Push Test Difficulties

[Smitty79]

I just started loading for my new, to me, Tactical Sport in 40.   I was having a hard time doing the push test described here:

http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=34225.0

Nothing that had brass loose enough to get a bullet in would fit in the barrel.

So I loaded in line with published OAL's, I've seen for Tac Sports, and did the Plunk Test to make sure I was OK.   I loaded between 1.12 and 1.14 and everything was fine.

Still, I think I'd like to know what the limits of the barrel are.   The 2 other CZ's and the SAR I've loaded for have very short chambers, relative to other guns of the same caliber.

I wanted to explore the limits.   So I loaded a dummy round, no powder or primer, to 1.13.   Then I swagged the round the using the sizing die with no primer removal assembly.  This left the bullet loose enough in the case that I could push it in, but with enough resistance that it didn't just fall out.

I used this round to do the push test and got 1.18.  I guess there's lots of room, though my Lyman manual says the max OAL for a 40 S&W is 1.135.

Does this all make sense?   Is this a viable way to check OAL when you get get a bullet in a fired case and still get in the barrel?

[Bossgobbler]

That is about what I found for our TS.  I have loaded 1.160,1.150,1.140,1.135,1.130 & 1.125.  I like the 1.125-1.135 oal.  The mags don't like the long OALs.

[tdogg]

With my 40p I don't know what the max oal is, it seems to be longer than I can safely load a bullet into a case.  I think its just the 9mm that has tight chambers. 

Cheers,
Toby

[Wobbly]

With my 40p I don't know what the max oal is, it seems to be longer than I can safely load a bullet into a case.  I think its just the 9mm that has tight chambers. 

Cheers,
Toby

Toby is correct. They don't use the 40 in Europe at all, so CZ gave it an American-sized leade. You're not going to have any issues using the reloading manual OALs with the 40 cal CZs.

 

[Smitty79]

Wobbly, What do you think of my push test method?

[IDescribe]

Smitty, I have had that problem. My solution was to load a jacketed bullet after resizing only, no expander. Then I plunk test, seat a hair deeper, plunk test, seat a hair deeper, plunk test and so on and so on until it is deep enough that it spins freely.

[Wobbly]

Wobbly, What do you think of my push test method?

That should give you the same answer. In your case, the limitation on OAL is the mag, not the chamber.