xtp 45 acp load check

L

Lsc8

New member
Got some free hornady bullets for buying a die set.
45 cal
185 gr xtp
part # 45100

The only load book I have that shows this bullet is the lyman 49th. It states for win 231 powder 4.4 min 6.1 max with 1.175 oal.

I loaded one of these at 4.4 gr and the 1.175 oal and it looks wrong and very short.

I've seen other online data stating 1.225-1.230 oal and 6.4 min to 7.2gr max with win 231.

I understand less powder for shorter oal but it just looks wrong. does anyone have another source or can confirm the above measurements?
 
xtps have a flat point that can get stuck as they go into the chamber. Hence the shorter COL. Round noses will always look longer.
 
I found the above oal listing for the same xtp bullet though, part of what was throwing me off. If my lyman data is correct I'll load to those specS. Just seems odd.
 
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COL in manual is NOT a recommendation

In my 1911s, FP bullets are loaded at 1.240" in most cases--and longer for some.
Per Ramshot:
"SPECIAL NOTE ON CARTRIDGE OVERALL LENGTH “COL”
It is important to note that the SAAMI “COL” values are for the firearms and ammunition manufacturers industry and must be seen as a guideline only.
The individual reloader is free to adjust this dimension to suit their particular firearm-component-weapon combination.
This parameter is determined by various dimensions such as
1) magazine length (space),
2) freebore-lead dimensions of
the barrel,
3) ogive or profile of the projectile and
4) position of cannelure or crimp groove.
• Always begin loading at the minimum "Start Load".
• Increase in 2% increments towards the Maximum Load.
• Watch for signs of excessive pressure.
• Never exceed the Maximum Load."

Your COL (OAL) is determined by your barrel (chamber and throat dimensions) and your gun (feed ramp) and your magazine (COL that fits magazine and when the magazine lips release the round for feeding) and the PARTICULAR bullet you are using. What worked in a pressure barrel or the lab's gun or in my gun has very little to do with what will work best in your gun.
Take the barrel out of the gun. Create two inert dummy rounds (no powder or primer) at max COL and remove enough case mouth flare for rounds to chamber (you can determine this by using an empty sized case, expand and flare, and remove the flare just until the case "plunks" in the barrel).
Drop the inert rounds in and decrease the COL until they chamber completely. This will be your "max" effective COL.
You can also do this for any chambering problems you have. Remove the barrel and drop rounds in until you find one that won't chamber. Take that round and "paint" the bullet and case black with Magic Marker or other marker. Drop round in barrel (or gage) and rotate it back-and-forth.
Remove and inspect the round:
1) scratches on bullet--COL is too long
2) scratches on edge of the case mouth--insufficient crimp
3) scratches just below the case mouth--too much crimp, you're crushing the case
4) scratches on case at base of bullet--bullet seated crooked due to insufficient case expansion (not case mouth flare) or improper seating stem fit
5) scratches on case just above extractor groove--case bulge not removed during sizing. May need a bulge buster.
 
That's where I'm A bit confused. There is such a huge difference between the lyman and hornady data.
 
Its quite unlikely that either one of those manufacturers are using your pistol to determine load length, powder charge or cases, unless they somehow borrowed it from you. The listed overall length I take as the minimum length.

That's one of the reasons why you are admonished by most of the bullet/powder makers to begin with a starting load and work up, watching carefully for overpressure signs, to see which is the most accurate in your firearm.

Once you establish the powder charge, you can play with longer length cartridges to see if they make a difference. I wouldn't go shorter than the listed OALs but going longer is pretty safe. You may well get to the length which will feed from the magazine but no longer or they wont fit. While you are doing this, make sure that your rounds will fit the chamber and the bullet isn't run into the lands.

For example, I have 3 1911's, an Officer Model, Government model and a Gold Cup Trophy match and I load for all 3.
Because my Officer model is a bit more finicky about what its fed, I work up the loads in it and they work in the other 2 larger pistols. For whatever reason-angles, magazines or what have you, my OM likes the XTP loads at right around 1.250". It feeds more reliably than the shorter cases and the accuracy is good.
 
A bullet seated to long can cause over pressure, it should have a space before it gets to the rifling.
 
Hornady changed the ogive on their 45 acp rounds due to feeding problems in higher end 1911s just a few months ago. The change was too late to make it into the 9th edition.

The new recommended OAL for the Hornady XTP and HAP .451 bullets is 1.235 to 1.245.

1.236 on the left 1.213 on the right.

 
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