Correct OAL

[captn-tin]

How do you determine a correct oal of a round when using a hard cast bullet by unknown maker. Friend gave me a bunch of 122gr, .356 flat nose bevel base hard cast bullets I'd like to load for my 1911 38super. Bullet has 1 grease groove and is lubed with a purple colored lube. I found loading info for round nose 122 gr.ers, but these I have are of a different configuration than the round nose.

[slayer61]

How do you determine a correct oal of a round when using a hard cast bullet by unknown maker. Friend gave me a bunch of 122gr, .356 flat nose bevel base hard cast bullets I'd like to load for my 1911 38super. Bullet has 1 grease groove and is lubed with a purple colored lube. I found loading info for round nose 122 gr.ers, but these I have are of a different configuration than the round nose.

Reloading 101 says plunk test for starters and start low and work your way up. Good luck to you Sir.

[FLIGHT762]

Check the max OAL for your 38 Super and go from there. Max COL listed for the .38 Super is 1.280".

Make 3 or so dummy rds. using the max length and then back off .020" for #2 and .040" for #3. See which plunks / fits your magazine better.

[ar15barrels]

Reloading 101 says plunk test for starters and start low and work your way up.

Check the max OAL for your 38 Super and go from there. Max COL listed for the .38 Super is 1.280".

Make 3 or so dummy rds. using the max length and then back off .020" for #2 and .040" for #3.
See which plunks / fits your magazine better.

I agree with these methods.
Also, buy more reloading manuals so you have more tested load data to draw from.

[alland]

I have been reloading 38 super since the 1980s. I like to load as long as will plunk and fit and feed from the magazine.