45 ACP First Load Check - Berry's 230 RN

[Triumph]

Trying to decide on first load. Load will be for practice and plinking.

I measured some WWB 45 ACP and came up with the following for OAL:
1.269
1.268
1.269
1.267
1.273
1.266

I've never had a problem shooting WWB in my 45s so will go with 1.260.

w231 Load Data (Here is we're it gets frustrating and confusing).

Lyman 49
5.2-5.8 Gr
230 TMJ

LEE
4.2 - 5.3 Gr.
230 Jacket

Hodgdon Website
4.3 - 5.3 Gr.
230 RN

Reloading For Handgunners
4.9 Gr
Berry's 230 RN

For some reason the Lyman 49 is higher than the others and is the outlier.

I'm conflicted on where to start but thought 4.8 may be a safe solution.

Please share you're thoughts.

 

[LiveLife]

For some reason the Lyman 49 is higher than the others ...

I'm conflicted on where to start but thought 4.8 may be a safe solution.

I ran into the same difference of published powder charges when I was doing powder work up for X-Treme 230 gr plated RN bullets and W231/HP-38. Differences in the max power charges are probably from different OAL/COL used for pressure testing. Hodgdon used 1.200" for 230 gr Lead RN while Lyman used 1.272" for 225 gr Lead RN and 1.275" for 230 gr plated TMJ RN (Speer TMJ bullets are plated).

For the initial powder work up, I took the conservative approach and used Hodgdon's load data. After much browsing on the forums, I decided to start at 4.8, 5.0 and end up with 5.2 gr.

Since pistols used were Sig 1911, RIA Tactical, Springfield Armory 1911, I needed to use OAL/COL that worked in all the barrels. Using Walkalong's thread on determining max OAL/COL and the barrel drop test, 1.255" - 1.260" was tested for the Sig barrel that had the quickest start of rifling as 1.263" slightly started to rub the rifling and I ended up with 1.260" for the range test (Other barrels passed the drop test at 1.265"+). For your pistol/barrel, use the longest OAL/COL that will reliably feed/chamber from the magazine - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=506678

During the range test, 4.8 gr reliably cycled the slides and extracted/ejected spent cases but blew back some unburnt powder particles. 5.0 gr produced cleaner burn with greater accuracy and I settled with 5.2 gr.

Many shooters use up to 5.5 gr with 230 gr bullet but at longer OAL/COL - http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

230 gr HDY FMJ FP W231/HP-38 OAL/COL 1.200" Start 4.2 gr (751 fps) 13,800 CUP - Max 5.3 gr (832 fps) 16,800 CUP

230 gr LRN W231/HP-38 OAL/COL 1.200" Start 4.3 gr (699 fps) 12,200 CUP - Max 5.3 gr (834 fps) 16,900 CUP

 

[stodd]

I have a Hornady 9th edition and it lists:

230gr FMJ - W231 starting 5.0 grains and max at 5.7 grains.

I'm shooting 5.2 grains with an OAL of 1.259.

 

[Triumph]

During the range test, 4.8 gr reliably cycled the slides and extracted/ejected spent cases but blew back some unburnt powder particles. 5.0 gr produced cleaner burn with greater accuracy and I settled with 5.2 gr.

Thinking about starting with 4.9

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

If it is not muddy already let me add a little more confusion

Speer 14 list 230gr 45ACP
W231 5.6 to 6.2 COAL 1.260

Sierra 5th Edition list 230gr 45ACP
W231 4.9 to 5.7 COAL 1.270

Like most here have already stated it is about the cartridge overall length. This is not advised it is best to work up and use the exact components as listed in the manual but if not possible I have found the combination of these two to work best for me. It has been choreographed at about 805fps out of my 1911. Here is a review of 185gr hollow base which performs outstanding as well pictures of targets and reloading process included http://www.dayattherange.com/?p=861

My load for 230gr 45ACP with Xtreme Plated and Berry's Plated
W231 5.5gr COAL 1.260-1.263
Winchester LPP seated slightly below flush
Final round crimped to measure .471

I am using the Speer COAL but the Sierra 5th edition load. This is a very accurate load and has cycled absolutely everything I have fired them in. You can view them in action on my website at www.dayattherange.com where I have range reviewed many 45ACP pistols.
CZ97B
Ruger SR1911
Springfield XDs 45
S&W 945
Sig1911 TTT
To just mention a few but not all inclusive. The only 45 this hasn't cycled reliably is a Thompson "Tommy Gun". I have found that this particular application requires a slower powder like Universal Clays or HS-6. Typically the loads listed in the Sierra 5th edition under 45 Auto (ACP) Revolver does well in the Tommy Gun.

Truly I hope this helps instead of confusing the situation more, and to answer your question I would start with W231 4.9gr COAL 1.260 and work up testing them in your 45. Let us know what you decide after you've had the chance to get out to the range and test --- Enjoy.

 

[JRWhit]

For some reason the Lyman 49 is higher than the others and is the outlier.

I would not use the data for the speer tmj," Total Metal Jacket". That is a different bullet all together and is separate from a plated bullet. http://www.speer-bullets.com/products/handgun/plinker/tmj.aspx

If the load data you have for the berry's bullet is listed Max, reduce by 10% and work up. You may end up at the mid to higher range of jacketed data but I would not use it as a starting point, and I would take the TMJ data out of consideration all together.

Bullet Weight (Gr.) Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
230 GR. HDY FMJ FP Winchester 231 .451" 1.200" 4.2 751 13,800 CUP 5.3 832 16,800 CUP
230 GR. LRN Winchester 231 .452" 1.200" 4.3 699 12,200 CUP 5.3 834 16,900 CUP
(Click on any icon below to return to that product)

From Hodgdon's Website.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

TMJ is Speers special nomenclature for saying the bottom of the bullet is not exposed to lead.

"THE ULTIMATE FMJ BULLET. Speer® uses Uni-Cor® technology to take full metal jacket bullets to their highest level of evolution. We completely encase the lead core in a seamless jacket. Other FMJ bullets have lead exposed at the base, or have an accuracy-robbing second piece to cover the lead. Those bases can deform under pressure. TMJ’s seamless jacket means this can’t happen."

Most of the bullets we are talking about do not have an exposed bottom. Speers bullet though different from Berrys does have a thin plated jacket. I will see if I can find the pictures of their 50 Cal bullet that I cut in half. I was curious as to why they highly recommended against using this bullet in the 500S&W -- this was the reason for this little experiment. One call to Speer also helped out, the person on the other end of the line stated the Uni-Cor jacket was a thin plate to remain cost competitive and they had experienced the jacket being shaved off in the transition from cylinder to forcing cone in a revolver so this bullet was a only good for 50AE where it was fully enclosed and didn't have to make that transition. The other reason Speers load seems a little high is because the jacket is thin and can be pushed harder without exhibiting pressure signs. Hornady bullets and many others offer a thicker jacket which grips the rifling of the barrel a bit better causing greater pressure.

With plated which I have reloaded tens of thousands of it is best to stick with lead info as stated by others but I have found them to be the least accurate in the lower range but will cycle the slide of a semi auto. You have been given a lot of great valuable data by all, what I would most pay attention to is working up from the starting load and paying very close attention to COAL.

If you want PM me and I will send you the data book Rainier use to post for their plated bullets this went from 4.3 to 6.3 using W231. I myself have seen pressure signs at 5.9.