45acp load

[Catpop]

I did some shooting today with my 1911 5" Kimber . I loaded up some 200 gr LSWC over 5.5 gr of BE, oal 1.235 . I was surprised to get 981 fps when the 48th Lyman manual calls for only 909 with a max charge of 6.0 . And I did get some leading.
I also had loaded prior some at 5.0 and did get a reasonable 883 (Lyman states 840 with 4.9 BE) No leading incurred.
Any Ideas? Could data be misprinted?

 

[James2]

You have to consider that the printed velocities in load tables are what the developers found in their test piece. Many times they don't tell us what that test piece was.

Yes, it is to be expected that we will get different velocities on our own guns. The printed data gives us a point to start with our own testing.

It is important to have some goals in reloading, so we know what we are looking for. Two things I want for sure are reliability and accuracy. I really don't care much about the velocity if these two criteria are met.

 

[Walkalong]

I loaded up some 200 gr LSWC over 5.5 gr of BE, oal 1.235. I was surprised to get 981 fps .................................. And I did get some leading.
I also had loaded prior some at 5.0 and did get a reasonable 883 .................... No leading incurred.

Well, it sounds like the 5.5 Gr load was too fast for that alloy to hold the lands and skidded, causing leading. The 5.0 Gr load did not skid, but was hot enough to bump up and seal the bore, and no leading occurred.

The difference in velocities can be many things. Different barrels etc, etc. One thing I like about the Speer manual is that they use real guns for most things, and not just pressure barrels.

 

[LiveLife]

Differences you got are probably from different test barrel and bullets used.

Chances are, you were using bullets different from what they used for the published load data (Different alloy, hardness, sizing, etc.).

Lyman #49 shows they used universal receiver with 5" barrel and .450" groove diameter barrel and .451" sized bullets. Not sure what your barrel slugs out to but your bullets were probably sized at .452"?

I would go with the load that doesn't lead the barrel and produce the greatest accuracy.

 

[sexybeast]

5.5 of Bullseye is a pretty warm load. What did the primers look like. I would think large pistol primers would have been flattening out.

 

[rcmodel]

You are hot with a 200 SWC, especially if it is a commercial swaged lead or bevel base cast SWC.
And especially if your are looking for 200 SWC target grade accuracy.

You might note that the Lyman bullets state they were Cast from Lyman #2 alloy.
That is harder then you will get with typical swaged commercial bullets and they will take higher pressure & velocity.
And they are both flat-base bullets, which will seal the bore better.

And they expect that you will use better bullet lube (Alox or Graphite based) then you will get on commercial cast bullets, (hard paraffin based, or dry lubed) no matter how hard they are.

Back off the target bullet Bullseye load, and Bee Happy!!

rc

 

[chris in va]

My 5.0 BE 230 grainers clocked at 850 out of my CZ. 4.3 was more reasonable at 770.

 

[steve4102]

5.5 of Bullseye is a pretty warm load. What did the primers look like. I would think large pistol primers would have been flattening out.

Naw, primers ain't gunna flatten out in a 45 acp running at an MAP of 20K. They don't flatten in a 10MM running at 37K.

Reading primers is a-kin to reading tea leaves. It tells you less than nothing, especially in a low pressure round like the 45.

 

[sexybeast]

Naw, primers ain't gunna flatten out in a 45 acp running at an MAP of 20K. They don't flatten in a 10MM running at 37K.

Reading primers is a-kin to reading tea leaves. It tells you less than nothing, especially in a low pressure round like the 45.

Good point. Small pistol primers will fool you too. Should have thought of that.

 

[Catpop]

I'm using Oregon Trail 200 gr LSWC, not sure of hardness maybe 12 to 16. I don't know what Lyman # 2 is. Anyway, I was just concerned with the great difference, 100 fps with 1/2 gr less in powder. Thanks for all the input.
Not to fear, anything that leads my barrel will not get used- I'm lazy and don't need that job deleading barrels. Shooting is much more fun than deleading anyway.

 

[Meta]

If you're using Oregon Trail 200 LSWC bullets, try 4.0 grains of Hodgdon Clays. Low recoil, laser accurate in most of my .45's. Seat to about 1.250" or slightly more until it feeds in your gun.

 

[Catpop]

I do have some clays and will certainly try the 4.0 grains at 1.25. (not having any feeding issues at 1.235. The powder shortage has given me about 10 different options. I just landed my first BE, so I've been working that avenue right now. Thanks for the input. Cat

 

[Catpop]

More testing with the 5.5 grains of BE under a 200 LSWC did in fact reveal not only flattened primers, but even to the extent of flowing into the firing pin hole. Average fps was bumping 1000. Bore leading present. Accuracy 2- 4th "at 25 yards.
And the Lyman book calls for a max of 6.0 grains.
I don't know what is going on, but be careful with this Lyman load.

 

[Icky The Great]

I loaded 230gr fmj round ball for my 45acp with 5.0 grs BE and it was rather warm in my 1911 Gov't 5"bbl. It broke my slide lock off and I can't find a replacement, its polished stainless. Definitely showed signs of pressure on the brass. I may start at 4.0 next time around.

 

[rcmodel]

5.0 Bullseye seated to near GI 230 FMJ-RN length of 1.265" would not be 'rather warm' in a 1911.

That's almost a standard load.

If your slide stop broke?
It wasn't the load that did it, unless you seated excessively short and raised pressure a bunch.

rc