Just fired my first 45 ACP hand loads!

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92GreenYJ

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Just got back from the range.

I got my Lee Classic Cast Turret kit from Kempfs in yesterday. Once i got it mounted and assembled and set up I went ahead and did 30 test rounds.

45 ACP
Used
185 Gr. flat tip jacketed match bullets
Hodgdon Titegroup
Winchester LP Primers

I set up the seating die using a factory round. Made a couple of dummy rounds to check the die set up and that they fed and chambered in my Ruger p90T. When i was satisfied they did I went about doing some test loads.

According to the Lee manual starting load should be 5 grains of Titegroup. which equates to the #40 hole in the Pro auto disk. I ran 10 drops thru it to set it up. then weighed a charge on my Frankford Arsenal digital scale. Showed 4.3 grains. Did 5 more with roughly the same results.
Loaded 10 rounds at this setting.

Stepped up to the # 43 hole. Scaled out to 4.7 Grains.
Did ten rounds

Stepped up again to #46 which scaled to 5.1 Grains
Did ten rounds


So took 30 test rounds to the range. Shot ten rounds of factory win white box first. Quickly realized I am SEVERELY out of practice having been a couple years since I have shot. Groups were terrible and I won't tell you how far out I was from bullseye.

Switched to the first hand loads. Decided to do one round in the mag for first shot. Fed, chambered, fired, and ejected flawlessly. Went to 2 rounds, then 3, then 4. All fed, chambered, fired, and ejected. Same with test loads 2 and 3.

Overall I am happy. no fail to feeds, no fail to fires, no fail to ejects. They worked well. I got the best grouping out of load #2. So I will probably stick with that load for now. Am I ok with this since according to my scale of the charge its below starting grain from the manual?
 
Congrats on your first loads. I'll never forget the feeling of shooting my first loads. How did you like the classic turret?
 
I don't see an issue with going below starting load with Titegroup.

I started a few years ago with the Classic Turret from Kempf and now I'm loading over 10 different calibers. It's addicting:)
 
A tip on load testing in an autoloader.

Shoot test rounds with the magazine out of the gun.

If you blow a case, the gas will blow down the grip and out the bottom.

With a mag locked in place?
Somethings gotta give, and it usually isn't good for the gun or hand holding it!

rc
 
I like the Lee a lot so far. Instructions, as others have said are terrible, but it works well. I haven't tried the auto index feature yet though. for the first batch I just turned it manually.

rc, good to know. Thats why i started with just one round. wanted to make sure it fed from the mag and chambered properly. and wanted to be sure it ejected. then stepped up to 2 rounds to see if it would feed, fire, eject, and pick up the next round properly.
 
Congrats! It's a great feeling, isn't it? :cool: I've been pleased with my results so far in .45, .40, and 9mm. My .380s haven't done so well but figuring out what you're doing wrong is part of the fun, I guess.

I also suck at rifle reloading so far. But I also suck at rifle shooting, so it works out. :D
 
LOl, I will admit i was a bit nervous when I chambered the first round. Not sure it even hit the target. I kind held the gun as far out in front of me as possible and flinched when I pulled the trigger. Gun went boom, bullet went down range, case ejected though so I was worried for nothing. It was a great feeling knowing the round i made worked as good as a factory round.

So I just loaded up another 100 rounds at the second volume that I liked the best. went ahead and set up the auto index this time and i gotta say, its fantastic! didn't have a single mistake thru the process. Unlike when I started without the auto index. Missed a primer or 2.
 
92GreenYJ said:
According to the Lee manual starting load should be 5 grains of Titegroup. which equates to the #40 hole in the Pro auto disk. I ran 10 drops thru it to set it up. then weighed a charge on my Frankford Arsenal digital scale. Showed 4.3 grains. Did 5 more with roughly the same results.
Loaded 10 rounds at this setting.

Stepped up to the # 43 hole. Scaled out to 4.7 Grains.
Did ten rounds

Stepped up again to #46 which scaled to 5.1 Grains
Did ten rounds
Click to expand...
The chart that comes with the Auto-Disk is a starting place but it's rarely right on the mark. I suggest writing down which disk gives you the correct powder throw with each powder you use. The handgun powder that seems to be closest to the chart is W231. Don't depend upon the chart when setting the charge weights, use the scale like you did. Just because the chart tells you to use the .40 hole doesn't mean you have to use that hole. Use the one that throws the correct weight. (and keep your own notes)

You got lucky your pistol cycled correctly with such light loads. It's usually not a good idea to load below the starting charge weights with most powders.
 
Welcome to the disorder, er, hobby, 92greenYJ. Just started reloading recently myself. Great feeling when you shoot off your own ammo at the range. The Lee turret works fine for me - I think the volume I produce with it closely matches the volume of my shooting, and I'm able to use fairly strict quality controls (consider using powders/loads that allow you to easily see that a case is charged).

As you have already seen, THR is an amazing resource for the new reloader.

Consider checking out the reloading store in El Cajon, just as a way of supporting local (and in CA, rather persecuted) firearms-related business. I live between you and that store. If you ever get to Am. Shooting Center or out to South Bay range in Dulzura, maybe we'll cross paths.
 
I did not know there was a reloading shop in el Cajon. First time I bought powder and primers I bought at P2k. But that was several years ago. How are their prices? If its not too far out of line I'll gladly buy my supplies there. Do they have a website?
 
Congrats!
Quite the hoot to shoot your own reloads.

I'd be VERY cautious about under charging.
If you go too low, it's possible to get a bullet stuck in the barrel.
If that happens, STOP immediately!!!!!
Clear the barrel before continuing.

Please stay safe
 
Yeah I made some adjustments and went with the #46 disc for the first full box I loaded up as that consistently dropped 5.1 grains when checked on my scale. .1 grain over the Lee manual suggested starting load of 5 grains with Titegroup.
 
92GreenYJ - the place is called La Mesa Collectibles (they moved from Fletcher Pkwy and changed a bit) - here's the website:

http://www.lmcammo.com/

Have only been there once, a while ago, but plan to get there the next few days, try to pick up some odds and ends, and see which powders they have in stock.
 
I've heard some negative buzz about El Cajon Gun Exchange too, though I'm not sure it holds up on inspection. While you're out in El Cajon checking out La Mesa Collectibles, check out the Exchange too. When I last went there I wasn't yet focused on (consumed by?) reloading, so I didn't look closely, but I did notice a large section of reloading gear. Plan to go by again myself.

And while you're out that way, also go by Hiram's (easily found on the web). Not far from the Exchange, and a small bit of remaining "color" in dumbed-down, over-regulated, misgoverned CA - "Guns and Spirits", a combined gun/liquour store. (Nearly realizing the old joke about "alcohol, tobacco, and firearms should be a store, not an agency") My oldest brother tells me in the old days it was one big room - now the gun store is small and in the back of the building, separated by a wall. But a great owner (and his grown son), and one of the places to check if you're looking for oddball parts or ammo (other local stores often refer people there if they're looking for rarities).
 
Congratulations! I'm glad you checked your powder measure with a scale. A lot of questions are posted as to why the measure setting/cavity doesn't match the chart. Just keep on as you are, keep an eye on what yer doin', and shoot-em-up...
 
Gratz man! I fired my first set of reloads in October this past year. I do recommend hand-priming. After reading how terrible that auto-index was, I decided to hand-prime all my brass. You will know for sure that all of it is seated correctly once you learn the "feel".
 
Ya know I haven't had too much issue with priming so far. I've had one case I couldn't get the primer seated in at all. And two or three I had to rotate in the shell holder a little bit or wiggle to get the primer seated cause the hole wasn't lined up. But that's about it out of the 100 rounds I have loaded so far
 
Am I ok with this since according to my scale of the charge its below starting grain from the manual?
Click to expand...

As long as you don't stick a bullet.

My .45ACP powderpuff target loads are a bit less or right around minimum with Bullseye.

The spreadsheet Lee provides with the Auto Disc is light. It's a guideline to get you in the ballpark. Which you did. Good job. ;)
 
Thanks. Was afraid you were referring to the el Cajon gun exchange. I have read some real horror stories about that place though I have never been myself
__________________
Click to expand...

Meh... I've been treated OK there. There are some abrasive personalities but most are OK. They are pretty pricey on their new guns (and won't budge) but occasionally a deal can be had in the used case.

Good selection of bullets. Don't know about anything else. During the Great Primer Drought they went from $30/1000 to $42/1000 overnight & were bragging that they had pallets of 'em in the back. They kinda went to last on my list of places to go.

They won't let my dog in the store. That tells me a lot...
 
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