380 oal ?
- Thread starter Rockets
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
BennyS
Member
Only manual I have that shows 100 grain bullet is Hornady and it shows a AOL of .980
A lot of data shows a .980 oal for their loads and a 100gr FMJ can be from .965 to .980, so there is a lot of lee way.
With a flat nose design, .984 seems a little long for that shape bullet but if it will chamber and not hit the lands and be flush with the back of the barrel...........for a correct fit, you can try it out.
I don't have the newer manuals that have all these "Newer" type bullets ....sorry.
Good luck with you loads.
With a flat nose design, .984 seems a little long for that shape bullet but if it will chamber and not hit the lands and be flush with the back of the barrel...........for a correct fit, you can try it out.
I don't have the newer manuals that have all these "Newer" type bullets ....sorry.
Good luck with you loads.
jfp357
Member
Experiment, but carefully. Vary the OAL and see what works for the bullet and the gun. Maybe you will write the new data manual.
Start with max COL spec for the cartridge and a light taper crimp.
Using a dummy round, and the barrel removed from the gun (unless it's a fixed barrel) and plunk test it, It should fall in and and fall out. If not adjust the seating depth a little and try again. once it passes the plunk test you should have your COL for THAT gun. You will find the the COL is in the range of max to the short. like for a 90 gr Gold Dot
This is from Walkalong on another forum and is a 1911 barrel but the principal is the same.
Using a dummy round, and the barrel removed from the gun (unless it's a fixed barrel) and plunk test it, It should fall in and and fall out. If not adjust the seating depth a little and try again. once it passes the plunk test you should have your COL for THAT gun. You will find the the COL is in the range of max to the short. like for a 90 gr Gold Dot
This is from Walkalong on another forum and is a 1911 barrel but the principal is the same.
Start with the bullet 'out'
I'll go with jfp and rule3. Start with the bullet just under max oal. If it's a light bullet for the caliber you'll have to seat deeper to get enough of the bullet in the neck. If they load, shoot and function but aren't getting full power, before adding powder, try seating a little deeper.
.
I'll go with jfp and rule3. Start with the bullet just under max oal. If it's a light bullet for the caliber you'll have to seat deeper to get enough of the bullet in the neck. If they load, shoot and function but aren't getting full power, before adding powder, try seating a little deeper.
.
Last edited:
jepp2
Member
Using a listed OAL with a different bullet could be an issue.
For the 380, I first determine the the maximum OAL for the bullet and barrel combination. I measure the tip of the bullet from the muzzle with it lightly against the lands. But you can also measure from the breech.
Next I make sure I have at least 1/2 the bullet diameter seated into the case. Then I calculate what my OAL is with that bullet seating depth, and if it is less than the maximum OAL, I start there.
I will adjust the powder charge "if" my bullet seating depth is much different than the listed load I am using. There are some excellent data bases that give bullet length to calculate bullet seating depth when you are using a different bullet.
Alk8944
US Veteran
In the case of cartridges for semi-automatic pistols the maximum COL is determined by the magazine width regardless of bullet weight. With .380 the normal range of bullet weights, 80-105 gr, don't vary that much in length. Assuming the nose style will function in your magazines at the standard COL simply use that for all bullet weights. If your bullets are HP or RNFP then COL will probably have to be somewhat less. Seat them until they function smoothly through the magazine when the magazine is fully loaded. Then measure them, that's the max. COL for that bullet in your gun.
