Author Topic: Hornady HP/XTP's OAL issues ... (Read 709 times)

bigjeepman · « **on:** October 24, 2004, 01:16:12 AM »

Do any of you have trouble with getting consistent OAL with these bullets? I use the XTP's in .357 mag and .45 lc and always have variations with OAL after seating the bullets. Yesterday, I was reloading 158 gr XTP's for my .357 mag and adjusted my seating depth to get an OAL of 1.580". After setup when reloading, I randomly check powder weight and seating depth to make sure everything is what it should be. I usually do this every 10 cartridges. I found the OAL of these rounds varied from 1.578" to 1.583".

The construction of the XTP's lead me to believe variation is possible but I am still concerned about it. Is OAL length as critical in a handgun as I know it is in a rifle? I have reloaded with XTP's before but never noticed this much variation.

Graybeard · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2004, 04:09:19 AM »

It's really not as critical as most think it is in rifles and is almost totally non critical in revolvers. So long as it isn't too long to fit the cylinder that is. The small difference you are seeing is of no concern at all.

Even in rifle rounds you're likely to see this much variation. Bullets are NOT all just alike in a box. If you're using a seater that pushes against the ogive of the bullet it will push against where ever the ogive is of a set diameter based on the size of the seater's hole. For instance the Hornady bullet seaters. If it pushes on the nose then on lead tipped bullets especially it might blunt them a bit differently and also cause some variation.

Except when they are too long to fit the magazine what's most critical is the point on the ogive that is same diameter as barrel and not where the tip is. So it's not really the true over all length of the cartridge but the over all length to that caliber diameter point on the ogive that's important.

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2004, 05:07:49 AM »

GB is right. If you'll measure those XTPs before you start, you'll see that their length varies by as much as a few thousandths. That's why I prefer a concave seating stem, instead of a flat bottomed seater. It cuts down just a slight amount on how much OAL variation you end up with.

For what it's worth. The seating depth variations on revolver rounds doesn't effect velocity/accuracy nearly as much as a good uniform crimp. Now if you're getting enough seating depth variation to cause your crimp to vary a lot, then you'll start running into serious accuracy problems. That's been my experience anyway.

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2004, 06:51:41 PM »

bigjeepman,
How are things in Huntingburg?
I load XTPs for .357, .44 and .45 ACP, and I get those small variations in O.A.L.. It hasen't seemed to have affected the performance or accuracy of my loads.
By the way, have you been able to locate that SBH Hunter in .45 LC yet?
Best,
TnNuc

WD45 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2004, 03:38:08 AM »

While you're on the subject of XTP's....
Whats your favorite load for the XTP in 45LC

bigjeepman · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2004, 02:43:36 PM »

Jerry ... Graybeard ...

Thanks for those replies. I started out loading for my .243 which is a very accurate rifle capable of groups less than .500". Because of the fine tuning I went through developing loads for it and my .300 wsm, I have been concerned that my revolver loads would have been "average at best" without better OAL measurements. Though I will still strive for the most consistent measurements, I am satisfied from your input that OAL variations will still allow me to occasionally hit with acceptable accuracy. The results I had yesterday at the range with the .357 mag actually made me quite happy.

TennesseeNuc ... As always, it is very good to hear from you. I have the SBH Hunter in .45 lc from Lipsey's on order and should be arriving early this week. I can hardly wait to try it out. I will be using 250 gr XTP's in it too. I have not decided on a powder though I have H-110 to start with. I think if I can actually learn to shoot this SBH Hunter, my next boar trip to Tennessee will be a handgun only hunt. Nothing much happening in this little city other than cheering for Scott Rolen on the Cardinal baseball team in the World Series. He is from Jasper which is about 6 miles from here.

WD45 ... The most accurate load I have for the 250 gr XTP in .45 lc is a low velocity load. Using Win brass, CCI 300 primer, 8.5 gr of Unique, OAL of 1.60", and a velocity of approximately 900 fps. Out of my Marlin CBC, I have shot 1.158" to 1.750" groups at 50 yds very consistently. I do not know if that is good for anyone else, but, I am satisfied with that. I have shot consistent 2" groups using 18.2 gr of No. 9 at 1260 fps. As I said above, I have since started using H-110 and I think it will provide what I am looking for.

Again, thank you for the replies...

ktw · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2004, 05:25:54 PM »

Quote from: WD45

While you're on the subject of XTP's....
Whats your favorite load for the XTP in 45LC

Hornady 300 Gr XTP/21.5g H110/Starline Brass/CCI350
...Win94 Trapper 16": 1475 fps
...Ruger NMBH 4 5/8": 1075 fps (.454 throats)
...FA97 5.5": 1200 fps

WD45 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 28, 2004, 01:05:12 AM »

Thanks for the info ....
I'll be running them out of a rossi 92 which normally only sees cast.
Thought I might try some on the deer population although the cast has done just fine at thinning them down :grin:

bigjeepman · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2004, 12:24:29 PM »

WD45 ...

My new SBH Hunter in .45 lc just came in today. I am pretty excited as I always am when getting a new firearm but anything in .45 lc is just extra special to me. What kind of cast bullets do you use in hunting and what powder do you prefer? I use Meister's 200 gr and 250 gr RN-FP bullets when target shooting using Unique. Do you use any swc?

WD45 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 03, 2004, 01:12:50 AM »

Sorry for the delay in answer ....
My normal deer loads are a 250 grn swc over 11 grains of unique or 20 grains of 2400. Not top loads for the 92 but they are accurate and dispatch deer very well. For lighter loads with the same bullet I use the standard 8 grains of unique or 5.7 grains of 700X. The 700X load is so far the most accurate.

bigjeepman · « **Reply #10 on:** November 03, 2004, 12:13:10 PM »

WD45 ...

Not a problem for the delay. I will be purchasing some 250 gr swc on my next trip to the gunshop. I have used swc in my .357 mag and like their accuracy but have not used any swc's hunting to this point.

I took my new SBH Hunter to the range for the first time Sunday using 250 gr XTP's with both H-110 ( 24gr and 25gr) and AA#9 (18.2gr) loads. I was satisfied with the accuracy at 25 yds but the H-110 is almost punishing when pushing this bullet at 1300 fps. I'm no light-weight when it comes to recoil as I shoot a .300wsm in a 6.5 lb hunting rifle but I think I need to find a load around 1100 fps. I'm not sure if I can download the H-110 or the AA #9 to that velocity or not and retain good accuracy.

WD45 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2004, 07:04:09 AM »

Dont think I would fool with H110 for medium loads. There are warnings everywhere you look about not downloading H110. There are other powders that are not so case volume sensitive. 2400 works well for those medium / warm loads. There are several powders that will get you to 1100 FPS I'm sure if you check the loading manuals for ruger data. You already may have one of them sitting on your shelf :grin:

bigjeepman · « **Reply #12 on:** November 04, 2004, 12:28:31 PM »

WD45 ... Thanks for the warning about medium loads with H-110. I now remember reading something about that some time ago. I have never tried 2400 but I might just do that. I like using Unique but it sure dirties a revolver up quickly.

I have been wanting to try another powder in the 1000 to 1200 fps range for the .45 lc. other than Unique. Unique has really served me well but I think I'd like to try something else.

Again, thanks for the info.