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OAL for 45 ACP

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nksmfamjp
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Posted: 12 August 2008 11:39 PM

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I'm trying to figure out an OAL for 45 ACP. I was loading to like 1.210" and the bullets seemed to feed fine, but the nose was getting damaged on my OACP. I loaded the last group to 1.240" and I am getting some FTF.

How do you determine the ideal OAL for an auto loader?

BTW, this load is 45 ACP, 200gr Raineer Plated HP crimped, Mixed case(sort for CL), AA#5 powder, Win LP primer.

Dirtkicker
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Posted: 13 August 2008 05:49 PM

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1.24 should work. Try 1.235 and see what happens.

Every pistol is different. You may have to fiddle around with yours with different COALs (especially with HPs) until you find the one she likes best.

Sprue
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Posted: 20 August 2008 05:25 AM

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There are several different things to try.

First make sure that the rounds move freely in the magazine while
fully loaded.

Also a week powder charge could be the cause. If you have
room, within your manual specs, increase your charge. Do not exceed
the max load.

You could also polish the feed ramp. If no combination of the above works
for you, then goto another bullet manufacturer and or bullet style.

Lastly, I do assume that you are crimping.

Good Luck

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nksmfamjp
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Posted: 20 August 2008 11:33 AM

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The rounds are a bit longer than normal, but still not touching the mag body.

Powder charge is maximum.

Feed ramp had been polished.

This bullet has fed well before, but at a shorter OAL. At the shorter OAL, sometimes the nose was being damaged in my 3.5" 1911, but still feeding.

I think I will try incrementally shorter OAL's until I find something ideal.

nksmfamjp
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Posted: 30 August 2008 06:48 PM

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OK, this issue is continuing. Can you measure any bullet which feed well in your 1911 and tell me what bullet it is and the OAL? Factory or reloads are ok.

For example, I'm loading 230gr RN Cast at ~950 fps and 1.230" OAL.

BTW, the feedramps are polished and the gun cycles well with Winchester White Box 230 FMJ and the look like their OAL is like 1.250" Bullet shape is FMJ, but more cone shaped.

Sprue
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Posted: 30 August 2008 07:16 PM

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I just checked my coal.

I'm using my cast 430g Tumble Lube RN from a Lee mold sized @ .452.

COAL is 1.275

Unique 5.0g

Crimped w/LFC die

This bullet gave me a little leading (w/no FTF/FTE).... I have since moved on to a lubrisizer and a SWC.

Are you crimping, light/heavy/none? Do you tumble your brass is your sizing die
adjusted properly??? Whats your bullet sized at? What is your COL?

I just found a couple factory RN jacketed rounds:

Surplus RN = 1.265
Factory RN = 1.275

I get my load lenght from my manuals. I do try and seat bullets at the cannalure or crimp grove if provided.

Last edited on 30 August 2008 07:39 PM by Sprue

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BeaverJack
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Posted: 24 September 2008 12:42 AM

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nksmfamjp wrote: I'm trying to figure out an OAL for 45 ACP. I was loading to like 1.210" and the bullets seemed to feed fine, but the nose was getting damaged on my OACP. I loaded the last group to 1.240" and I am getting some FTF.

How do you determine the ideal OAL for an auto loader?

BTW, this load is 45 ACP, 200gr Raineer Plated HP crimped, Mixed case(sort for CL), AA#5 powder, Win LP primer. This is a JHP. Most of the suggestions are too long. I load Golden Sabers to 1.215". The flat nose (profile) merits a shorter length. Try 1.215 and work your way up by .005 until you get the desired result.

Last edited on 24 September 2008 12:43 AM by BeaverJack

BAT1
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Posted: 28 October 2008 03:23 PM

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I normally load round nose to 1.250 and hollow points and semiwad cutters to 1.230. That works in my Springer, but make some dummy rounds and see what works best for your gun. Make sure the gun is clean, especially the chamber.

nksmfamjp
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Posted: 29 October 2008 02:41 AM

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Well, after a little work, I figured out the issues with the gun. It needed mag springs and a new recoil spring.

I also looked at what effect OAL had on the feed cycle.

Too long and it seems to create a real sticking point when the bullet hits the feed ramp, but the mag lips are not ready to let go.

Too short and the round just kind of pops out of the magazine and bounces out of the chamber.

Just right and it slips under the extractor without overly slowing the forward speed of the slide.

It is fairly easy to build dummy rounds and adjust their OAL until ideal feeding is achieved.

barebackpat
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Posted: 30 October 2008 04:33 AM

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I am having some problems with some hollow points i loaded for my kimber. I think it is just the loads are too long. I have to do a littel more work and then i post my results. I am using two bullets. 185 grain hollow points one is the speer gold dot and the montana gold bullet hollow point. with rams shot true blue powder.

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nksmfamjp
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Posted: 30 October 2008 11:28 AM

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Maybe. Their flat nose makes the OAL noteably shorter than ball.

MAUSER88
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Posted: 31 October 2008 04:10 PM

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1.275 has always worked for me in all my .45's.

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