Is bullet seating depth as critical in semi auto pistols as in rifles?

I am specifically interested in 45 acp and what depths people get the best results.

Thanks in advance
HK

I've been rather lucky with my loading for the Government Model. My only concern was seating the bullet to function thru the magazine. Once I got that length determined there was no problem.
I've shot three different cast bullets thru the Gov. Mod.( H&G #68, truncated cone design, a Saeco design that looks like the jacketed target loads), and one homemade swaged SWC bullet with a big wide meplat.
Like I've heard said each firearm is a law unto itself. And my Gov. Mod. is pretty easy going.
Jim

A few years back I built up a custom Colt Officers model. I ended up using the slide and the frame and replacing everything else to the tune of $5,000. After this amount of time/money/effort I looked at this very issue because I am a BR guy & reloader at heart.

The custom barrel I used had a comp and extended feed ramp so I didn�t have to worry about feeding issues. I did a chamber cast to determine maximum OAL and bottom line�you can�t get there from here. The OAL on the clip is the determining factor.

I got bored with short guns and have been out of that game for a while. There may be a barrel maker out there now that will chamber to a dummy round you supply to in essence eliminate freebore. Without that, it is a no-can-do issue.

I did find taper crimping my reloads benefits accuracy a great deal.

Shoot safe,
Mike

In as short a reply as possible...yes, and it may be even more critical.

Bullet profile and feedramp configuration can be a pain...

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So to find the right depth should one start near max aol and just go deeper in small increments.

Here's what works with most .45 ACP bullets in most 1911s. Pull your barrel and drop a load in. The head of the case should be flush with the barrel hood and no deeper for lead SWCs. That leaves about 1/32nd of the bullet's shoulder out of the case. You may have to seat some other bullets a bit deeper.

Bye
Jack

Particularly with lead bullets, you need to ensure a clean rim around the mouth of the case. This is where the round headspaces.

I've had problems with bullets seated to a cannalure where there is a rim ahead of the case mouth. This rim tends to peel against the mouth, making for a sloppy rim against which to headspace the case.

I have some LRN LaserCast 240 gr. loaded, OAL 1.220" or 1.221" . . . which is standard length for factory 240 gr. generic FMJ.

With lead bullets, I think the RN (round nose) feeds MUCH better in a 1911 or other semi-autos than LSWC.

Lead bullets in a 45 acp are most accurate when the bullet is just seated into the rifling.This helps control the head spacing.Some types of bullets, when at this OAL (seated into rifling) may not fit the magazine.

I don't get very involved with my range ammo for the pistol, normally I just make sure the round is short enough to work well in the magazine.

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Just use a middle of the road seating depth. The 45 ACP has a large range of OAL. This make no difference with a short range pistol, not enough to matter anyway. I load for fast draw practice.

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HKG3,
The best method I've found to determine .45 ACP seating depth is to let the barrel tell me where to seat the bullet. I'm sure you know that the .45 ACP headspaces on the case mouth rim. This results in a little fore-aft slop. By removeing the barrel, I will make a dummy cartridge. when I put the dummy in the chamber I check where the face of the case aligns with the barrel shroud that extend behind the barrel. This shroud abuts the face of the slide. By adjusting the seating depth to the point where the case is the exact same length as the end of the shroud the case no longer head spaces on the rim, but on the bullet and the riflings. This eliminates the fore and aft slop. The primer is against the firingpin hole and is struck with the same firingpin energy every time. Ignition is improved and consistent. I've also found that if I trim for length, the taper crimp is much more consistent and accuracy is improved. Hope that this helps,

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BigBob

Thanks everyone!!!! I own a ruger P90 but am currently looking for a 1911 A1, just trying to get my ducks in a row!

HK