Help me with proper charge of 45ACP

[Katitmail]

I'm using 200gr hollow point
Rainier LeadSafe Per 500 T Copper Jacketed .45 200GR HP TCJ

Using IMR PB powder

Loading using Lee disk powder measure.

My load data says (for this powder):

200gr Jacketed 5-5.5gr 1.155 OAL
200gr Lead 5.2-5.7gr 1.225 OAL

The way my dies set I get 1.267 OAL
I get consistant 5.2 throws with a hole I use.


I'm looking for a clean target/plinking load. Is it a good one or I should go up in powder?

P.S. This is my first take at hand-loading ever! Trying to be careful. I use LCT press..

 

[Reefinmike]

Ive never worked with that powder or bullet, but good on you for asking first- hopefully someone with experience in the bullet and powder combo will chime in. Plated bullets should be loaded inbetween jacketed and lead data but you are dealing with a different animal here. Any HP bullet is longer than a fmj or lead bulllet of the same weight. Longer bullet means It will be seated deeper in the case thus increasing pressure. Off the top of my head, Id work up loads starting at 4.7 or 4.8 gr and working up in increments of .2gr all the way to 5.5gr. Load up 10 of each and start shooting the lower end and work your way up. On the way note accuracy, recoil, and check each fired casing for pressure signs such as flattened or cratered primers. Once you see pressure signs, back down a step.

 

[Walkalong]

Based on the data you provided, with the bullet and OAL you are using, 5.2 should work fine, and may be a bit light for you, but a good place to start.

The OAL sounds a bit long for that bullet. If you have feeding problems, shorten the OAL a bit before going up on the charge any.

 

[Blackrock]

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

This site should give you all the info you need.

 

[wgf]

The Lee Reloading book says use the .66 disc setting for 200 grain lead and 200 grain jacketed.

 

[Caliper_Mi]

Adjusting the seating plug on the seat/crimp die is free, why not bump the OAL down to 1.225? That will put you right in line with the starting load for the second recepie you mention.

 

[KansasSasquatch]

Have you done the "plunk test?" I don't know what pistol you're loading for but my experience tells me that if its a Springfield 1911 or XD45, your OAL is going to be too long. I've loaded for multiple Springfield .45s and anything over 1.23" with those bullets will fail the plunk test. I think your charge will be a good start but like others have said, you COL is probably too long. I would probably avoid going over 5.4gr since your hollow points are going to be a little longer and take up more case capacity than a jacketed RN bullet.

 

[Katitmail]

Just did plunk test. In order to get it right I had to make it 1.237

I think I will make it 1.225 and call it a day. And load with 5.2 and next weight I can obtain from Lee Disk. Will do 10 and 10 rounds in each and compare them at range

 

[Katitmail]

Couple new questions/issues..

Also plunk test with 1.225 works great - my Kimber Custom II won't feed out of magazine. Nose hangs on a ramp.

I seated and recrimped at 1.205 and it seems to cycle from magazine OK by hand. I think I will stop with this number.

However, I have issue with 2nd batch. First batch with lee disk # 0.66 was dumping around 5.2-5.3 grains and it seems to be in a middle.

I wanted to create 2nd batch but next disk is 0.71 and it dumps ~5.8gr which is 0.1gr over MAX suggested. Should I make this second batch even? Is it very dangerous in pistol load like this?

 

[Walkalong]

won't feed out of magazine. Nose hangs on a ramp.

Hand cycled or shooting?

it dumps ~5.8gr which is 0.1gr over MAX suggested. Should I make this second batch even?

I wouldn't at 1.205, at least not before I shot the other ones and saw where I was velocity wise.

 

[Katitmail]

Yes, I was hand cycling from full magazine. After reducing oal it seem to cycle as a champ. Last round didn't go in all the way. Maybe mag problem, I don't know.

I made 5 rounds with 5.8 anyway. Will see how it goes. I can take them apart later. Than I read about lee disk mods and took slightly larger drill bit to one of the holes. Made 10 rounds with 5.6 gr. now just need to get to the range.

How do I check crimp? I set factory crimp die as per instructions and it seems that neck diameter now same as bottom so I guess that's what I need?

 

[Walkalong]

Yes, "crimp" on an auto caliber is just that, remove the bell or a hair more. I adjust my .45 ACP taper crimp so that the shortest cases get the bell removed completely and the longer ones get maybe .001 inward "crimp".

.40 S&W

.45 ACP

 

[Katitmail]

I don't have chrono. What do I look for when I test my reloads? My goal is to make clean reliable target round. I don't need any super-power or whatever.

When I try hotter loads I guess I pick brass and look at primers? How do I tell if it's "too much"?

 

[Walkalong]

One clue we have is how how vigorously and how far the gun tosses the brass.

 

[Katitmail]

And too low I should feel sluggishness in a slide?

Where do factory rounds stand? I can try to shoot factory in between to "feel" recoil. Does it help?

 

[Walkalong]

Yes.

Should.

 

[GLOOB]

Sidetrack:

200gr Jacketed 5-5.5gr 1.155 OAL
200gr Lead 5.2-5.7gr 1.225 OAL

Anyone else wonder why 45ACP cast charge weights seem to be equivalent to jacketed? Every other autopistol round I load for, the charge weight for cast is a lot less than jacketed.

 

[Katitmail]

I guess maybe because of OAL difference?

 

[TonyT]

PB is a bit slower than I would use in 45 ACP. I prefer the faster burning powders such as WST, American Select, Red Dot or Bullseye. In my limited experience the plated bullets will provide ca. 10% lower velocity than a lead bullet of the same weight with the identical powder charge. You really need a chrono to work up loads.

 

[Katitmail]

Tried all my loads today. Wow! They all went bang!

There is some feeding problems sliding first round or releasing slide from a stop - but when you shoot - all is well.

5.2gr felt the same or maybe little less than factory
5.4gr felt the same as factory
5.8gr was definitely more kick but brass and primer looked good.

I guess 5.4 will be my load, I might try to lower AOL a little to improve feeding. Other than that - shoots where I point I didn't shoot 1911 for a while and it was so easy to hit those metal poppers

Didn't notice any residue or smoke, seems like a nice powder. This is my first load ever, what can I say..

 

[Walkalong]

5.8gr was definitely more kick but brass and primer looked good.

By the time the primer or brass in .45 ACP shows pressure signs, you will be grossly over pressure.

I guess 5.4 will be my load, I might try to lower AOL a little to improve feeding. Other than that - shoots where I point

Sounds like a good game plan.