45 Cal Laser-cast bullets

[Arkie]

Well I know the Max oal is 1.275 but what is the min?

Is 1.227 good? I measured a bunch of lead ammo I bought and it measures 1.230 to 1.218.

I am using Laser-cast bullets with W231,,used brass,,,and wlp primer.

I also used only 4.3 grains of powder. Is this too little?
It's the starting load on all the books.

 

[SteveinAK]

My books show 1.19" as shortest for that particular load. Your fine at 1.22". Book miniumum is always a good place to start, because pressure varies from gun to gun. Start at book min and work up from there until you find the accuracy and reliability in your pistol that you are looking for, or you start to see signs of excess pressure. Good luck! .45 ACP is my favorite cartridge to handload.

 

[Arkie]

And I just found that a minute ago also. LOL...

Now how much should I go up to from a starting load?

That's where I have trouble. It's at 4.3 right now,,, 4,4? I know I don't want to go over which is 5.1 in my books so maybe 4.8?

Maybe I'll quit until I take these to the range and see what they do. I already have them marked what they are.

btw: They chambered fine, just like factory. LOL.

 

[owenbright]

I've been doing them at around 1.264 (w/ 200gr). Do they feed better when they're shorter?

 

[Arkie]

These are lead bullets and the ones I bought are all 1.222 or a little shorter.

The FMJ's that I have from Wally world are 1.268 but they are jacketed.

Should the lead be shorter or the same?

They just didn't look right to me cause the bullet looked like it stuck out too far for me.

 

[Jim Watson]

Which Laser Cast bullet are you talking about?
A semi-wadcutter should have about .020" or so of the shoulder showing above the case mouth. Chamber check the first one; it should drop in with the case head flush with the barrel hood for best accuracy. Seat deeper if necessary for feeding but do not put the shoulder below the case mouth.
This usually works out to an OAL of 1.250" +/- .010" with the usual H&G #68 copy in either 200 or 185 gr weight.

They also make a 200 gr roundnose with a shoulder that can be handled the same way, though I do not recall the OAL that results.

Seat the usual 230 gr cast roundnose with just a little of the bearing surface above the case mouth, .010" or so. You can see a teeny shoulder there; it should be just above the brass. I don't recall what the OAL comes out at but it will be OK if you get the seating depth right.

Your powder charge is kind of light.
What are you loading for?
If for minimum recoil, shoot some and see if they function the gun.
If for best accuracy, you will just have to fool around some.
If to make Major Power Factor for IDPA or IPSC, you will have to tell us the bullet weight so somebody can give you a load in the right range.

 

[robctwo]

I like the 200 gr Laser Cast SWC a lot. I have loaded most of them around 1.24 OAL. Read somewhere that there should be about two thumbnail thicknesses of bullet showing abouve the case rim and below the shoulder. I've loaded most of mine light for targets and have even replaced the recoil spring with a lighter one in my SA 1911.

I've also had good luck with the Precission bullets. They have a dark coating on them. Less smoke from the lube burning.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I just got finished loading some of the Laser Cast .45 ACP 200g LRN bullets. I loaded some over 4.8g of Winchester 231, and some over 5.2g of Winchester 231.

The 5.2g of Win 231 will push the bullets to about 825 FPS, and recoil feels similiar to factory ammo. I didnt chrono the 4.8g of Win 231, but the recoil was considerably less.

I am sort of surprised 4.3 grains of 231 will cycle the action of your gun.

 

[Run&Shoot]

Use the manual's specification for OAL!

Cartridge overall length is not a "what looks right" option in reloading. Seating a bullet deeper, that is a shorter OAL, will raise pressures significantly. Always seat a bullet at the data table's specification for OAL, or longer (less pressure).

The Laser-Cast Reloading Manual states the following for 230 gr Round Nose:

OAL = 1.260"
Win 231 start: 4.5 gr and Max: 5.1 gr

In my 1911 I tested loads from 4.7 gr to 5.1 gr. and found that 5.1 gr was the most accurate. I now load all my .45 ACP 230 gr. LRN with 5.1 gr at OAL = 1.260".

If ever in doubt, load on the long side, but best to use the OAL from a data table.

Be safe and have fun!

 

[Arkie]

Well I hope they even cycle my auto. lol...

The bullets are laser-cast 230gr RN. I may have seated them just a tad too far then if it suppose to be 1.260.

I'll probably just toss these aside and start all over again.

I don't have a bullet puller yet so I'll have to go get one. LOL...

Right now I have to get ready for work so I won't be able to play with it again until this weekend...

Thanks guys for all your help!!!

 

[Run&Shoot]

As long as they are under 1.275" you should be OK.

If you get a bullet puller you may want to get a collet style for the press if you have several rounds to pull. The kinetic hammer type is OK for a few rounds, but it takes several hard whacks on a concrete floor for each bullet. It'll sound like you are building a house. The kinetic will not harm the bullet but is messy with the powder. The collet will crunch the bullet but make it easy to recover the powder, and is quiet.

 

[Arkie]

I was wondering where do you find the Laser-Cast Reloading Manual.

They don't have that bullet in any of my books at all so I need to get another book. lol...

 

[esheato]

You order the manual directly from Laser-Cast. It's their in-house manual...written by Bruce Gray I believe.

Ed