strengthening loads

[rucker]

I have been reloading .45ACP with 4.0 grains of Bullseye and a 230gr lead bullet. The loads are, in my opinion, too weak. The cases rarely clear my elbow on ejection and I just verified that there is about 12" of bullet drop at long ranges. I don't actually know what range I was shooting at but I noticed it initially at the IDPA match stage that took place in the rifle bay at Bill's. Whatever the length of that bay is minus ~20 feet I was shooting really low. I went to the range today and had the same results.

So, my question is, how do I know what amount of powder is safe? The recipe I am using is from Alliant and says it is a "target" load. I have also seen loads that say 5.0 grains of powder but with a FMJ bullet. I assume that if I just loaded a batch with 4.5gr that nothing awful would happen but thought I would check here first.

[jac714]

I have been reloading .45ACP with 4.0 grains of Bullseye and a 230gr lead bullet. The loads are, in my opinion, too weak. The cases rarely clear my elbow on ejection and I just verified that there is about 12" of bullet drop at long ranges. I don't actually know what range I was shooting at but I noticed it initially at the IDPA match stage that took place in the rifle bay at Bill's. Whatever the length of that bay is minus ~20 feet I was shooting really low. I went to the range today and had the same results.

So, my question is, how do I know what amount of powder is safe? The recipe I am using is from Alliant and says it is a "target" load. I have also seen loads that say 5.0 grains of powder but with a FMJ bullet. I assume that if I just loaded a batch with 4.5gr that nothing awful would happen but thought I would check here first.

The original spec load for the .45 ACP was 5 gr Bullseye with a 230 gr "ball" bullet. Add a 1/2 grain of powder and you should be good to go.

[JFettig]

What manual are you using? Check it for your load, if your way under the max you can probably bump it up a little.
Starting loads from my manual wouldn't cycle very well.

Jon

[rucker]

The original spec load for the .45 ACP was 5 gr Bullseye with a 230 gr "ball" bullet. Add a 1/2 grain of powder and you should be good to go.

Will do

What manual are you using? Check it for your load, if your way under the max you can probably bump it up a little.
Starting loads from my manual wouldn't cycle very well.

Jon

I don't have a manual, I was just using what was on Alliants website. 4gr is what they list for lead bullets and 5gr is what they list for FMJ. These loads are so weak I am going to bump it up to 4.5gr and see what happens.

[JFettig]

Get a manual!

From my lyman manual, for a 230gr TMJ(not lead) it says start at 3.8 go up to 5.3
For a 225gr cast #452374 start at 4.0 max of 5.0

their loads are done using a 5" barrel, the 4.0 gr behind a 225gr lead bullet only runs 680fps and 5gr is 815fps.

Jon

[jac714]

Rucker you really need a manual. It will give you all the dimensions as well as a variety of different recipes for loads.

If you go to Alliant's website you an request their recipe books but a Sierra, Speer, Hornady, ... (or all of them) manual is a must for any body reloading.

You can get one from John at Gunstop, Cabelas, Sportsmans Warehouse or any gun show (good excuse to go)

5th Ed 2nd Printing Sierra manual specs 4.0 to 5.2 gr Bullseye with calculated velocities of 700n to 900 fps. (this is assuming 230 gr ball)

The Speer Book (13th Ed) calls for 5.2 to 5.7 gr Bulls eye with calculated velocities of 779 to 840 fps.

[DeanC]

If you are trying to skimp on buying a manual, my first advice is to just buy the damn thing and get over it.

If you still want to skimp, go to either Gunstop or Ammocraft and grab one of the free Hodgdon manuals or use the Hodgdon website. Of course, that is only good for Hodgdon powders.

You can go to Gander or Cabela's and get a caliber specific reloading manual for under $10 that shows loads for only that caliber.


You can also go to ebay and buy a used, older manual that should cover most of your needs.

For a while, Lee was selling a package of their latest manual and their low-end press for $30. Not a great press, but makes a good dedicated decapping or factory crimp station.

[Seismic Sam]

Yeah - trying to handload without a manual is like HammAR trying to express himself without swearing at a breakfast - it's just foolhardy to try, and pointless too!! BUY THE DAMN MANUAL BEFORE YOU HURT YOURSELF!!!!

[Pred]

Rucker you really need a manual.

Or two....

I highly recommand the caliber specific booklets that DeanC pointed out. They contain a combination of reloading data from the major reloading manuals plus data from the powder and bullet manufacturers.

[macphisto]

Just fill it to the top of the case like this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/v/98I1i8Toj8E

[1911fan]

I will also say that besides the manual, ( i find the speer, the nosler, the hornady and the lyman manuals imperative,) But I also highly suggest the Ken Waters Pet Loads book. while some of the loads and articles maybe a bit dated, the information is like a grad school course in the history of modern ammuntion. yes its expensive, but its about 500 pages of studies of every cartridge you ever heard of, and a whole bunch you never knew existed.

[someone1980]

That was great. I think this one falls into about the same caliber of production.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT9SFfnqMGQ

[Pinnacle]

Just fill it to the top of the case like this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/v/98I1i8Toj8E

LISTEN TO SAM - HE KNOWS OF WHAT HE SPEAKS. I CROSS REFERENCE EVERYTHING WITH 3-4 SOURCES BEFORE TRYING ANY NEW RECIPIES.... 10 minutes of research can save you a lifetime of pain. There are worse things than dying....


You know you laugh about that just fill er up deal....

I did soe ballistic testing with 30-06 and I needed to make 2900 fps with a gun with a 17.5" bbl.... and a 166gr Bullet....

Lets just say that we make 2950 and the load was shall we say - slightly compressed.... (read- filled up to the top of the neck and bullet crushed the powder in place....)

After the first three shots - I tried to pass the rifle off to someone else to do the shooting. The gun weighs 5.2 lbs.... Yikes.