Does this .45 ACP load sound okay?

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TTv2

TTv2

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5 grains of Bullseye with a 225gr lead Hunters Supply bullet from Midway. I seated the bullet to the top of the crimp groove and roll crimped it, checked the depth of the powder in the case and looks like there's about .100" of air between the base of the bullet and the powder.

I can't find any load data for this specific bullet in 45 ACP, but I had data for 230gr bullets, however I don't think they were seated as deep in the case. The OAL I got with the 225 Hunters bullets was about 1.190"

I'm not too worried about pressure as I'll be shooting it in my Ruger Redhawk, but would like to get feedback on this from more seasoned people.
 
Walkalong said:
That’s for a roll crimp
Click to expand...
OK... I guess that's just what this bullet requires? I have not loaded anything like that in .45acp. My .45acp reloads have been with plated RN, FMJ, and coated SWCs

edit: just saw your clarification! Thanks!
 
No, you don’t have to roll crimp it. If you load it in .45ACP, just lightly taper crimp as usual.
 
Rule3 said:
He is shooting them from a Ruger RedHawk
Click to expand...
Saw that. I shoot .45acp with a taper crimp in a SW625. Roll crimp is not necessary there. Is there something that makes it necessary in a Redhawk?
 
Don't see where type of crimp matters cartridge is going to headspace on the moon clip, though taper is easier on the brass.
 
drband said:
Saw that. I shoot .45acp with a taper crimp in a SW625. Roll crimp is not necessary there. Is there something that makes it necessary in a Redhawk?
Click to expand...

Other than it is a made for a 45 Colt and has a cannelure, no nothing makes in necessary It can be used in 45 acp as well. I have some.
Using a taper crimp doesn't matter either but in a revolver a roll crimp is mo betterer,

For that matter the OP asked if the load "sounds" OK. Having not hear it, who really knows?
 
Thanks for the replies, I'll shoot these later and see how they do. I had used Blue Dot before, but that left a lot of unburned powder in the Redhawk, so people suggested Bullseye given it burns faster and I agreed. Also decided to use a magnum primer to ensure as much powder burn as possible.

My biggest concern was I didn't want an overpressure situation, as in something over 30k PSI. The Redhawk can take well more than that, but I doubt the ACP brass could.

I prefer to do a roll crimp when I use a bullet that allows the use of a roll crimp and is going to be used in a revolver.

I'll bring the chronograph along and see what velocity these will give me as well. 1000 fps would be ideal.
 
Dont think you have to worry about rupturing the brass either. I would just taper crimp a cylinder full and shoot all but one. Measure before and after bullet movement. If it dosent pull the bullet or tie up the cylinder I would not bother with roll crimping. Easier on the brass. Higher end (near max) loads of fast propellant will burn considerably clearer from my experience.
 
Update: They shot well. Chrono'd them and was getting an average of about 765 fps with 740 the low and 781 the high. If I threw out the low the extreme spread dropped to 25 and the standard deviation to 7.

So, this was a very consistent load in terms of velocity. I would like to get more power tho so I'm going to up the charge to 5.3gr and retest.

I am seeing that accuracy in the the Redhawk with .45 ACP improves greatly when using .45 Colt style bullets and a roll crimp. The complaints about low accuracy using factory .45 ACP are likely true, but handloaded ammo seems just fine.
 
TTv2 said:
5 grains of Bullseye with a 225gr lead Hunters Supply bullet from Midway. I seated the bullet to the top of the crimp groove and roll crimped it, checked the depth of the powder in the case and looks like there's about .100" of air between the base of the bullet and the powder.

I can't find any load data for this specific bullet in 45 ACP, but I had data for 230gr bullets, however I don't think they were seated as deep in the case. The OAL I got with the 225 Hunters bullets was about 1.190"

I'm not too worried about pressure as I'll be shooting it in my Ruger Redhawk, but would like to get feedback on this from more seasoned people.
Click to expand...

You should always worry about pressure. If you don't you'll find yourself in trobule.
 
GRIZ22 said:
You should always worry about pressure. If you don't you'll find yourself in trobule.
Click to expand...
I normally do, but this is in a revolver that has been tested at 50k PSI. I can't imagine with all the precautions I took the pressures would have exceeded that.

Still, I like to get input on loads that aren't published data.
 
drband said:
OK... I guess that's just what this bullet requires? I have not loaded anything like that in .45acp. My .45acp reloads have been with plated RN, FMJ, and coated SWCs

edit: just saw your clarification! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Not necessarily what the bullet "requires", but what the gun "requires" I have fired a few thousand Lee 358-125-RF bullets in my 9mms (normally a "revolver" bullet). I load just like any other 125 gr. cast bullet and ignore the crimp groove...
 
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Let me suggest something. Try 12 cartridges with a roll crimp, 12 with a taper crimp and 12 with no crimp. I say 12 because that's 2 cylinder's worth. Shoot 'em and see if they require a roll crimp, taper crimp or no crimp. If you can shoot a cylinder with no crimp, that is the first choice. No wear and tear on the case mouth. If you need as much as a roll crimp, then so be it.
 
Kevin Rohrer said:
Roll Crimp for a cartridge that headspaces on the case mouth = BAD

Taper crimp on that same cartridge = GOOD
Click to expand...
And when that cartridge is headspacing with the aid of a moon clip, is it still BAD?
 
TTv2

It makes sense to me that your Redhawk shoots 45 Colt 0.452” bullets with a roll crimp better than 45 ACP 0.451” bullets.

I’m of the belief that lowest velocity spreads in revolvers are achieved when measures are taken to make pressure in the case higher before the bullet starts to travel forward. Heavy crimps, seating bullets long to touch tight camber throats, etc.

If you have 45 ACP pistols, like a 1911, I’d do a “plunk” test on those guns. You may find that your headspace is messed up on those guns and you may have to separate your ammo appropriately.
 
I don't own any other guns in .45 ACP and if I did, I would most certainly use a taper crimp
 
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