45 ACP Over All Length?

[Alan in WI]

If anyone is using a Lee Mold 200 grain semi wad cutter, what are you using for an over all length? My reloading book states a 1.275 maximum over all length. I was loading around 1.270 and they would not feed. I am thinking I may have to load to around 1.250 to make it work. I am just wondering what some of you guys are using with this bullet.

Thanks,

Alan

[flinchnjerk]

1.263 works in the four 1911s for which I load. Could you elaborate on "would not feed"? What brand of mag?

[dhain]

I've used 1.255 in the past. I try to put most of the shoulder in the case.

[Alan in WI]

Ok, when I said they wouldn't feed, what happerns is the slide will not close because the bullet is binding. To get the slide to open takes a lot of physical effort that results in the bullet being pulled out of the case. I have to use a wood dowel to get the bullet out of the barrel. This is happening with the bullet seated to 1.270. The bullets are sized to .452.

Alan

[Shooter6br]

I have 2 45ACPs One a Sig 250 and the other a 1911 clone. The Sig the OAL is under 1.240 and the clone 1.250 to 1.260. The clone using mainly Wilson mags. It is the mags that help determine OAL mainly (max that is)

[Dale53]

Alan;
If you are using a 1911, just pull the barrel and use it as a gauge. Hold the barrel vertical (chamber up) and just drop the loaded round into the chamber. Start out with the bullet seated a bit long. Then gradually seat it deeper until the base of the case is flush with the barrel hood. THAT is the correct seating depth for YOUR pistol. Record the overall length and you are "good to go". You really need to do that with every different bullet design you load.

Dale53

[thegreatdane]

For me, the Springfield XD works best with 1.255 OAL, yet still experiences a 5% failure rate. I'm currently experimenting with other modifications (magazine) etc in attempt to find a reliable mod for the lee swc. I sure love that boolit. I sure hope I can find a way to shoot it.

Anyway, my figure of 1.255 OAL was after much research, and experimentation. And yes, use your barrel as a test gauge.

[HammerMTB]

In my experience, here is what often happens:
Barrel makers chamber pistol bbls without ANY leade at all. So there is no taper in of the rifling from the chamber to the rifled portion of the bbl. Then when your boolit sticks out too far, it hits the rifling beyond the case (chamber) end, and is stuck like you said. My opinion is that there should be a leade, but in lieu of that, you will need your OAL to be short enough to chamber without binding. It is easily found by the method in Dale's post above.
Of course, this may mean your loads will be tailored only for your gun. Someone else's .45 ACP may not like the OAL. My .40 loads are all this way....

[dbldblu]

I do it the same way as Dale53.

[Alan in WI]

Thanks Dale,
That makes a whole lot of sense. I will give that a try tomorrow.

Alan

[flinchnjerk]

HammerMTB and Dale53 gave you the cause of and solution to your problem. Used to run into the same problem while tormented myself by trying to build a decent pop-gun load using the Lee .452-160-RF. On a bright note, I noticed that all of the other competitors gave the shooter who was wandering through the course of fire with an 8" brass knock-out rod protruding from his back pocket LOTS of elbow room when he was at the firing point.