OAL way off please comment.

[Scaryfastg]

It is my first time reloading.
Here is my load for a 38 Special:
.358" 125 grain Dardas Cast lead RNFP, 3.8 grains (starting) HP-38, once fired PMC and S+B brass untrimmed.

When I seat the Dardas round nose flat point bullet, just barely deep enough to hide the crimp groove, the OAL comes to 1.355". The Hodgdon data says a minimum OAL should be 1.455". If I were to seat the bullet to 1.455" the crimp groove is fully exposed and the cartridge doesn't look like any I have ever seen. I am thinking the dardas bullet is just a bit shorter than the reload data bullet, with a flatter flat point. Is this a problem?
Thanks...

[iareConfusE]

It is my first time reloading.
Here is my load for a 38 Special:
.358" 125 grain Dardas Cast lead RNFP, 3.8 grains (starting) HP-38, once fired PMC and S+B brass untrimmed.

When I seat the Dardas round nose flat point bullet, just barely deep enough to hide the crimp groove, the OAL comes to 1.355". The Hodgdon data says a minimum OAL should be 1.455". If I were to seat the bullet to 1.455" the crimp groove is fully exposed and the cartridge doesn't look like any I have ever seen. I am thinking the dardas bullet is just a bit shorter than the reload data bullet, with a flatter flat point. Is this a problem?
Thanks...

Depends on the bullet that Hodgdon used when they came up with that number. If they used a round nose bullet, of course it's going to be a longer OAL. Make sure you're finding data for bullets of the same weight, with the same style of nose.

[bumpo628]

You should post a side by side picture of both rounds so we can see what you're talking about.

Since you're loading at the minimum charge for HP-38 at that bullet weight for a LRNFP, I'm sure it will be fine. Of course a smaller OAL increases the pressure, but the 38 spl can handle a lot more than the pressure listed on the Hodgdon website of 17,000 CUP for the 1.445 length.

Do you have a printed load book to go by too? If not, you should pick up Lyman's 49th to start.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=217655