45 acp 230 gr Berry plated bullets & OAL

[Geo9547]

Initially used a CCI Blazer Brass factory load as my OAL @ 1.26. Don't know what the powder or load is.

I have been reloading Berry 230 gr plated RN's. The Lyman data for a 225 lead bullet, 4.0-5.8 gr's of Win 231 is 1.272 OAL, so that is what I used even though it was data for a 225 gr lead bullet.

My recipe has been 5.4 grains of Win 231 powder at a OAL of 1.26. My S&W 1911 E series has been ejecting (6+ feet) and cycling just fine. I should probably leave well enough alone but...

I just got the LEE reloading manual. It shows a charge of 4.3-5.3 Win 231 and a OAL of 1.20 for a 230 gr lead bullet, the same weight as the plated bullet I am using.
If I want to experiment, what would the effect be trying a 1.24 or 1.22 OAL using 5.4 grains of Win 231? Do you think being a tenth over the max Lee load going to be a problem? What is the effect of using a lower OAL? Will it help accuracy? Or should I just continue as is and be happy??

 

[blujax01]

First - step away from the lead bullet data.

Berry's web site says to use low to midrange jacketed data.

Lyman 49th data on page 382 says Win231 should be loaded 5.2-5.8 with an OAL of 1.275.

 

[Geo9547]

Thanks blujax01. Point taken on the lead bullet data.
I just checked the Lee book, and for jacketed they say 4.2 to 5.3 at 1.20. The Lyman is for TMJ(Total Metal Jacket?). Do you know if there is a difference between jacketed and TMJ that would account for the wide discrepencey between the two? Crazy huh? Thanks for your input.

 

[blujax01]

There are differences between loading manuals that sometimes cannot be explained. In this case though, I think (SWAG) it may have to do with the pressure created by the OAL.
Lyman data w/ a 1.275 OAL and 5.8 grains shows a pressure of 16,200 CUP.
Lee data w/ a 1.20 OAL and 5.3 grains shows a pressure of 16,800 CUP.

Maddening, ain't it?!

 

[Engineer1911]

Even in reloading common sense works. Sometimes a simple sketch or write the data "your way" will help explain the 'facts'. While a short overall length will raise chamber pressure, having the bullet engage the barrel rifling increases pressure even more with the same powder charge.

 

[novalty]

With Berry's 230grs plated I had very good luck shooting the following load in my S&W 1911. They were very accurate and cycled the slide fine.

6.0 grs. of Unique
CCI LP Primers
1.265 OAL
.471" crimp.

My Lyman 49th shows the jackets load as base of 5.9 grs of Unique.

 

[scattershot]

Sometimes, the OAL can differ. Even with the same weight bullet. A "pointier" round nose will have a longer OAL than a truncated cone, for example, with the same amount of bullet contained within the case.

As long as it functions in your pistol, and you are not on the razor edge of max loads, you should be fine.

 

[av8usn]

Loading Data

Just to add my $.02 for loading the .45 ACP. I have had very good luck with;

230 grain plated bullets, Berry's and Precision Delta
5.4 grains of Unique
C.O.L. 1.22

Makes major P.F. and yields a very small Std. Dev.