.45 ACP question

[clovishound]

I've loaded up several hundred .45 ACPs so far. Some were coated, some were plated, some were cast. I just got an order of cast 230 grain round nose. The issue is that the ogive is somewhat longer than the other bullets I have been using. Loading these at 1.275 max COAL, the mouth is right at, to perhaps a little over the transition. The exact point of the transition is difficult to pinpoint. At this COAL, they plunk test fine. In fact, loading them to 1.280, they plunk fine. I have measured them six ways to Sunday and don't see or measure the mouth rolling under. even the ones I tried loading deeper at 1.265.

My brain says these should be fine. My gut has a butterfly or two, as Clovispup will be shooting these as well.

What say you. OK? Load them longer? Eat these and order different profile? FWIW, I will be the only one firing these until I am convinced they are OK.

[RanchRoper]

This is what concerns me about reloading. If a guy like YOU can have doubts and questions, that makes a greenhorn like me real nervous. I'll be very interested to read what some of the experts here say. Great question, thanks.

[JEBar]

My brain says these should be fine. My gut has a butterfly or two, as Clovispup will be shooting these as well.

understood on both .... sometimes a bit of paranoia creeps in and makes us question something that rationally we know is fine .... on the other hand, sometimes it pays to be paranoid .... have you considered calling the bullet manufacture and speaking with their customer service .... as a side note, we have found that loading for revolvers and manual action rifles is simpler than doing so for semiautomatic firearms .... no clue why that is the case .... could easily be some of that paranoia slipping in

[DWD445]

If I understand you correctly, if you're saying the case mouth is near the rounded part of the bullet ? I've been using MBC and Berry's and saw the same thing, I think it may be an illusion. I compared to some factory loads an it was similar. You don't have to crimp them super tight, I go till the case doesn't feel sharp. It still looks bigger than the bullet. I've shot hundreds and no issues.
I also agree with JEBar, when in doubt ask the experts.

[clovishound]

If this were a major company, I would. I still might call, it seems like it is a small casting company. They have excellent prices, and seem to have a good product as well as fast service. I might try and give the owner a call.

The issue is the mouth is right at or maybe slightly over the point at which the straight bearing surface of the bullet transitions to the ogive, or rounded portion of the bullet. The issue, as I understand it, is that if you have the mouth too far onto the ogive, there may be issues with headspacing. I am using a minimal crimp on them. I ran the crimp die down until I could just feel a little resistance just before the ram tops out. There is far less than a .001 difference between the OD at the edge of the mouth, and a little further down the case. I did check for setback, and did not have any issues there.

[BigAl52]

For me if I run them overmax overall lenght I always run into trouble. I would load them at max or slightly under overall lenght and use them that way. When you change the seatin depth of the bullet it also changes case pressure. Al

[clovishound]

The ones I've loaded up are very near max COAL.

I think I have figured it out to my satisfaction. I don't know where my mind was. Instead of trying to figure out where the transition is, I just measured the OD of the bullet right up against the mouth of the bullet on a loaded round. DUH. Anyway, it measured .002 under the OD of the driving area. I also measured some of the coated and plated I had loaded and they were about .001 under the driving area. I have shot several hundred of these with no problems.

This gives me confidence in them. I can't imagine that .002 would be an issue. If I don't have any leading issues with these, I may just switch to the 200 grain flat point profile they have.

[Travlin]

I found that the Lee factory crimp die helps me when loading any case that headspaces on the case mouth. I shoot .45 A.C.P. in a Ruger Blackhawk and two 1911's.