New to re loading

[Walkalong]

I am guessing with that range, COL is just determined by what works best in your gun ?

Yes, you should load to an OAL that functions well in your gun. If that over all length is shorter than the length they used in the data, it will cause more pressure and you will have to adjust the max load down accordingly. No magic formula for that unfortunately.

In some cases with barrels with short throats you may have to load shorter. See the plunk test. I have not had that issue with my .45 ACP handguns, but it does happen.

 

[Walkalong]

COAL has mostly to do with where the bullet ogive meets the rifiling of the barrel in rifles.

Not at all, it's just another version of over all length, as in cartridge over all length.

Base to ogive measurements are what rifle shooters use to determine where their bullet touches the rifling.

We use tools such as these from Sinclair. Put the body on the caliper, use a bump gauge insert for setting up sizers/setting shoulder position, or a bullet comparator insert to measure where the bullet touches the rifling.

A comparator body, .22, 6MM, & .30 caliber bullet comparator inserts, and a 30 degree bump gauge insert. I also have a 35 degree bump gauge insert.


Comparator body and the 6MM bullet gauge insert all ready to measure a loaded round to get the base to ogive measurement.

 

[Walkalong]

This fellow mentions both COAL and base to ogive measurements and what they are for rifle. Off topic, but needed clearing up..

 

[kmw1954]

Mossy84, Welcome to one of the best reloading forums on the net. You have been given a bunch of information and some is repeats stated in different ways.

As you progress in this hobby you will come across many conflicting data publications. That doesn't mean one is right or wrong it only means that different testing technics and criteria were used. For instance I have a 45acp lead load I'm working on right now. One does list a bullet manufacture and that would be Lyman that also made the bullet mold. It lists a length of 1.272" while Western Powder Data list a length of 1.230" and both of them show absolutely different loadings of the same powder. Then if I go to Hodgdon Powder website and look for data on a 230gr lead RN they have another completely different length.

Again as you progress in this you will become more adept at deciphering these numbers and how they relate.

Best one can do with any new bullet is to determine what the working length should be for that bullet in the gun you are loading for. There are some topics posted as to how to do this but I never saved one to refer to or provide a link. In my case I load for a number of different guns in the same caliber and have from habit and practicality I load to the shorted common denominator. I then adjust my powder loadings from there.

 

[PWC]

Not at all, it's just another version of over all length, as in cartridge over all length.
View attachment 900382

What you say is true, but since the OP was asking about .45 OAL, I didn't go into the rifle discussion.

In any case, any bullet length past the lands contact point on the bullet is only relevent to COAL to make sure the cartridge will function in the magazine of the firearm.

I was discissing the pressure vs seating depth in handgun cartridges.

 

[AJC1]

1. Find the max oal for your gun.
2. Find the oal you want to load for and functions best.
3. Never use a max load listed in any source with a shorted oal than tested. (Exception your very experienced and your testing and need to make power factor. You still know and accept the risk)
4. Using a longer oal than tested lowers pressure and is safe.

 

[Walkalong]

I didn't go into the rifle discussion.

It's the same for both, was stated incorrectly,

COAL has mostly to do with where the bullet ogive meets the rifiling of the barrel in rifles. I believe for handguns, it's mostly about pressure.

and I thought it needed clearing up.

 

[stillquietvoice]

It's the same for both, was stated incorrectly,

and I thought it needed clearing up.

This is why I posted what I did, sorry if I confused the point.

 

[Dudedog]

As a side note, of course all 230 RNs are the same shape, how much of the bullet is in the case matters more than OAL
(assuming OAL will plunk in you gun)
The old RMR 230 plated RNs were "stubby" and and a shorter OAL than some other RNs I used with the same amount of bullet in the case.