.45 ACP Truncated Cone Plated 185-gr bullet over 6.0 gr of Win-231?

[IMtheNRA]

I have some mystery plated bullets of unknown manufacturer that I'd like to use to make light .45 ACP plinking loads.

Hodgdon's web site does not have data on 185-gr plated bullets, but my Speer manual has data for a 185-gr Gold Dot bullet, which is also plated. Win-231 range is 6.6 to 7.4 grains. Hornady manual has a charge range of 5.9 to 7.2 grains for their FMJ 185-gr SWC and HP bullets.

I was wondering if you think it is safe to try a 6.0 grain charge of Winchester-231 and seating the bullet to make overall length of 1.200 ?

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, it would be a safe charge.

The 1.2" OAL may or may not be, depending on whether or not that length will pass the Plunk Test in your chamber.


Lyman #49 shows a 185 Remington JHP & W231.

Start load is 4.4 grains = 640 FPS.

Max load is 6.1 = 937 FPS.

Was I you though, I would start at 5.0 grains slowly and work up to 6.0.

BTW: The Speer Gold-Dot is plated, but much thicker plating then common plated bullets.

You can't use Gold Dot data with normal plated bullets.

rc

 

[jwrowland77]

If it was me, I'd start at 6.2 and work up to 7.3.

When I work new loads, I average the start of every source I can get my hands on and then I do the same for the max. I figure this way, it'll never be too weak as to get a squib, and I won't ever go over the max listed. Keeps me safe.

 

[IMtheNRA]

Avoiding loads that are too light to cycle my G-21-C is the reason I was thinking of 6.0 grains of W-231.

You see, last night, I loaded and shot some 200-grain plated bullets over 6.0 grains. The recoil was very, very light, and the sides of the cases had big scorch marks, which I thought was a sign of a very light load. This is why I thought that 6.0 grains with lighter, 185-grain plated bullet, might turn out to be an even lighter load.

 

[1KPerDay]

If it was me, I'd start at 6.2 and work up to 7.3.

When I work new loads, I average the start of every source I can get my hands on and then I do the same for the max. I figure this way, it'll never be too weak as to get a squib, and I won't ever go over the max listed. Keeps me safe.

So you'd start above the max load recommended by Lyman and Hodgdon/Winchester and work up from there??

185 GR. HDY JSWC Winchester 231 .451" 1.135" 5.0 762 12,000 CUP 5.9 906 15,800 CUP

 

[jwrowland77]

I was simply going by what the OP research showed.

Moral of the story was to take the averages of start and max and use that as start and max. I would NEVER start above max.

 

[IMtheNRA]

I didn't take it as a recommendation to start above max. The bullet in that loading data is not the same as the one I intend to load. Hodgdon/Winchester, Hornady, Speer, and Lyman all have a huge, and I mean, huge differences in their load data - all for bullets that are different from my plated 185-grain TC style bullet, and all with different COAL measurements.

Some of the manuals' max loads are less than the starting loads in other manuals...

Personally, I suspect that 6 grains is too low - so low, that I was wondering if it is safe to load with only 6 grains of W-231.

 

[Conservidave]

I have never loaded or shot any 185grn bullets but I would think 6grn of 231 would move that bullet nicely down the barrel.

Dave,

 

[mulyhuntr]

I shoot 6.2gr w231 with a 185gr plated fp. Only gets me about 850fps from a 4.5" barrel.

 

[1KPerDay]

Personally, I suspect that 6 grains is too low - so low, that I was wondering if it is safe to load with only 6 grains of W-231.

You'll be surprised how low you'll have to go to get a squib. 6 grains will DEFINITELY expel the projectile.

 

[IMtheNRA]

If anyone's wondering, I tested this load. Made ten rounds and they cycled the Glock 21-C each time, so they're not too weak. Very mild recoil impulse, and significantly less loud than my standard 230-FMJ loads, which also have 6.0 grains of W-231.

I had to set my COAL range at 1.167 to 1.173 in order for the entire batch to pass the "plunk test" in my Glock barrel.

Accuracy was pretty bad - 10 rounds, 2.75 inches at 13 yards (two hand hold), but acceptable for non-precision shooting, like IDPA & IPSC. Wouldn't trust this accuracy for pins, but it'll do for the other activities.

 

[Walkalong]

Cycling test with a 1911 and W231:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=523172