.45 ACP load for rainier bullets

[owenbright]

I'm using WST w/ Rainier 200 gr RN.
I believe these bullets are not actually jacketed, but plated.
What difference does this make?
Winchester's website isn't too much of help here:
http://www.wwpowder.com/data/handgun/45acp.php

According to LEE's book:
1) 4.4gr of WST for 200gr, lead
2) 4.7gr of WST for 200gr, jacketed

What do you guys suggest?
Thanks.

 

[fineredmist]

Use the "lead bullet" data and you can't go wrong.

 

[grislyatoms]

Yep, Rainier recommends using lead bullet loading specs.

"Q6. What if I can't find load data for your bullets?
A. If you have a load for a cast lead bullet, that will transfer across the board as far as our bullets go. We recommend that you reduce
a load for a jacketed bullet by 10%."

From Rainier's website:


http://www.rainierballistics.com/mainframe.htm

Ooops, click on FAQS and scroll to the bottom.

 

[owenbright]

4.4 gr it is.
Thank you so much!

 

[cwayburn]

What about OAL?

I'm using 6.6g VV N340, which seems to work very well, but I'm having feeding problems. I'm pretty sure it's a problem with the OAL, and there isn't alot of data available on 200g round nose (I'm also using the Rainier plated RN), most data is for LSWC.

Feeding appears to be too steep, and the round gets jammed at a steep angle between the slide and the chamber.

I've loaded to 1.250" per some forum loads I've seen, and had alot of misfeeds and jams in 2 different Kimber 1911, and a Sig 220. I've tried a 1.260" OAL, which fed fine in a 1911 (well, for the 50 rounds I tried), but not in the Sig. I'm going to try loading it out to 1.270" and see if that works.

Does anyone have good reliable OAL with these bullets that has worked for them? And does anyone else have a good VV N340 load they would like to share?

 

[High_Cap]

I personally go just shy of 1.245-1.250.

I load mostly for the XD and 1911's. The longer I get the more problems I have.

I have loaded them short too. 1.230 and those have worked well too.

Also you might be crimping them too hard and that will really cause problems. The plating actually folds right near the mouth of the case and flares out. Crimp them just light enough to feed. The way I finally figured out the right crimp is to take out the barrel and check the loads chambering. They should just drop right in and come out very easily too, If they stick then the crimp is to hard.

 

[bdutton]

I too had a lot of feeding problems with the rainier bullets. I believe it has to do with the electroplating and not so much the OAL. I think the plating was not as forgiving as lead nor as hard/smooth as the jacketed. I feel it just kept getting knicked on the top of the chamber and was getting caught up there.

A friend of mine was able to get the bullet to act more reliably by beveling the top of the chamber. I would not advise that.

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

I had problems with plated bullets feeding properly.

You're crimping, right? It needs a decent taper crimp for 45 ACP.

Mine weren't feeding because my OAL was too long. So I shortened it. I wasn't too worried about excessive pressure because my loads were close to minimum.

Ranier as per phone conversation 6/20/06: the starting load for the 200 SWC plated bullet with Unique is 4.9 grains up to 7.5 grains.

My last loads were 200 grain SWC with 6.0 grains Unique. Good taper crimp. Clean chamber.

They fed fine.

BTW, plated bullets have a very thin plating of copper. This plating can strip off in the barrel, so they say, at excessive velocities. Worst case scenario, they say, is that there are chunks of copper in your barrel that could conceivably contribute to a kaboom.

That's just what I've been told/read.

 

[johnmcl]

Doing OK with Ranier

Hi all,

I'm doing well with my Raniers, although they are 230gr FMJ style.

I've loaded them at 1.265 and at 1.250, they've shot great through both a 1911 and two styles of Glocks at both lengths. *shrug* I've got them crimped at 0.470 OD at the mouth.

I've no insight into the WST load as I'm a Bullseye man.

Cheers,

John

 

[Canuck-IL]

plated bullets have a very thin plating of copper. This plating can strip off in the barrel,

Thickness depends on brand though - Berry's and Montana Gold are both harder and thicker than Rainiers...also have a rounder (less pointy) nose profile in RN than do the Rainiers. Finally, they're sized at .452 vs .451 for Rainier. So, it pays to experiment and find what your gun, and perhaps press, handle best. One 1911 jams 1 in 12 with RN Rainier at ANY sane OAL while it feeds Berry's and Montana Gold RN with no problems...harder plating and a blunter nose design.

At least in 45acp, you're not like likely to get to copper stripping speeds...357, probably will!

/Bryan

 

[Lennyjoe]

I had to adjust OAL with the Ranier bullets as well until they fed thru the Kimber and Springer. Start at 1.250 and work your way out a fraction at a time until they feed proper.

 

[High_Cap]

The only time the copper plating will come off is if the velocity is extreme. I have had good luck under 1400fps.

Over that I don't recommend. Copper plated bullets start to seperate in my 357 sig.