OAL Question

40FIVER · Post by **40FIVER** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:58 pm

Hodgdon's website says that the starting load for the Clays is 3.5 grains and an OAL of 1.20", using 230 grain LRN. I'm loading Berry's plated RN and should be using these numbers to start out with. I guess I should add that this is my first ever attempt at reloading.

Is this a minimum OAL, or will it hurt to have a longer OAL? The WWB JRN that I shoot have an OAL of 1.265", and that's where I'm set up at right now.

Doesn't the OAL affect the pressure and how quickly that pressure is reached? I would think that having a longer OAL than what the book says would be OK. Am I wrong?

Houston1944 · Post by **Houston1944** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:53 pm

The longer OAL will create less pressure than the same bullet with a shorter OAL. OAL is bullet specific since different brands of bullets of the same weight can be in different lengths. The importance of this really depends on what you are reloading. In the low pressure 45acp this is not a big deal. I have never had any pressure signs in a 45acp that I believed to be due to a reduced OAL. However the opposite is true of the 40 S&W. If you ever reload the 40 S&W you must be careful to keep the OAL at or above the recommended length for the specific bullet you are loading.
Just remember that the controlling factor is the space under the bullet, not the overall length of the round.

age_ranger · Post by **age_ranger** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:18 pm

The Hogdon basic reloaders manual lists the 230 Gr HDY FMJ FP:

Clays: 4.0gr
OAL: 1.200"

Why don't they advertise crimp data?

Houston1944 · Post by **Houston1944** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:43 pm

The taper crimp is only to remove the bell to insure feeding of the bullet into the chamber and has no industry defined dimension that I am aware of. Some folks do attempt to measure the taper crimp but you are measuring on a position that is very difficult to determine with the naked eye. Just remove the bell without cutting into the bullet. The bullet in straight wall pistol calibers is held in place by case tension not by the taper crimp.