.45 ACP squib loads

[Keeperfaith]

Hello,

I shot some of my 45 acp hand loads today and they were total squibs.

They fired but they didn't:
eject
were not accurate
were quite (compared to 9mm and 40)

I had to eject each empty shell casing as I fired it...

I follwed the load data in the Lymans 49th (not completely though, read on...)

I used the minimal load of 3.5 grains of HP-38 powder.

NOW I didnt push the bullet all the way down to the listed OAL of 1.175" because If i had pushed it down that far the angle of the bullet itself would've been into the brass...
My OAL was 1.221 or around that.


Im using Rainier 155 Hollow Points 185 grains.

Maybe I have the wrong bullet for the data Im using or visa versa I have hte wrong data for the bullet Im using.

Does anyone have good data for the 45 ACP Rainier 155g HP bullet???

OR do I just use more powder?

I thought the 3.5 grains of HP-38 was a little light considering I used 5.2 grains of that same powder in my 155 grains 40 S&W bullets...

Thanks

PS: the pic is the bullets I loaded...

 

[Walkalong]

OR do I just use more powder?

Absolutely. As you found out, 3.5 is way too low. try at least 4.5.

Check out this thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=523172

 

[rcmodel]

Does anyone have good data for the 45 ACP Rainier 155g HP bullet???

Your post doesn't make any sense.

Rainier, or anyone else I'm aware of doesn't make a 155 grain .45 ACP bullet.

Lyman #49 sure doesn't show load data for them either.
The lightest bullet they have data for is a 185, and the starting load of W231/HP38 is 4.1 grains.

rc

 

[Walkalong]

Some plated data.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5399850&postcount=8

 

[rduckwor]

Your powder is roughly equivalent to W231. I have to load 5.6 Gr of 231 to push my 200 Gr lead SWC to make power. My guess is that you need a decent bit more powder in there.

Good luck

RMD

 

[gamestalker]

The best and safe way to proceed with fixing your problem is to review the data in detail then follow the data as per bullet type, it's weight, and the published powder charge as it applies to those components. Using the wrong data, with the incorrect components, can result in more than just squibs, KB comes to mind.

Bullets of different weights don't corespond with the powder charges and can either create squibs, or kB's the result of high excessive pressures, or bullets that didn't exit the barrel.

GS

 

[Keeperfaith]

RC, your right that was my mistake. I meant 185 grains

The 155 I spoke of is for my .40 S&W...
My bad.

Need load data for
185 grain Rainier hollow points...

 

[Walkalong]

I linked to some in post #4.

 

[Keeperfaith]

Hey Walkalong, I really appreciate the link. It looks like some great information.

What powder are they using though? It doesnt specify.

Thanks

Steve

 

[powell&hyde]

Keeperfaith:

The manuals walkalong posted all lists powder types, you might want to re-read them again.

 

[FROGO207]

First I would define a squib as a load that sticks a bullet in the barrel. Published starting loads are rarely a squib load. I would say yours were just an underpowered loading.This is the first step in working up a load. You should make a half dozen of the minimum load and then the same of each increase (min of 2% steps) you choose to try up to the max. Find some way to keep them separated by load. Try the lightest loads first and if they fail to eject move to the next higher propellant level. Stop when you get good results. I read all this in the section of how to work up a load in more than one reloading manual. To the OP if you did not recognize this as a low power load and what to expect I am worried that you might have missed other important safety info and urge you to re read the reloading chapters carefully, or possibly get a better reloading manual if this was missing in your information.

 

[Mike 27]

+1 for FROGO207. Did you use the wrong data or just reference the wrong data here? A squib load is one that has no or little powder and sticks a bullet. Be safe and get into your books. What length did you seat the bullet? You stated that that the "the angle of the bullet would have been in the brass", so it is concerning that you used the 40/9mm data, or the wrong bullet profile. Hope this helps there are a few things here that could go really bad that you need to work out.

Mike

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Using the starting charge weight but seating the bullet further out than the data lists is a recipe for a too light load. (as said above) All you need to do is add more powder but do it safely.

BTW, HP-38 and W231 are exactly the same powders as per Hodgdon.

 

[Keeperfaith]

@ Powell and Hyde, sorry bout that your right. I'm still a novice and not familiar w/ all the powder names. No 2 Imp is the powder.

And sorry bout my ignorance on the term squib... I just had low power loads.

Thx

 

[Walkalong]

I used the minimal load of 3.5 grains of HP-38 powder.

No 2 Imp is the powder.

HP-38, or AA #2? Makes a big difference.

The Midway PDF file I linked to shows W-231 data for a 185 Gr plated bullet in .45 ACP.

As posted, HP-38 is the same powder.

 

[Keeperfaith]

i was referring to the part where I didn't see the name of the powder on the link that was posted (No.2 Imp)...

I only have hp-38.

steve