.45 ACP and OAL

[bainter1212]

Hey folks,

I have been slowly but surely making my first foray into loading the .45ACP. I am loading using Berry's 185gr HBRN plated bullets and Titewad. I know Titewad is not an ideal powder for pistol but it is what I have on hand at the moment, and funds are tight so I can't just go out and try different powders willy-nilly.

The only issue I have been having is finding the right seating depth for these bullets. I have initially stayed on the safe side by seating just under SAMMI max but the pressures are so low that while the accuracy is fine, the loads won't cycle the gun. The best I get is a stovepipe.

I know if I seated the bullet a bit deeper it should raise the pressure a bit and should improve function.....however, OAL data for this bullet profile is scarce. Most OAL data for 185gr bullets involve SWCs, which won't quite jive with this bullet type.

A friend and older, more experienced reloader, says he was given an OAL chart based on projectile length, by HIS mentor, for the .45 acp. Here is the chart:

0.695 in 1.275 in
0.690 in 1.270 in
0.685 in 1.265 in
0.680 in 1.260 in
0.675 in 1.255 in
0.670 in 1.250 in
0.665 in 1.245 in
0.660 in 1.240 in
0.655 in 1.235 in
0.650 in 1.230 in
0.645 in 1.225 in
0.640 in 1.220 in
0.635 in 1.215 in
0.630 in 1.210 in
0.625 in 1.205 in
0.620 in 1.200 in
0.615 in 1.195 in
0.610 in 1.190 in
0.605 in 1.185 in
0.600 in 1.180 in
0.595 in 1.175 in

The left column is projectile length and the right column is OAL. He says this is a good general guide that has served him well over the years.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this data? Those Berry's bullets are .600 in length.

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[gamestalker]

I would contact Berry's for some tested oal's and data they used, and then find the oal that will fit your magazine and barrel, and then compare with what Berry's has.

Then conduct a work up from minimum start charge at each oal you try. Are you familiar with the "plunk test"? Remove your barrel, seat to an oal that fits your magazine, and then drop that round in your barrel to make sure it doesn't make contact with the lands. If it drops in with a nice solid "plunk" and when you press on the back of the cartridge while in the barrel, you should be able to turn the cartridge if it isn't contacting the lands, and it should drop out by gravity alone, also inspect for marks made by contact with the lands. Then from that point adjust as necessary to facilitate reliable feeding. Once you've made that determination, test fire a few samples to make sure your start charge will reliably cycle the action, adjust the charge as necessary.

Just be careful with Titewad, it's not as easy to work with as other powders. Also, double check your cases after charging them to look for double charges and, or, missed charges. A double charge can easily fit in a 45 acp case, and a empty can just as easily slip by unnoticed if you don't take the time to closely inspect each case prior to seating the bullet.

GS

 

[ReloaderFred]

This one is super simple. The Berry's 185 gr. HBRN bullet is made to duplicate the contour of the 230 gr. FMJ, or "ball" round. Just load to the same OAL as the original 230 gr. ammunition, which in this case is 1.275". This is what the bullet was designed to be loaded at.

As for your load, are you sure you don't mean Titegroup? Titewad is the skinflint down at the bank who always says no when you need money.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[bainter1212]

Thanks GS for that input.

I know about the issues working with Titewad.....a steep pressure curve and small charge means that I have to be extra careful about charge weight and doubly careful about the potential for a double charge.
My first loads were seated to 1.265 OAL starting at 3gr of powder and working up to 3.6gr. The load data is per the Hodgon website, except the OAL.
All of those rounds plunk tested fine in my Kimber.
I figured it was better safe than sorry to move up the OAL and start a bit below minimum and work up from there. If I can keep the powder charge around 3.6gr with reliable function and acceptable accuracy I would be real happy......that is a lot of rounds per pound of powder.

 

[Blue68f100]

The profile for the Berry's 185gr HBRN is identical to the 230gr. I got this info directly from Berry's when I contaced them about what to use for OAL on the HB. I shoot these all the time but not with that powder, WST. My OAL is 1.250" with one of my guns liking a shorter 1.235". Berry's said you can load up to Mid range jacketed with there std plated.

 

[bainter1212]

This one is super simple. The Berry's 185 gr. HBRN bullet is made to duplicate the contour of the 230 gr. FMJ, or "ball" round. Just load to the same OAL as the original 230 gr. ammunition, which in this case is 1.275". This is what the bullet was designed to be loaded at.

As for your load, are you sure you don't mean Titegroup? Titewad is the skinflint down at the bank who always says no when you need money.

Hope this helps.

Fred

Yep, Titewad. Primarily a shotgun powder but should work just fine for pistol. I got a bunch cheap recently.

I am aware that Berrys intended to mimic the 230 gr profile, but in this instance the hollow base effectively increases case volume. As I understand it, a fast burning powder like Titewad might be touchy about too much case volume, as far as function goes. Trying to keep the charge weight "economical" might mean seating that bullet a bit deeper.

Thanks for all the input guys. It's all appreciated.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Ok, Titewad it is. I use mostly Red Dot and 700X for my shotgun loading.

Hodgdon lists 3.5 gr. as the starting load with a 185 gr. bullet, and 4.2 gr. as maximum. Shortening the OAL probably won't increase pressure enough with that low a charge, and if you keep seating deeper, you'll get the bullet seated too deeply and end up with the case mouth over the ogive.

Just bump up the charge a little bit and see what that does. The powder is the cheapest of the four components, and even at 3.5 gr., you'd still be getting 2,000 loads per pound, if it will function in your pistol. At 4.0 gr., you'd still get 1,750 loads per pound. You said you got it cheap...........

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[bainter1212]

Ok, Titewad it is. I use mostly Red Dot and 700X for my shotgun loading.

Hodgdon lists 3.5 gr. as the starting load with a 185 gr. bullet, and 4.2 gr. as maximum. Shortening the OAL probably won't increase pressure enough with that low a charge, and if you keep seating deeper, you'll get the bullet seated too deeply and end up with the case mouth over the ogive.

Just bump up the charge a little bit and see what that does. The powder is the cheapest of the four components, and even at 3.5 gr., you'd still be getting 2,000 loads per pound, if it will function in your pistol. At 4.0 gr., you'd still get 1,750 loads per pound. You said you got it cheap...........

Hope this helps.

Fred

That does help. Thanks again.

Back to the bench I go.......

 

[edfardos]

Dont forget its a hollow base bullet which increases your cumbustion space too.