Min OAL=Max OAL...wtf?

[jumbopanda]

So I'm looking at a couple of .45acp loads using 185gr jacketed bullets and noticed that the min. OAL is 1.275, which is the same as the max. OAL they list for .45acp. What gives? Not only is there no margin of error, 1.275" long cartridges don't even fit in my 1911 magazines.

[Darklyte27]

Min = dont trim shorter than
max = dont let the brass stretch longer than

[merritt]

1911s were designed to feed hardball... the bullet bounces off the feed ramp while loading. Whoever made that spec decided that the edge of that 185 jhp had to be exactly in the right place for reliable feeding

I've got a federal jfp that comes in at 1.160' a wolf hardball at 1.265" (where I set my loads)

also my USGI mags can hold 1.325" or less depending on the bullet nose (1.17 for a pure cylinder)

also those are COALs not Trim To ... trim lengths on .45ACP are much shorter like .9"

[goober]

Min = dont trim shorter than
max = dont let the brass stretch longer than

he's talking OAL.

and i've found many listed .45 ACP loads where the OAL is too long to fit in a given magazine (for example 1.248" OAL loads i was making that were fine in my 1911 and GG mags would not fit in my buddy's Sig P226. had to get them down to about 1.232 for that. note this was w/ Rainier JHP's)

[jumbopanda]

Oh and now I'm finding conflicting data:

Reloading manual:

185gr jacketed bullet
8.5-8.6gr Power Pistol
Min OAL 1.275


Alliant website:

185 gr Speer GDHP
9.5gr Power Pistol
Min OAL 1.2

[merritt]

jeebus that is a short mag... the follower in my glock 21 mag is 1.371" long (in the direction the bullet rests in. My USGI 1911 mags are 1.25" for this measure

and wow.. you'd think shorter OAL = less powder ...

ps my 100th post ... finally

[jumbopanda]

jeebus that is a short mag... the follower in my glock 21 mag is 1.371" long (in the direction the bullet rests in. My USGI 1911 mags are 1.25" for this measure

I think the reason is because HP bullets are wider in the front than FMJ ones. A FMJ round with the same OAL probably would have worked fine.

[merritt]

yeah the glock mags were designed against 10mm which are loaded with flat points...

my recommendation : load to 1.25~1.26 since those do work for you ... and just do a little workup (start at 8.5gr say (or what ever the smallest published load you find and keep going 'till you are happy) or shorten it up and take a little powder off of your starting load