[cherryriver]

I've pretty much gone back to WST for .45 Auto. Last autumn, I loaded a quantity of 230gr RN TMJ Rainiers with 4.3gr WST and thought my chrono was telling me they were in the 715fps range.
I went to 4.5gr in hopes of making major. Just this weekend, though, I had the chrono back from loan and it was saying 640fps for the 4.5 load.
I then ran off a hundred with 5.0gr yesterday and popped them at the indoor range (no chrono) and got no overpressure signs. They felt softer than American Eagle red box factory loads I had along for comparison.
Does anyone have any chrono experience with this powder/bullet combination? There doesn't seem to be any good published information on Rainiers with this powder. (Vihta Vhouri does now list Rainiers in some calibers, but VV is no longer easily available around here.)
Incidentally, the WST load is extremely accurate, perfect functioning in all of my guns, and, as advertised, significantly quieter and less flashy than equivalent loads.
Thanks
Bill

[TenRing]

Bill, I just checked Rainier's web page and Rainier says:

"We, at Rainier Ballistics, recommend using lead bullet load data when loading our bullets. There is no need for adjustment when using lead bullet load data. Our bullets are jacketed using an electroplating process and are softer than traditionally jacketed bullets; hence the recommendation to use lead bullet load data. If you only have access to traditionally jacketed load data, we recommend reducing maximum charge by 10%. A roll or taper crimp may be used with our bullets; do not over crimp."

Check it out: http://www.rainierballistics.com/mainframe.htm

[cherryriver]

Thank you, Ten Ring, I have indeed seen the Rainier site's information. In the cases of my guns and loads, I'm afraid it hasn't worked out that neatly. In fact, once I got the chronograph, I was finding that the jacketed bullet load recommendations came closer to the plated-bullet results I was getting.
That's why I was fishing around for comparable experiences.
Thanks
Bill

[8ring]

I've used quite a bit of WST with 200gr and 230gr 45acp. lead bullets but can't find any data in my records for plated bullets. I know that 4.5gr WST is Winchester's maximum load with .45gr lead bullets.

You might try 3.8gr - 4.0gr Clays under 230gr. plated bullets. Like WST, Clays is a clean, low-flash powder with a quiet report. I get 170 PF with 4.0gr Clays under 230gr Frontier Plated Bullets in my S&W 625.

Chris

[cherryriver]

A quick trip to the club range with the chronograph showed the 5.0gr WST loads leaving a Brown-barreled Commander at 740fps on a 73 degree day. Still no overpressure signs were detected and it felt a full step more gentle than Federal red box 230gr FMJs, which chronoed right at 800fps.
5.0gr/740fps is fine for summer, but using the same load could cut things close in November.
The 4.5gr loads were indeed too light, only going about 665fps in the same gun.
Both are terribly accurate and clearing the plate racks at 40 yards (not feet) was easy for this mediocre shot.
Bill