.45 WST Speer 200gn Load test Update!

[Mark_Mark]

I fixed my Dillion without needing Dillion part help. So I loaded up some test loads for 2 different guns (was 3 but Robert Defense would not load SWC)

So Night Hawk vs. T-Sauce hand dremal

load is:
SPP Focaccia
Random brass but shiny
200 gain (looks coated) Speer
seated to a thumbnail of shoulder
loaded on a Dillion SBD

WST 5.0 - 4.8 - 4.6 grains

Note: Was going to do a 3 gun test but the Robert Defense would not load SWC. I tried different mags with different lips. NOPE! Maybe that’s why they only lasted 3 years in the gun industry.

Range day / test day is Wednesday. Any suggestions? load or variables?

 

[LiveLife]

SPP Focaccia

I am getting hungry again as I baked bread yesterday ... < Looks for olive oil and pepper grinder >

 

[Mark_Mark]

I am getting hungry again as I baked bread yesterday ... < Looks for olive oil and pepper grinder >

Auto Spell is a cures

 

[ballman6711]

Any suggestions?

Hold them tight, don't limp wrist them.

They look good, and I think you'll like them. I like the 185gr swc's in my 1911's but to be honest I haven't worked up a load with 200gr yet. I may try to get to it this year.

chris

 

[Mark_Mark]

Hold them tight, don't limp wrist them.

They look good, and I think you'll like them. I like the 185gr swc's in my 1911's but to be honest I haven't worked up a load with 200gr yet. I may try to get to it this year.

chris

my 1st SWC! wish me luck! Hope thy don’t get stuck in my barrel like Berry HBWC!

 

[Blue68f100]

I fixed my Dillion without needing Dillion part help. So I loaded up some test loads for 2 different guns (was 3 but Robert Defense would not load SWC)

So Night Hawk vs. T-Sauce hand dremal

load is:
SPP Focaccia
Random brass but shiny
200 gain (looks coated) Speer
seated to a thumbnail of shoulder
loaded on a Dillion SBD

WST 5.0 - 4.8 - 4.6 grains

Note: Was going to do a 3 gun test but the Robert Defense would not load SWC. I tried different mags with different lips. NOPE! Maybe that’s why they only lasted 3 years in the gun industry.

Range day / test day is Wednesday. Any suggestions? load or variables?

View attachment 1194014View attachment 1194015View attachment 1194016

Depending on how the gun is sprung you may want to try some lighter loads if it fully functions with the 4.6. 4.4gr is book min but a lot of BE shooters load a lot lighter. I load 4.2gr WST with the 200gr LSWC. Mine is a custom 1911 with a slide mounted Dot sight for these old eyes. Will function with 4.2 gr WST with std 16# RS.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Depending on how the gun is sprung you may want to try some lighter loads if it fully functions with the 4.6. 4.4gr is book min but a lot of BE shooters load a lot lighter. I load 4.2gr WST with the 200gr LSWC. Mine is a custom 1911 with a slide mounted Dot sight for these old eyes. Will function with 4.2 gr WST with std 16# RS.

4.2! either I’m starting high or you’re getting 650 fps with 4.2

 

[Blue68f100]

4.2! either I’m starting high or you’re getting 650 fps with 4.2

Closer to >740fps out of my Kart barrel.

Here is my custom, I built from the ground up.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Closer to >740fps out of my Kart barrel.

Here is my custom, I built from the ground up.

View attachment 1194040View attachment 1194041

Oooh Dang! what that bad boy cost you???

 

[Blue68f100]

Oooh Dang! what that bad boy cost you???

Parts cost was ~$1800 including the C-more dot sight. Spent another $1200 on specialty tools I did not have, never have too may tools. ~115 hrs of my time. I used this project as PT after having back surgery in 2013. I did all the work except the engraving on the slide, including the rosewood micarta grips.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Parts cost was ~$1800 including the C-more dot sight. Spent another $1200 on specialty tools I did not have, never have too may tools. ~115 hrs of my time. I used this project as PT after having back surgery in 2013. I did all the work except the engraving on the slide, including the rosewood micarta grips.

You made that!!! Now that’s Special!

 

[Blue68f100]

You made that!!! Now that’s Special!

Yes.

Studied the 1911 expert gunsmiths on how and why they did what they do for over a year before I decided to do it. Now it's nice having the right tools for the job. I'm better equipped now and it did not take near as long. But I did not spend all the time hand polishing the slide to a mirror either.

This gun will shoot <2" groups at 50 yrds during my testing with 60 yrs old eyes. Maybe better with someone else's hands.

btw. I built another that has 2 upper, 9mm, and 357sig. But it's just a std build nothing special about it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Yes.

Studied the 1911 expert gunsmiths on how and why they did what they do for over a year before I decided to do it. Now it's nice having the right tools for the job. I'm better equipped now and it did not take near as long. But I did not spend all the time hand polishing the slide to a mirror either.

This gun will shoot <2" groups at 50 yrds during my testing with 60 yrs old eyes. Maybe better with someone else's hands.

btw. I built another that has 2 upper, 9mm, and 357sig. But it's just a std build nothing special about it.

I wish I had the discipline for the craft !

Some People Built
But, someone gotta buy

 

[Blue68f100]

I wish I had the discipline for the craft !

Some People Built
But, someone gotta buy

The hardest part was doing the hand checkering. My hands hurt for weeks after doing it.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Closer to >740fps out of my Kart barrel.

Here is my custom, I built from the ground up.

View attachment 1194040View attachment 1194041

Re: from the ground up!
Yep! Looks like it grew there!
How deep are the roots?
Tried pulling it loose from the board?
What brand fertilizer? Miracle grow?
How much WST did you have to put on that stump?
I’ve seen mushrooms grow on rotting stumps. But never a pistol!

 

[Smokin Gator]

Nice. What's the weight on that gun?

 

[Blue68f100]

Re: from the ground up!
Yep! Looks like it grew there!
How deep are the roots?
Tried pulling it loose from the board?
What brand fertilizer? Miracle grow?
How much WST did you have to put on that stump?
I’ve seen mushrooms grow on rotting stumps. But never a pistol!

The stump was just a good place to get natural lighting and show off the polished slide.

There are some oak trees on my property that over 100' tall. Right now I have a couple of small dead pine blocking my 300 yrd range. I have it cut up but it's been too wet to haul off with all the rain we have got lately.

I enjoy building the 1911's. For me it's fun. All my 1911's have 3.5# TR triggers. All a dream to shoot.

 

[Blue68f100]

Nice. What's the weight on that gun?

I don't know, I've never weighted it. Should be pretty close to any std 1911. Mine is just in SS so I didn't have to worry about bluing it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

a little published load data for you folks

 

[GW Staar]

Closer to >740fps out of my Kart barrel.

Here is my custom, I built from the ground up.

View attachment 1194040View attachment 1194041

Gorgeous! Once had a Colt 70 series Gold Cup. but it was a safe queen, cuz I thought it too valuable to shoot.......so I sold it and bought a Kimber Target 2. But I didn't like the cheap black rubber grips....the G.C. was blued with walnut checkered grips

I found some Rosewood grips for sale so I decided to buy them. So that's the extent of my "custom" work! Love the results though.

No checkering tho.......still like it. I like your sights! May have to look for some! Checkering looks hard.... This one is for my bedside safe, except when I take it to the range to practice with.

 

[lordpaxman]

Very nice everyone. Lots of bling on those Posts! Can’t wait to hear how it all goes.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

a little published load data for you folks

View attachment 1194165

Their starting load is a little high for me in a target gun. I prefer to keep the 200gr LSWC closer to 750fps and the 185gr JSWC-HP closer to 800fps. There’s no sense beating up the slide/frame if you don’t have to.

I’m not going to post anything else about it though because now that the official Starting load is up anything under that needs a warning attached.

Stick to what you found for data and let us know how it goes.

 

[Charlie98]

seated to a thumbnail of shoulder

Did you measure your COL? ...or just eyeball it? I'm curious to see how close your loads match the published data. I've found WST quite sensitive to bullet seat depth and COL.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Their starting load is a little high for me in a target gun. I prefer to keep the 200gr LSWC closer to 750fps and the 185gr JSWC-HP closer to 800fps. There’s no sense beating up the slide/frame if you don’t have to.

I’m not going to post anything else about it though because now that the official Starting load is up anything under that needs a warning attached.

Stick to what you found for data and let us know how it goes.

The T-Sauce is $300 and Dremel bits were like $5. It’s my test gun. The Night Hawk is a good target gun but that’s just going to be man Jewelry. The Robert Defense was going to be my SWC target gun… But it won’t feed SWC, need to find a roll for that gun.

So, I need a 45 Target Gun. Gold Cup is calling me! “Please shoot me Mark”

 

[Mark_Mark]

Did you measure your COL? ...or just eyeball it? I'm curious to see how close your loads match the published data. I've found WST quite sensitive to bullet seat depth and COL.

eye ball, then measure

1.195 to 1.250. I think my seating stem is made for SWC. It has a cup style profile