - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/be-86.760289/page-32#post-10562184

If you will compress max powder charge, you can reduce the powder charge or if reduced powder charge won't produce desired velocities, use more dense powders so you won't compress powder charge.
 
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David Winkley said:
As I said I have been shooting this load with a OAL of 1.060" and get good feeding I was afraid it was to deep but see no signs of pressure. I will go back to the Xtreme 124gr HP as the HP has a different shape that feed better.
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No need to spend the extra money on a HP bullet for practice. Use the OAL that feeds reliably and the charge you are using would most likely be safe since its will below the listed max. This is why load data gives us a charge range.

If you are still concerned call or email Hodgdon and ask them about your bullet. They often have more data than they post on the site and are more than happy to share it.
 
I have loaded that same X-treme 124gr FP to 1.065" COL and had no feeding problems at all in a number of different pistols. Granted, none of them were Glocks, but I would be surprised if the Glock is the problem. Maybe something to do with the SL barrel? Or the magazine? Do you have the same fail to feed issue with the original Glock barrel? Or with all magazines?
 
Thanks all, My problem starts when I get above 1.060. I was worried that was to short of an OAL for the 124 FN. I am not up on the pressure scales so I was concerned. The problem I think is the ten round mag as the LC mags work fine. May be the spring or follower that is causing problem.
 
Is longer better from an accuracy point of view.
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Sometimes yes sometimes no. (not much help I realize) Only way to tell is test with your load in your gun.
I'm not shooting bullseye so I don't try to eek out every last bit of accuracy possible (I couldn't shoot the difference in a lot of cases anyway)
Sometimes I have had better results with a shorter OAL.
Better case neck "grip" allowing pressure to build a bit? Slightly higher pressure and vel? Don't know for sure but for me sometimes shorter is better.
I have multiple 9mms so what is the longest I can use in one is to long in another so I just load to keep them all as happy as possible, since I don't want to worry about "long" ammo not functioning in the one that needs a shorter OAL.
 
I shoot for the fun of it. The noise, the clank, and see holes in paper. I'm 77 so it is just fun. I load for the same reason, it's fun but I take it seriously. I have 4 Glock and feed them all the same ammo. OAL for all is between 1.060 and 1.090 just wanted to be sure that it is not to short. I am also going to up load from 6.1 to 6.3 and see what does. That is still within limits but I will try to use the longer OAL.
 
David Winkley said:
No but good point can't hurt Thanks
Click to expand...
Well, yes it can hurt. Depends upon your definition of "polish". Polish it badly and it sure can hurt.

Sounds to me like you don't have a problem:

Flat Nose means they cut the nose off. Right? So the bullet is shorter. Right? So the OAL is shorter. Right?
If they cut 0.100" off a round nose bullet to make a flat nose, then your OAL will be 0.100" shorter.
1.060" is perfect for that bullet, don't mess it up by trying to load a Flat Nose as long as a Round Nose.

And for heaven sake don't start polishing parts that doesn't require polishing. Yes it can hurt if done wrong.
 
Good point but some of my problem is the Xtreme flat nose have slight shoulder where as the HP which is not a self defense type has no shoulder. They just feed better and I think are more accurate. I have a 1000 FN to shoot up first though. I think I'll stay at 1.060. Thanks for feed back PS --I might add that I tried my 17 round (Mass non compliant mag and it ran flawlessly with 2 different OAL's. Glock has a follower problem as they have sent me 3 different ones to try. Not to worry I'll be home in Florida in 2 months. By the way I really like this forum.
 
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"...max with jacketed..." Plated bullet not jacketed. 6.1 of HS 6 is close to minimum for a 125(close enough) grain cast though.
Sounds like the chamber is a tick short, but I don't think I'd worry too much. It works. Don't fix it. Mind you, you could chamfer the back of the chamber. Extend the feed ramp up the sides about half way. Or not.
 
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