45 ACP OAL

[black_ump]

hey guys i want to do some 45 acp reloading and went all over the net looking for OAL's for the following 45acp grains. every thing on the net and the online reloading manuals all had diffrent things.

I am looking for the standered ( not home grown ) OAL'S for:

185gr jhp
200gr jhp/fmg
230gr jhp/fmj

thanks in advance i just want to stick to the normal pressure limits, pushing 45acp bullets at or around 800 fps and i want the bullets sticking out for good reliable cycling

 

[Mech45]

Re: 45 ACP OAL

This will vary depending on the specific manufacturer of the bullet you are using. 200gr HP 1.155 230 FMJ 1.2 is what Hogdon lists on there web site http://www.hodgdon.com I run Rainer 230gr plated and Precision Moly 230gr round nose and my Kimber Super Match likes them loaded to 1.250. This is something that you can fine tune for your specific gun and is one of the advantages of reloading. Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: 45 ACP OAL

"I am looking for the standered ( not home grown ) OAL'S for:"

I don't think there is a "standard" OAL for anything, nor need there be. What we need is what works and shoots well and finding that only requires a bit of expermentation.

Not all factory ammo will feed in all pistols. As handloaders we can fix that.

The "homegrown" OAL we SHOULD use compensates for the specifics of a bullet's profile because it affects feeding. So does the feed ramp, the lips of the magazine as well as the chamber/throat. Neither SAAMI nor anyone else can assure you of an OAL that will always work in every pistol ever made in that caliber, nor do they even try. It's up to the maker of the ammo to do the best he can.

The OALs in loading books is what worked for the researchers but it's no more a "rule" for the rest of us than their suggested powder charges.