[saltydog452]

I haven't reloaded in about 20 years and, providing my Star reloader hasn't rusted shut, am about to start again.

I am going to have to ream out my powder charge bar on the Star to accept a different brand/weight of powder. Current charge bars are for 2.8, 3.5, and 3.8 of Bulls Eye.

I want ( or, more accurately, THINK I want) to charge the case using a powder that will deliver hardball equivalent recoil, easily exceed power factor minimum, burn a bit cleaner than Bulls Eye, and work well with cast bullets.

I will be using the Saeco version of the H&G 68. Or, at least I hope to.

I don't know if CCI primers are as good now as they were a couple of decades ago, but would appreciate your opinions regarding primer choice also.

Your suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks,

salty.

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello. I've had good luck with 5.0 grains Bullseye for about 860 ft/sec from a 5" gun using the H&G 68.

Best.

[ReloaderFred]

I'm using 5.5 grains of Winchester 231 with the H&G 68 and it's proven to be very accurate in my 1911's and my Witness .45's. This load has shot well in every .45 I've tried it in.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Travis Two]

A load that will meet all your requirements of Accuracy, Power, and Cleanliness will be 5.7 grs of Winchester Super Target with WW primers thsat I like better than the current crop of CCI primers.

[BluesBear]

I have used nothing but CCI primers for serious handgun use for the past 25 years.
Every so often I experiment with other brands but I always go back to CCI.

[saltydog452]

There a several new powder choices available now and I haven't kept 'up to speed' on reloading.

Before I modify a Star reloader charge slide, I am going to have to fool around a bit with the old Rockchucker before I attempt to do any reloading with a progressive reloader.

My goal is hardball equivelent recoil, reasonable accuracy, lead bullet 'friendly' (the Saeco version of the H & G 68), and, preferably a powder that is a bit less dense and slower burning than Bulls Eye.

I appreciate hearing your suggestions.

Thanks,

salty.

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Now that you are back from overseas I can answer all your questions with my Ca-Saeco 068 mold you are buying and can also answer any questions about your Star Reloader as I was their top Dealer and their Reloader Reconditioning Center.

As a Star owner you are welcome to join my Star Reloaders Group Web site.

[Rico567]

Casting is now a dimly-remembered activity with me, and my 4-cavity H&G #68 mould is long gone (but fondly remembered). I don't load any direct equivalent now, having gone over entirely to plated bullets, but for many years I loaded thousands of rounds of the same load as "ReloaderFred" earlier in this thread: 5.5 gr of 231, and it was an excellent load in my 1911. I don't recall the velocities, and if it matters that much, I encourage you to chrono anything you decide upon.

[saltydog452]

Paul,

PM enroute.

salty.

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

The first Ball or spherical powder they invented for pistols in the 60's was WW230 and I fell in love with it as being roundish it metered accurately in my Star reloaders and was more powerful than Bullseye thus cheaper to reload using it. Especially as a Commercial Reloader.

BUT the POWERS THAT BE decided it was too powerful for us civilians as a Federal Govt-customer advised me that we might use it to blow up important structures like bridges so they twisted the arms of the powder company to weaken it to WW231 which I had to still be in love with and have used it ever since as have not found any reason to change as it is so reliable and has served me well since its invention so what more can I say?

Well I asked this FED friend-customer what about Bullseye POWDER is't it powerful also? Yes, he said but it is the foundation of the civilian pistol shooting sports and for defending our country we need a reliable powder used by generations of marksmen and they would raise an awful stink if we stopped its production but this WW ball powder is new so they will not miss it much now that we have made them substitute the weaker WW231.

We NEED a foundation of good marksmen to teach younger generations to be good marksmen also and it is the marksmen who have kept this great country free!!

Now this was an actual conversation and I still love my WW231 as long as the powers that be trust me with it.

Salty, I mailed your Calif-Saeco 200Gr 068 SWC bullet mold yesterday and it is super accurate with its identical weight cast bullets but if it does not hit hard enough with the 5.5 gr of WW231, a good load, then I will save a 230 Gr RN mold for you.