After shooting enough to get a good idea, I determined that the max OAL (overall length) was too long in the reloads that I made. Enough rounds were getting hung up in the feed ramp to convince me.
I decided to reset the seat die to seat the bullet just a little further in.
I did my homework and I know that the farther in the bullet seats, the less space in the case for the powder/gasses/burn...
Using a baseline from my favorite factory loads (Mag Tech), I found the OAL in a box of 50 ranged from 1.262 to 1.268 instead of the max OAL in the Lyman book, which was 1.275".
I loosened the seater plug lock nut and backed the seater plug out just a little. Then I put a factory round in there and ran it all the way into the seater die. I lowered the seater plug until I felt it stop against the bullet in the factory round and tightened it right there with the plug's lock nut. Voila.
New OAL is 1.266. I'll load some up and shoot them to see if that's where I want to leave things. It likely will be.
If I don't shoot them tomorrow, I might on Sunday when Jay and his Mrs. comes up for the day. I'll get him to check my work, too.
This reloading thing is really fun! :)
4 comments:
Take a look at this method for finding a bullet's seating depth.
Too simple!
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=81257
Bob
Annie, it's an entirely separate hobby within a hobby! I believe you're going about this a very well thought out way. Will be watching from afar.
(Bob, good general rule to keep in mind.I'd forgotten that one)
That length should work fine, with Rd nose bullets from a Lee mold I'm using a 1.265 oal, and have cured all my feeding problems.
Anonymous, what gun?
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