Going to try my first cast .45 ACP loads...

So, after having made 1000 jacketed rounds, and 500 plated rounds, I'm now going to sample the economy of cast bullets. Here's my scenario:

230 gr. LRN from a local maker (with lube)
mixed 1x & 2x fired cases from my previous loads
WLP primers

IMR 700x powder.

When I visited the IMR site to find some cast load data, here is what I get:
230 GR. LRN IMR 700-X .452" 1.200" 4.5 831 14,500 CUP 5.0 893 17,700 CUP

Everything looks good to me, except the COL - I have been using 1.266", plus a mild crimp, which nets 1.265".

When using the Rem MC 230 gr., and the Berry's 230 gr., both at 1.265", and both yield pretty good results - no squibs, no FTF's no FTE's, and no Kabooms,
when keeping in the 4.3-4.6 powder charge ranges.

For ease of loading, I'd like to keep my seating die set to 1.265" - it's a pretty good fit for my particular pistol ( RRA 1911A1, 5" Basic Carry model), and I still have about 400 Rem MC's I'd like to load up.

Would it be safe to assume that I can start off by backing down the starting charge to something around 4.3 gr.s, but keep my original seating depth of 1.266", and final crimp to 1.265", without any problems?

I know it sounds like I'm being a silly-nanny over the COL, but I've had some pretty good runs so far, and I'd like to keep it going...

Before anyone asks, I don't know what the BHN for the bullet is offhand - I don't have them sitting in front of me, but I'll post it later (if it has any bearing on the load...)

Thanks again High Roaders!

-tc

Will definitely do that. There aren't any bhn numbers on the box - they are however a .452 diameter.... I should have my first batch of 30-40 made up this week - I figured I give a run of 4.5 (10), 4.7 (10) 4.9 (10) - shoot those, and then come back and try 20 more of my best group...

Lessons learned...

Well... an update.

My first cast reloads were a failure - so far. I committed two gross errors, that I have readily identified:

1. I used my existing seating die, set at the same locked-in setting - this is the die I use for my FMJ + plated bullets, which seats them to 1.266" COL.

2. I drove all the way out to the range with a box of 30 cast bullets at varying charge weights, completely forgetting to simply do a barrel test fit before leaving the house.


The short story is that none of them chambered. In fact, when I got to the NRAHQ range, and paid my $11, I got to the firing line only to discover that they wouldn't fit the magazines in the 1911.

Looking back on it now, I realized that my seating die has a seating depth of 1.266" for FMJ + Plated; the ogive on the LRN is obviously different, causing a different OAL... back to the bench. At least I only have 30 to pull down...

In addition, I had brought my 30-30 to check some other loads I'd made using AA2460. I've had problems in the past with light primer hits from this gun ( Marlin Model 1936, made in 1941), and had the same issue tonight with my reloads... When it rains, it pours... :banghead::banghead:

-tc

Thx lj!

AA is quickly becoming one of my favorites, for exactly that reason. I still have a full pound of 700X, and once it's gone, I'll be trying out the old No.2!

OK... So...

After much seating -> barrel test fitting -> reseating today, I came up with my COL of 1.225". It was the first length I arrived at, where I could get the cartridge to seat all the way, barrel out of the pistol. Tomorrow is powder charging and seating day, and then Saturday to shoot! Thanks again all!

-tc