Reloading 45 ACP 230 gr Round Nose Bullets

[Glocker45ACP]

Hi guys,
I recently bought .452 230gr RN Match grade hardcast bullets from MidAtlantic Bullets to reload for my Glock 30sf. Now lets keep this post about reloading and not about the glock barrels as some people think its not safe to shoot thru a polygonal rifling barrel or a barrel that does not support the brass. I have already disproved with a buddy of mine that there is no problem shooting thru a glock 30sf as he has gone thru 2000 handload rounds(This is an estimation). I want to be able to have the same success as him.
Im planning on using 5.1 gr of Unique or 4.0 of Titegroup with winchester brass. I was told by midatlantic that these bullets are already lubed int the yellow groove the bullet has.
I will be reloading with the 45 acp lee dies, lee factory crimp die, and expanding die, and handpress.
I will get to the question now which is how do i go about crimping this hardcast bullet and what is your suggestion on OAL(Lee manual calls for a 1.270 OAL).

Please leave comments or suggestions on how to go about reloading these hardcast bullets. Thank you


Lee manual calls for a 1.270 OAL.

 

[gspn]

The .45 ACP takes a slight taper crimp...not much to it...the Lee bullet seating die will apply it for you.

I don't use a factory crimp die on the .45. With regard to OAL I just start with the data i the load book...then check the first few to make sure they fit in my magazines.

 

[Glocker45ACP]

To gspn: You pretty much answer my question. When you install your die, do you turn the adjuster until you feel resistance against the casing?

 

[ImjinScout]

I don't use a Lee FCD just a normal taper crimp die, don't flare the case mouth that much and you will not need a lot of crimp just enough to take the flare out. As for the OAL you mentioned IIRC 1.270 is right at the max for Sammi spec in the .45ACP, I load mine to 1.250, but your OAL may be different depending on the gun and barrel, 1.250 seems to be a very common OAL for .45 ACP.

For your charge weight you will need to work your loads up to find what works best, Hodgon site list Titegroup as start charge of 4.0 to max of 4.8 but that is with a OAL of 1.20,

 

[Doc Rizzi]

Reloading 230g ACP

I use the seating die just to seat the bullet and then use a separate taper crimp lightly. Using the taper crimp has eliminated all feeding issues for my Commander. I have also found that each of my .45's has a "favorite" oal as well. Once you have dialed in the oal that feeds well for that pistol you stick with that. Some folks keep separate seating dies for their picky pistols and keep them locked in. I have three separated marks on my seating die that I use to control the variations of oal for the pistol I am reloading for. I have found that my Glocks like a slightly shorter oal that my colts. The colts will just about feed casings. I have shot .230g that I have casted and due to the low f.p.s. of the .45 bullet I have not had any issues with leading. I clean the gun after every trip to the range and have not noticed any problems with the barrel.

 

[Glocker45ACP]

to ImjinScout: According to the lee manual, for the titegroup the OAl is 1.20 like you stated and for Unique 1.27. I will probably make a dummy round to 1.27 and try to see if my gun accepts it and ejects it without problems. Thank you for the advise.

 

[Glocker45ACP]

To Doc Rizzi: What powder do you use on your glocks and what OAL do you have your rounds at?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

to ImjinScout: According to the lee manual, for the titegroup the OAl is 1.20 like you stated and for Unique 1.27. I will probably make a dummy round to 1.27 and try to see if my gun accepts it and ejects it without problems. Thank you for the advise.

Did the Lee manual actually list 2 different OAL's for those powders or are the bullets different with the data? The powder itself doesn't dictate the OAL, the bullet does.

 

[chris in va]

I will get to the question now which is how do i go about crimping this hardcast bullet

I've never had to crimp my 45's with the G21SF I had. About a thousand of my wheelweight lead bullets through it, no issues whatsoever.

Now my CZ 97b requires a FCD and taper crimp before it'll reliably cycle. Finicky.

 

[Walkalong]

1.270 is SAMMI max for .45 ACP, not an OAL suggestion. Load the 230 Gr RN to fall between 1.260 & 1.265, assuming that length will fit your chamber, which it should, and assuming that covers the lube groove, which it should.

The .45 ACP only needs a slight taper crimp. Just remove the belling or a hair more.

Neck tension holds the bullet in .45 ACP. Crimp does not. Crimp during seating, or in a fourth step.

Adjust the crimp die to just straighten out the case or maybe .001 more. No more.

I would not use the FCD, I would use a normal crimp die, but many people like to use them, and you can find many threads debating that, no need here.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

Your Unique load is way low. Manuals for that bullet say 5.9-6.9gr.

I am using 6.0gr in my G21 and 1911s w/o a problem.

 

[wingman]

In loading the 45acp I flair just so the bullet will set in case, I seat then crimp lightly in a separate operation with a Lee FCD it's a very light crimp, by seating and crimping in two different operations I believe it gives me more consistent OAL. I've loaded this way for a number of years without a ftf problem and accuracy is excellent.

 

[Glocker45ACP]

to Kevin Rohrer: You might want to look up your info again. I double checked my lee, lyman and hogdon load data and the load you are using is too high. You must be using a TMJ 230 gr bullet which kind of matches your load but an FMJ 230 gr bullet does not.

 

[LiveLife]

Alliant load data lists 5.8 gr of Unique as max for 230 gr Lead RN - http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/powderlist.aspx?type=1&powderid=3&cartridge=35

45Auto 230 gr Speer LRN Unique OAL 1.27" Max 5.8 gr (849 fps)

As to OAL, even for round nose bullet, it should be determined by conducting a barrel drop test and function check by manually feeding/chambering from the magazine. Some barrels have very quick start of rifling with almost no leade and must use shorter OAL, even for the RN type bullet. Walkalong has an excellent thread for determining Max OAL using your barrel - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=506678&highlight=determine+max+OAL+walkalong

Here's a picture of my Sig 1911 barrel showing very quick start of rifling with almost no leade (which allows the bearing surface of the bullet to engage the rifling sooner to build more consistent chamber pressures and attribute to great accuracy).

Due to this reason, I must use OAL shorter than the typical 1.25" OAL or the bearing surface of the bullet will hit the rifling when I do a barrel drop test. Here's the barrel drop test picture from Walkalong's thread.

This is Missouri Bullet 230 gr RN (SoftBall) loaded to 1.240" OAL with .472" taper crimp. Any longer and the bearing surface of the bullet will hit the start of rifling in the Sig 1911 barrel.

 

[Glocker45ACP]

Did the Lee manual actually list 2 different OAL's for those powders or are the bullets different with the data? The powder itself doesn't dictate the OAL, the bullet does.

Did the Lee manual actually list 2 different OAL's for those powders or are the bullets different with the data? The powder itself doesn't dictate the OAL, the bullet does.

It would make sense what you are saying, but you also have to know that not all powders are the same. It would be incorrect to state that all 230 gr bullets should be the same OAL when the powders are different.

 

[LiveLife]

The powder itself doesn't dictate the OAL, the bullet does.

Well, bullet/pistol/barrel/magazine all dictate the OAL.

OK, one more time ...

1. OALs listed on published load data were typically obtained using test barrel fixtures and not actual pistols. Since there are variations in individual pistol components (barrel length, groove diameter, rifling type, chamber dimensions, ramp length/angle, etc.), each reloader must determine the Max OAL and Ideal OAL that will feed/chamber reliably in their pistol/barrel/magazine when barrel drop/function check tests are conducted.

2. Once OAL is determined that works well for a particular pistol, then a full powder work up from start-to-max charge (referencing all available published load data) needs to be conducted for a new bullet type/weight used to determine the powder charges that will reliably cycle the slide and extract/eject the spent cases while producing accurate shot groups. This is applicable regardless of the powder.

 

[Doc Rizzi]

to Glocker45ACP

I use Bullseye for all .45 ACP. The Glocks like OAL of 1.20 and the my colts seem to prefer 1.24. All crimped lightly with a taper crimp.

 

[Glocker45ACP]

I just bought some titegroup and will be making my OAL to 1.20 in 45 ACP 230 gr lRN bullets.

 

[chhodge69]

I will get to the question now which is how do i go about crimping this hardcast bullet and what is your suggestion on OAL(Lee manual calls for a 1.270 OAL)

I recommend you adjust your seating die to apply a light crimp as you seat the bullet.

I recommend you DO NOT use your factory crimp die with 0.452 lead unless you very carefully verify that it does not squash your bullet.

 

[Kevin Rohrer]

to Kevin Rohrer: You might want to look up your info again. I double checked my lee, lyman and hogdon load data and the load you are using is too high.

Really?

My load: 230gr. LEAD bullet (RNFP) in front of 6.0 gr. Unique

(Manual) (Edition) (Bullet Unique) (Powder Weight Range)
Lyman 49. 225gr Lead RN. 5.5-7.3gr.
Alliant. 2009. 230gr lead RN. 5.8 gr max
Hodgdons 2012. N/a
Sierra. V. No lead bullets listed
Speer #14. 230gr LRN 5.3-5.8gr
Hornady. 8th. 230gr LRN. 5.8-6.5gr.
Lee 2nd. 230gr LRN. 5.0gr max (?!)
Waters' Pet Loads. 230gr LRN. 5.5-7.0gr.