Problems with 45 ACP load
- Thread starter haao13
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Dudedog
Contributing Member
I use the FCD and like it. (some people hate it)
However it can "resize" bullets and destroy neck tension if used incorrectly.
Make sure your not getting carried away with the FCD.
Maybe load a couple without it and see if that helps.
I like 4.7 and 5 gr of HP38 both for 230s in .45 ACP with lead (MBC sofball) or plated. (RMR) so maybe a little less on the charge might help.
However it can "resize" bullets and destroy neck tension if used incorrectly.
Make sure your not getting carried away with the FCD.
Maybe load a couple without it and see if that helps.
I like 4.7 and 5 gr of HP38 both for 230s in .45 ACP with lead (MBC sofball) or plated. (RMR) so maybe a little less on the charge might help.
Just for clarification, you can actually feel the FCD resizing bullets or 'destroying' neck tension. The effect is very noticeable with cast bullets and some plated bullets that start out with a diameter of .452 and thick brass. The resistance is there, as soon as the resizing ring heads down the case. The user really has no control over it and any use could be considered getting carried away. You have no control over this, other than deciding whether or not to continue using the FCD with cast or plated bullets of .452 diameter. When it happens, you will feel it, IME. That is the issue many have with the FCD.
sauer1911
Member
Just finished shooting a new powder in my 1911 with 230gr fmj.
Expansion Industries ETR7 at 5.5grains. the max for 230gr is 5.6.
These are some hot shooting rounds, difficult to shoot without anticipation of big recoil. and sore hand.
I need to drop a few 10ths of a grain to make it more comfortable to shoot.
You might be at the top end of your load also.
be safe.
Expansion Industries ETR7 at 5.5grains. the max for 230gr is 5.6.
These are some hot shooting rounds, difficult to shoot without anticipation of big recoil. and sore hand.
I need to drop a few 10ths of a grain to make it more comfortable to shoot.
You might be at the top end of your load also.
be safe.
haao13,
One of my concerns with reloading is the COL changing. If your neck tension is inadequate your chambered round may shorten, causing a over pressure load. Take some calipers with you when shooting and make sure the COL not changing.
One of my concerns with reloading is the COL changing. If your neck tension is inadequate your chambered round may shorten, causing a over pressure load. Take some calipers with you when shooting and make sure the COL not changing.
JFrameTwitch
Member
Your FCD is performing as it should. I find that this happens when it is brass that has not traveled through the lee dies before. The next time this particular brass is loaded you probably won't notice it.
As others have said check your scales. Even with that, if you are using the auto disk correctly, you should be in the ballpark either way and should'nt see too much deviation.
I remember the first time I shot my reloads I just about dropped the gun due to fear I did something wrong. I thought they felt totally different as well. My brother walked up and shot some rounds. They were accurate and he said they felt normal.
Do you always shoot the same factory load out of this gun? Or have you had experience with a wide variety of ammo? It's possible that this round could be just a tiny fraction hotter than your normal round but you are perceiving it as something drastic. I am very sensitive to subtle changes with certain guns and a slightly different recoil impulse can throw me off completely.
Also, mix a few in with factory rounds in the mag and see if they really are drastically different. It seems like you are doing things correctly so I am guessing it is a perception thing.
As others have said check your scales. Even with that, if you are using the auto disk correctly, you should be in the ballpark either way and should'nt see too much deviation.
I remember the first time I shot my reloads I just about dropped the gun due to fear I did something wrong. I thought they felt totally different as well. My brother walked up and shot some rounds. They were accurate and he said they felt normal.
Do you always shoot the same factory load out of this gun? Or have you had experience with a wide variety of ammo? It's possible that this round could be just a tiny fraction hotter than your normal round but you are perceiving it as something drastic. I am very sensitive to subtle changes with certain guns and a slightly different recoil impulse can throw me off completely.
Also, mix a few in with factory rounds in the mag and see if they really are drastically different. It seems like you are doing things correctly so I am guessing it is a perception thing.
I generally shoot different loads, whatever my LGS has in or on sale (with the exception of aluminum casings). But to report back, I went to the range again with a large siloutte target to see exactly here rounds were impacting. Loaded one mag with the rounds in question here (5.3g, 230g fmj, 1.25 OAL) and another with a new load (4.9g W231, 230g fmj, 1.26 OAL) and also eased back the crimp. First mag was with the old load and I'll have to agree that I was "scared" in a sense the first time because I was much more accurate but kicked like an SOB! Then I shot the new load and it was wonderful! Very accurate, not much recoil and felt much more like a factory load. I think this is going to be my new range load 
Welcome to the high road and congrats on finding a good load with W231. My load is similar to yours (5gr). In my gun I found that I can go down quite a ways below that and get a nice soft shooting round that still cycles the 1911. You should try working up from the starting loads in the manual rather than jumping in to the middle or the higher end. It's fun to have those lower recoil loads in your pocket when you have a newer or smaller shooter wanting to shoot a 45 (read my wife, here). It's also a safe and recommended reloading practice to do this as well. Knowing you are starting with the starting load will take some of the (first try with this load) flinching away as well and provide you with better accuracy feedback as you move up in charge.
As I'm working up, If I can get the load to cycle for me every time, I give them a tenth or so more, and test them a few times. The extra 10th is in case the shooter is a little weaker in the wrist than I am. Then, I will have a good, reliable, soft shooting load for them to shoot too. Maybe then, they will want to shoot some more standard power rounds.
As I'm working up, If I can get the load to cycle for me every time, I give them a tenth or so more, and test them a few times. The extra 10th is in case the shooter is a little weaker in the wrist than I am. Then, I will have a good, reliable, soft shooting load for them to shoot too. Maybe then, they will want to shoot some more standard power rounds.
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Dudedog
Contributing Member
Glad you liked 5!
You might want to try some at 4.7 or there abouts. (maybe even less) I have had no functioning issues with 4.7 in two different 1911s with 230s or 200s in Full size and Commander. I can't decide which I like better 4.7 or 5. The 4.7 is softer enough that you will notice the difference.
For me the Lee .46 disk is 5gr of HP38, the .43 disk is 4.7. (that's where 4.7 came from, one disk size down from 5 gr.) By my calcs a .40 disk should be about 4.4 which is a hair above Hodgdon's starting load for 230s, .49 disk is works out to about 5.3.
If you divide the disk size by the charge thrown you will get the VMD for you lot of powder which may or may not be close to the listed VMD, and may vary lot to lot. HP38 is usually close .0926. (231 lists as .0931 but is the same powder....different lots are probally why you see the slight difference in listed VMDs)
(if you want to get a really good number for the VMD use a couple different size disks for the calcs like the .40, .46 and maybe the .53 or .57. (the last two throw to large a charge just using them to come up with an average # for VMD. I like to use a couple in the range I am loading and a bigger one for the heck of it.)
.46/5=.092 So disk size/your caculated vmd = charge. .43/.092=4.67 (4.7)
I really like HP38/231 in .45 APC. (They are the same powder, differnet label)
Hope they all hit the center.
You might want to try some at 4.7 or there abouts. (maybe even less) I have had no functioning issues with 4.7 in two different 1911s with 230s or 200s in Full size and Commander. I can't decide which I like better 4.7 or 5. The 4.7 is softer enough that you will notice the difference.
For me the Lee .46 disk is 5gr of HP38, the .43 disk is 4.7. (that's where 4.7 came from, one disk size down from 5 gr.) By my calcs a .40 disk should be about 4.4 which is a hair above Hodgdon's starting load for 230s, .49 disk is works out to about 5.3.
If you divide the disk size by the charge thrown you will get the VMD for you lot of powder which may or may not be close to the listed VMD, and may vary lot to lot. HP38 is usually close .0926. (231 lists as .0931 but is the same powder....different lots are probally why you see the slight difference in listed VMDs)
(if you want to get a really good number for the VMD use a couple different size disks for the calcs like the .40, .46 and maybe the .53 or .57. (the last two throw to large a charge just using them to come up with an average # for VMD. I like to use a couple in the range I am loading and a bigger one for the heck of it.)
.46/5=.092 So disk size/your caculated vmd = charge. .43/.092=4.67 (4.7)
I really like HP38/231 in .45 APC. (They are the same powder, differnet label)
Hope they all hit the center.
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2bfree
Member
Yep, makes a difference the first time shooting your reloads.
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