question about my experiences w/PowerPistol & 45 ACP

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evtSmtx

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  • I was loading 230 gr .45 acp berry's plated bullets with CCI large pistol primers
  • test gun is a glock 30
  • the maximum load alliant specifies for 230gr is 7.4 gr for Speer GDHP
  • B-b-but alliant's specifed max for 230gr speer TJM is 8.1 and (possible big error here) I thought TJM is "kinda like plated"
  • so reducing 8.1 by 10%, we get 7.3gr
  • so I started at 7.3 and worked up .1 grs at a time weighing every charge

the results were:
  • 7.3 gr - nice
  • 7.5 gr - a little nicer
  • 7.7 gr - quite hot, but tolerable
  • 7.8 gr - whoa mama, that felt hotter than buffalo bore 230s (shot all 5 at this charge) (I have about 5000 rounds through this gun and am pretty familiar with what the "normal" recoil is)
  • 7.9 - never mind, break 'em down, don't even want to try

Was using the TMJ data and ignoring the GDHP dangerously naive? Any other advice/comment?

I examined the gun under a magnifier and there was no damage. I have 500+ rounds through the gun w/o issue since this episode
 
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Id load 5 at 7.6 and shoot them. Its about function and accuracy first, comfort second, speed third.

If you dont feel they are too hot, Id run what you and your gun can handle. I consider reloading info to be nothing more than a guide, and when starting out I use an average of 2-4 different load manuals to get where I want to start and work from there.

In your case I would have averaged the max loads which is 7.75gr, then removed 10% as you did, which would have put my start at about 7gr. You started at 7.3 which is fine, and you had decent results with it.

Just my $.02
 
I never rely on the book numbers for COL to be honest, sometimes its right, sometimes its not, I use it as a guide. I load all pistol rounds to "plunk" length. This way I know Im getting the best performance I can. The only thing I can caution about this is that if your plunk COL gets too short, one could end up with a compressed load depending on the powder. This is one of the primary reasons I load my 9mm with Titegroup.
 
Well, I'll walk you through my thoughts:
1) plated bullets are loaded with cast lead data or no higher than mid-range jacketed--unless heavy plated and manufacturer says to load like jacketed.
2) Not a whole lot of Power Pistol data available for cast lead, but I do shows 6.1gn start and 6.7gn MAX. For jacketed, my manuals show 5.6-6.4gn for start and 7.2-8.1gn MAX, so my mid-range would be about 6.8gn as Max for plated, with loading above that level only if very cautious and loads weren't performing.
3) So, I would have started at about 6.0gn and worked up.
Thus, I would love to see some pressure/velocity data for YOUR loads.
 
This is a perfect example of where a chrono would be useful. When there is a big difference between load data from two sources, I use the velocity as feedback to tell me when to stop increasing charge. I always have a velocity limit (never exceed) and if I approach that number at the range, I stop. I've pulled a few bullets when I get home as a result.

In most cases I have had lower (sometimes much lower) velocity than the powder manufacturers list. In most cases I have gotten velocities closer to the data in the Speer or Hornady manuals.
 
I don't load 45ACP, but I have always been weary about using Alliant load data. Their load data always seems high.

Lyman 49th has the following for Speer 230gr TMJ:

Power Pistol 6.4gr min, 775fps, 7.2grmax, 858fps, 1.275" COL

I always start with Lyman data if possible and work my way up to Alliant data. If I have to use Alliant data, then I normally start at their published load minus 15% instead of minus 10%.

Be safe.
 
I have done .45 at 1.265 OAL 7.5 gr PP with 230 grain RN. (Glock 21 SF and 30S) VERY LOUD! I thought it shot fabulously, but dont care to go any louder! Last few batches 7.1 Terrific report, much louder when compared to similarly hot rounds with HP-38 or Bullseye, big flash. Me likey.

Russellc
 
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