I am loading some 45 ACP Hornady XTP JHP 185gr . The problem I am having is the load data in the Hornady calls for the seating depth to be 1.213" but the bullet looks to me thats its to low in the case. The bullet is lower than the base where the cone begins. I checked the size of the cases and they are all .890 some a little more and som a bit less but it doesn't look like thats the problem. Any advice will help.. Thanks , Marty
Hornady 185 XTP jhp seating depth.
- Thread starter Martyrl27
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gamestalker
member
Welcome to The High Road Martyrl27!
Two words, "Plunk Test"
If you should need the low down on what "Plunk Test" is, say the word and someone here will explain how to accomplish this simple and effective method of determining what the correct seating depth is for YOUR firearm.
Seat them for magazine and barrel fit, and so they cycle reliably.
GS
Two words, "Plunk Test"
If you should need the low down on what "Plunk Test" is, say the word and someone here will explain how to accomplish this simple and effective method of determining what the correct seating depth is for YOUR firearm.
Seat them for magazine and barrel fit, and so they cycle reliably.
GS
Last edited:
JRH6856
Member
Plunk Test:
Make up a dummy round.
Remove the barrel from your gun.
Drop a dummy round into the chamber. The sound this produces is usually a "plunk", hence Plunk Test.
If the bullet is seated long, it will headspace on the rifling and not chamber completely. (Compare the rim to the barrel hood). You want to seat the bullet deep enough to fully chamber without touching the rifling.
If you seat the bullet in the case without crimping, you should be able to seat it long and push to into the chamber with your thumb until the case headspaces properly on the case mouth. The bullet will then be touching the rifling. Set it a 1 or 2 hundreths deeper and you have the proper COL for that bullet in your barrel.
Some barrels may have a long throat and the resulting COL is too long to cycle from the magazine, so you will need to check that as well. If it is too long, just seat it deeper untll it cycles properly.
The COL in the manual is the COL for that load data. It may very well be too deep and represent the minimum COL, rather than the recommended one.
Make up a dummy round.
Remove the barrel from your gun.
Drop a dummy round into the chamber. The sound this produces is usually a "plunk", hence Plunk Test.
If the bullet is seated long, it will headspace on the rifling and not chamber completely. (Compare the rim to the barrel hood). You want to seat the bullet deep enough to fully chamber without touching the rifling.
If you seat the bullet in the case without crimping, you should be able to seat it long and push to into the chamber with your thumb until the case headspaces properly on the case mouth. The bullet will then be touching the rifling. Set it a 1 or 2 hundreths deeper and you have the proper COL for that bullet in your barrel.
Some barrels may have a long throat and the resulting COL is too long to cycle from the magazine, so you will need to check that as well. If it is too long, just seat it deeper untll it cycles properly.
The COL in the manual is the COL for that load data. It may very well be too deep and represent the minimum COL, rather than the recommended one.
The Bushmaster
Member
1.200" is a perfect seating depth for the 185 grain Hornady XTP.
the "plunk test" determines the maximum cartridge length for a particular bullet in a particular gun. there is no guarantee that length will feed reliably in that gun. reliable feeding will usually occur with a shorter length. i want my length to be the maximum that will reliably feed in a particular gun. you can make a dummy round and experiment with different cartridge lengths to achieve this optimum length.
you can either record the length, or keep the dummy round handy to set your seating die in future reloading sessions.
murf
you can either record the length, or keep the dummy round handy to set your seating die in future reloading sessions.
murf
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