New bullets and c.o.l.

[irishlad]

I just started reloading pistol rounds a couple months ago for 380 and 45 acp. I have been using Hornady bullets and have a Hornady manual and they give you a c.o.l. l've been reading posts about Berry bullets and others. When I went to the Berry site it says this "SAAMI MAX COL" for their bullet c.o.l.. My question is how do you folks get a c.o.l. for bullets not in a manual. I am assuming each bullet manufacturer bullets would be a slightly different c.o.l. Do you assume for example a 115 gr fmj are the same? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[drband]

Find what “plunks” in your chamber and back it off a few thousandths (3-4). Compare to published data for similarly profiled bullets of the same weight. You may reduce it a little more to get consistent feeding if needed. Once you get a COAL that works (feeds and chambers consistently), do your powder work up from published starting loads. You should be able to get to a good COAL and powder charge that way. Doing the powder work up is key. Don’t just shorten COAL without doing a proper load work up.

 

[Walkalong]

Berrys gives suggested OALs for their bullets. If that passes the plunk test, you're good to go.

 

[irishlad]

I didn't find it on their website. Their FAQ just had a chart with SAAMI max col.

 

[ray15]

Berry's used to have a COL pdf on their site that actually had useful information, instead of just listing the SAAMI-max COL for each caliber - which will not necessarily clear in your barrel. This pdf lists what clears in a barrel with no leade. These COLs will clear in any arm with a SAAMI-compliant chamber. If you run COLs longer than these you will need to plunk in your barrel to ensure the cartridges fully chamber.

Not all 115fmj are the same, and plated bullets are not the same as jacketed or lead. These days most powder manufacturers list a plated bullet of some kind, and that's usually the best one to use the load data from. If there are no plated bullets listed I start with the load data for a Hornady XTP HP if available - this correlates the best with my plated chrono results.

In a general sense you can start with upper charges listed for plain-lead bullets or at the bottom of the charges listed for jacketed bullets. I work up the load using a chronograph and view whatever charge it takes to equal the velocity of the max jacketed load as the max load for my plated bullet. This often ends up being a bit less powder than the max load listed for the jacketed bullet. Exactly how much depends on a lot of variables.

What caliber and Berry's bullet are you contemplating? What powder do you intend to use? What are goals for this load?

 

[irishlad]

I was looking at the 380 100 gr flat base round nose, 9mm 115 gr round nose (just picked up a 9mm pistol) and the 45 acp 230 gr round nose. I have been using the Hornady version of these bullets, they feed and shoot well. Been using W231 for all of the calibers for plinking rounds. Thanks for the chart!!!!

 

[Jack B.]

I find quite often that I have to seat bullets at different C.O.A.L. than what is suggested. I go buy the plunk test of the barrel that the rounds will be fired in. Just be careful if you are loading near the max powder charge. If you have to seat the bullet deeper than your load manual suggest to pass the plunk test pressures can get very high. Start over loading near min. suggested load.

 

[ray15]

I was looking at the 380 100 gr flat base round nose, 9mm 115 gr round nose (just picked up a 9mm pistol) and the 45 acp 230 gr round nose. I have been using the Hornady version of these bullets, they feed and shoot well. Been using W231 for all of the calibers for plinking rounds. Thanks for the chart!!!!

I've used the 9mm 115RN, but don't have any 380s or 45s. But if you search this forum you can find lots of Berrys/231 loads.

I use an OAL of 1.13" with the 9/115RN. You'll may need to stop a few tenths of a grain short of the max load listed for a Hornady jacketed bullet; it's hard to say exactly without a chrono. As always start at the minimum and work up slowly towards maximum, looking for a suitable combination of clean burning, adequate slide velocity, and accuracy.

The 1.25" OAL listed in that pdf for the 45/230RN will work. A peek at this thread shows 1.25-1.265" inches is popular with 231/HP38 charges in the 4.5-5.3gr. range, which compares well to the Hornady FMJ data.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/berrys-plated-bullets.630442/#post-7789067

The OAL of 0.970" in the pdf for the 380/100RN should work. Some run shorter for feed reasons, and most guns will have enough leade to run 0.980", but I'd try 0.970 myself. Looks like the Hornady data is applicable.



Load data for Berry's bullets isn't much of a problem because they are so widely used and can be safely used with all but the hottest of jacketed bullet loads for the same bullet weight. Your experience with Hornady jacketed is largely applicable. Do go easy on the crimp as to not cut into the plating. And while the PDF OALs should be safe always check a new combination in your guns' barrels. Definitely check if you go longer. Best of luck with your efforts.

 

[irishlad]

Thanks for your help, it is appreciated.

 

[Walkalong]

A peek at this thread shows 1.25-1.265" inches is popular with 231/HP38 charges in the 4.5-5.3gr. range,

Yes. I load various RN .45 ACP bullets to fall between 1.260 to 1.265. There are a couple of real blunt RN out there that load shorter, but the basic "hardball" .45 ACP RN configuration runs well at that OAL.

 

[Walkalong]

The OAL of 0.970" should in the pdf for the 380/100RN should work. Some run shorter for feed reasons, and most guns will have enough leade to run 0.980"

Agreed.

 

[Gottcha]

I make a dummy round to where the bullet will slide down in the case with a little resistance then fully push it in the chamber. That let's me know what is to far out. Then check it with the recommended seating depth.

 

[Toprudder]

Whenever I get a new bullet to try, I do the plunk test to determine just how long it can be seated and still pass the "plunk test". Then I like to back off about 0.020". I know which gun(s) of a given caliber have a tighter chamber or shorter leade, and use that for the plunk test. Just because the load data gives a COL for a 230 grain bullet does not mean it will work for every 230 grain bullet. Examples I like to use are the RMR 230 HM bullet, and Xtreme 230 RN bullet. I can seat the Xtreme to SAAMI max and it plunks fine in my guns, but I seat them around 1.240" to feed reliably. I can seat it as short as 1.225" before the ogive starts to recess inside the case mouth. The RMR 230 HM will not pass the plunk test in one of my guns if I seat it to 1.225", I have to seat it to 1.200". Consequently, I worked up loads for each and have a different charge amount for each one to give roughly the same velocity.

Always start low and work up.