I've been thinking about my 45 Shield reloads, I primarily shoot 200gr SWC coated bullets. The Shield is touchy on OAL on certain bullet profiles and there are a few it does't like at all so I work up my seating depth with a plunk test.

Should I also be thinking about a certain amount of bullet jump for pressure concerns before the bullet engages into the lands/grooves? Is it bad if the bullet rests against them or is there a considered standard that setback needed for safety and accuracy?
Karl

Since you will inevitably get variation in seating depth with real production bullets in a real press, it is folly to try to seat bullets right on the rifling in a handgun cartridge, especially if you ever might use it for self defense. You must have 100% reliability, and the gain in accuracy in a service handgun by "seating them close" is little to none.

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Science plus Art

So then knowing that in most instances I am seating just off the lands/grooves is considered normal safe loading?

I am more concerned with minimum safe OAL knowing that a few bullet profiles require quite a bit more setback and I stay away from them not knowing how much pressure I am increasing.
Karl

I wouldn't be concerned with it. Your loaded cartridge won't pass the chamber drop test if the bullets are seated long enough to engage the rifling. They may be close to the rifling, but this is no problem. I'd also seat to max magazine length, if possible.

I'm not familiar with a Shield, but would guess the chambers are in line with SAAMI specs. You could experiment with different OALs, but few handguns shoot accurately enough for the OAL to make any measureable difference. However, different OALs can certainly affect reliable magazine feeding.

You didn't mention bullet design. Some 200 grain cast SWCs, like a #68 H&G design work well with an OAL between 1.24" - 1.27". Others like the Lyman #452460 may need seating to an OAL of 1.16". Good luck-

Yes the 1.23-1.24 seems to be inline with the Missouri or Badman 200gr SWC's I have used.
I had tried a Berrys 185 Hollow Point Target bullet but that ended up needing to seat at 1.13-1.14 and that didn't seem inline with specified seating depths so I passed on them and traded them off to a friend.
Thanks

Different bullet weight and different PROFILE will all have different COL.

It's Apples to Oranges comparing a 200 LSWC to a Plated 185 gr HP.

So the Berry 185 HP are going to be shorter than a 200 gr RN or SWC. The Berry HP appears to be the same basic profile as the FP so the two should be similar in COL

Look at the 185 gr RN bullet and the 185 gr HP, would they be the same COL???

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Still Running Against the Wind

I do a plunk test on every brand/type bullet on every gun I own and keep a log of the plunk OAL. When reloading I set the OAL 0.015 shorter than the original OAL and recheck the plunk test this time I check to make sure the bullet spins in the chamber and does not hang up. Sometimes I may have to go to 0.020 to get it to spin. Once the bullet spins and doesn't hang up that becomes my permanent OAL for that brand/type of bullet.

If the 1.13" OAL has the same, or less, amount of bullet seated inside the case (seating depth, not overall cartridge length) than the OAL 1.23" then it's not an issue, assuming the powder fill line is the same for both. It's bullet dependent.

Whenever I load a new bullets style/weight I always document the seated bullet's depth in my load data so I can compare it for future use.

Bullet jump shouldn't be in issue in a semi-auto pistol, unlike on a revolver.

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Waiting for the break of day

Indeed. You're far more likely to run into setback due to feeding. If you're getting occasional bullets stuck on the rifling (which usually results in the barrel and slide sticking closed), then you're flying a bit close to the sun on OAL and need to shorten it up a hair.

Read the postings by Wobbly below and look at his great drawings in post #3, finding your max OAL applies to all pistols and rifles.

Topic: How to determine Max OAL for a CZ Pistol (Read 54050 times)
How to determine Max OAL for a CZ Pistol

Most misunderstood aspect of reloading is COL. It is always bullet & barrel specific, regardless of what the data says. The loaded round must fit your gun.
Yes OAL can cause pressures issues, but one needs to understand the dynamics. With small volume handgun rds, deep seating can be an issue, but only with loads well over midrange. In rifles, its invers, longer oal are going to cause pressure issues, not shorter. Totally diff dynamics, slower powders, higher pressures, greater case volume.
So pay attention to OAL, but understand how it affects pressures & stop fretting over it. If you run the ragged edge of max, then your OAL & setback in pistol loads becomes very important. If you are running light target loads, setback is almost a non issue.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

Yes sir! No more fretting LOL I don't run near max, usually start to midrange only for the type of shooting I do.....Thanks!
Karl