.45 acp brass study

[Venado]

Has anyone else done any studying into .45 acp brass? I have been studying into this and found some enteresting facts. Each particular brand will have differing case capacity.

I seperated 230 grn. fmj winchester white box cartridges into three categories, those that weighed light, then medium, and then heavy. This is how they chronographed:

Low 795.9
med. 808.0
high 825.7
Avg. 809.9

After shooting these cartridges I measured the case depth (after resizing), and found that the lighter cases had a greater depth, and therefore a greater powder capacity. Thus less pressure and less velocity.

I have also checked out different brands and found this:

Winchester cases: 24.7 grains of water
Speer cases: 26.2 " " "

Remington cases were the least in capacity.

What have you found out.

 

[JDGray]

Rem cases have the least neck tension, but still good cases

Win cases are always GTG

S&B have very tight primer pockets

All 45 cases will last darn near forever

 

[45ACPUSER]

It is great you did this, but we veteran reloaders of the 45 ACP have been loading fine amount without such worrying of details. I only seperate brass for the 625's, every thing else goes in the auto loaders!

 

[Claude Clay]

+1 45acpuser

if it goes through my press it will through the gun also.

that said--A-MERC should be banned and sent to our enemies cod at 800fps
NT is NFG....right next to GAP in uselessness
and them stamped GFL---'good f'n luck' leave me uneasy

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

GFL isn't very good stuff. I've had not-so-good luck with it in .32acp, ,380acp and .45acp.
I prefer Hornady or Federal with Speer and CCI close behind.

 

[LightningMan]

+1 on that A-MERC. Dam cases must be thicker because after reloading they never do chamber, and alway lock up my 1911. LM.

 

[Deavis]

What have you found out.

That most people don't notice the difference and those who try generally aren't capable of shooting well with a pistol to tell. The difference in average velocity you show are within a standard deviation (typical 12-20 depending on who is loading) for a pistol on the light -> medium and pretty close on the light-> heavy. Not really anything to get too excited about, but post the SD and MAD just for fun, let's see if they varied at all. Did you weigh each powder charge or did you throw using a powder measure? Just curious.

 

[arizona98tj]

Venado, thanks for sharing your findings. These things abound in the reloading world if you take the time to dig into them, as you indicated.

What have you found out.

I have found that 6.3 grains of Unique behind a 230 gr FMJ out of mixed head stamp brass will yield a 1" five shot group @ 7 yds with the bullet traveling 799 FPS with a SD of 7.9.

OR.....

I can consistently put 2 hits COM from arms length to 25 yds from a concealed carry and beat PAR time.

Either way, they are both a whole lot of fun and better than the absolute best day at work!

 

[Venado]

Deavis, the low, medium, and high loads I mentioned were factory loadings. I know that there could also be a difference in bullet weight and powder charge, but found that most of the weight difference came from the case.

 

[ambidextrous1]

QUOTE:
The difference in average velocity you show are within a standard deviation (typical 12-20 depending on who is loading) for a pistol on the light -> medium and pretty close on the light-> heavy.

I don't know how to calculate standard deviation from the information presented here.

 

[Venado]

The differance between a speer .45 acp case and a remington case is the same differance as a .38 special and a .357 magnum.

 

[Venado]

I am getting tired. It is difference in case capacity, the Speer having the greater capacity.

 

[Clarence]

The main thing I've noticed about .45 ACP brass...........If I don't pick it up quickly at the range it will be gone. The other shooters just happen to get mine mixed up with "theirs".

 

[Walkalong]

It would take a rest, and a very, very accurate gun, but I am sure there are cases that would prove more accurate than others.

Question for me is will I shoot better. Nope, I can't shoot that well, so I don't worry with it.

I think what Venado needs is some accuracy freaks (like me and my Bench gun) to help him out here. While I will buy the best brass, bullets and powder, regardless of price, for my Bench gun, I am not that dedicated for plinking with my .45. I have loads that shoot as well as I can shoot, while still using mixed range brass.