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Posted: 5/29/2011 10:06:28 AM EDT
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I just picked up from 200gr SWCs for my .45 Colt. I actually ordered 250gr LRN, but got these sent by mistake. I tried to set them into the brass, and they sink very low in, way past the lube groove, and almost past the top of the .452 portion of the bullet. I gave the seller a ring, and he said he would have 250s out to me, but I started dinking around and set the bullets right above the lube groove. Now the OAL I am getting is 1.675 which is way over the OAL recommended; 1.600. I checked to see if my revolver would be able to use the longer cartridges and they fit fine. So I was wondering if it fits and functions in the gun, is it okay to go over the suggested OAL? Is that simply put in there so that the cartridge will function in the majority of guns?
Thanks again |
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IF, you could post pics of the bullet itself and a loaded round it'll help with the visulization of your post.
That being said.......... With revolver rounds...........mostly, IF they fit the cylinder (no protrusion) and IF the bullet won't move forward or back with recoil forces (good bullet crimp)..........it sounds GTG. Aloha, Mark |
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NOT SPEAKING FOR THE ACTUAL LOAD DATA...........BUT........
IF they both fit your cylinder..............they'll "work." I like the one on the right better. Only because.............it looks like a "proper cartridge." Mind you, that's only based on looks. It may also chamber better/faster (dropping in cartridges). However, the proof, will be in the shooting. Aloha, Mark |
| Here is the only concern I offer up. Should you not have a firm enough crimp the bullet can jump the crimp thus lengthening the COAL. Which can bind up the cylinder of revolver. With mild load this should not be a problem. But, with heavy recoiling loads....then you may encounter isses. |
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In your first pic......well, it looks like the crimp is good enough (light and moderate loads). Course the proof is in the shooting.
As you know.....the amount of crimp can be adjusted. Good enough is GTG.........no use over doing it........as you'll probably end up with shorter brass life (splits beginning at the mouth) IF you over do things. Aloha, Mark |
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Remember that a Lee Factory Crimp die SIZES the whole case. And, it swages the bullet. A better solution is to use firm roll crimp rather then swaging the lead bullet to perhaps an even smaller size then bought at. CAS shooters use 200gr RNFP bullets so the bullet wt is not a problem.
The nose style is just different. |
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How important is OAL? If its too short pressures can skyrocket, a proven safe load can go way overpressure if the bullet is set back or loaded to a shorter OAL, and if doesn't necessarily need to be a lot shorter, just a bit can make a big difference. First time I tried Rainer plated SWC bullets in 45 cal, there was no information on loading them at the time, I used the same load I had been using for a very long time, 45 acp, 200 gr lead SWC, 5 gr of WW231, a mild load, just slightly over the minimum load, since I had been loading 200 gr SWC I didn't even mess with the seating die adjustment. When I went to shoot them I had primers that were really flattened, and even some primers that fell out after firing, the pressure had stretched the primer pockets to the point they wouldn't even hold primers anymore. I wasn't even thinking about length, since they appeared about the same as the lead bullets I had loaded, so I started lowering powder charge weights and had to go down to about 3.5 gr of WW231 to use up the rest of the bullets. This was long before the internet and I was stumped, years later I was on Brian Enos message board and that problem occurred to me, so I posted it and asked for opinions, the consensus was "too short". At that particular time Rainier had loading info on their webpage, I had about 25 or 30 of those left and loaded them up at their suggested OAL and 5 gr of WW231, and they worked fine, only difference was the OAL. Unfortunately Rainier no longer has loading data on their website, they just say to use lead bullet data, I had been using lead bullet data when I ran into the problem! |
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I know that to short can be very bad, however can to long be bad? The only problem I can think of with to long are that they won't function well in a magazine fed weapon (not a problem I have to worry about). I just loaded 10 and applied a medium crimp, I'll shoot them tomorrow and report back. I am starting with the minimum load that my manual suggests, so it shouldn't be a problem with bullet set back or coming out, as they should be pretty mild loads.
Thanks again |
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Quoted:
I know that to short can be very bad, however can to long be bad? The only problem I can think of with to long are that they won't function well in a magazine fed weapon (not a problem I have to worry about). I just loaded 10 and applied a medium crimp, I'll shoot them tomorrow and report back. I am starting with the minimum load that my manual suggests, so it shouldn't be a problem with bullet set back or coming out, as they should be pretty mild loads. Thanks again I agree with Mark, if the cartridges fit the cylinder, they'll shoot fine. Take a look in your load manuals for loads with heavier bullets, I bet you'll find some with lengths longer than 1.60 inches. Too long is bad if they cause the cylinder to hang up. |
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