Overall length/bullet weight vs max OAL - 40 S&W?

[Jim K III]

I'm using the Lyman 49th edition and reloading 40 S&W with X-treme RNFP bullets. The graphic showing the bullet/case dimensions shows max OAL of 1.135 However, the OAL in the data portion is different depending on bullet weight. I've included the page with the diagram and the first two data grids. I'm loading 180gr bullets, so here are the different OAL examples:
135 gr 1.085" OAL
150 gr 1.100" OAL
165 gr 1.120" OAL
180 gr 1.115" OAL <----- what I'm loading.
190 gr 1.135" OAL

Should I seat my 180 gr bullets to ~1.115 OAL, or just make sure they're less than 1.135 OAL within reason?

I measured a couple of different 180 gr factory loads and they're around 1.125 OAL.

 

[Blue68f100]

Longer does not hurt anything as long as they function in your gun.

 

[twistytorn]

The OAL listed is the length that Lyman used to generate the data, so with their components they got a the given pressure/velocity. It's a reasonable place for you to work from if you're using the same components since you'll have some expectation of the velocity you should see. It's not 1-1.

But as Blue said, longer won't hurt if it functions in your gun since the pressure should be lower.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Longer does not hurt anything as long as they function in your gun.

I have to load my .40 long because my STI mags hates every I throw at it

 

[Jim K III]

Thanks for the responses! They make perfect sense. Cheers!

 

[markr6754]

And then there are the exceptions. I load my Sinterfire 135gr Frangible bullets to 1.140" +/- which is the lowest I can get these super long pills. They actually feed without issue in my Springfield EMP 40 out to 1.175".

These light bullets require load data for 185gr jacketed, but they were dirt cheap closeouts (pre CCP Virus) and fun to shoot.

 

[Mark_Mark]

And then there are the exceptions. I load my Sinterfire 135gr Frangible bullets to 1.140" +/- which is the lowest I can get these super long pills. They actually feed without issue in my Springfield EMP 40 out to 1.175".

These light bullets require load data for 185gr jacketed, but they were dirt cheap closeouts (pre CCP Virus) and fun to shoot.

I have the same Frang bullets

 

[FROGO207]

My first thing to do when reloading is to start at SAMMI max and see if they feed and plunk with a dummy round. Then I work up a load with that length that worked. Then I look at what the book said they used. Mine are often longer. If I make blasting ammo for miltiple firearms I use the length that will plunk in the shortest chamber.