.45 acp need advice

[dpwilson]

I just started reloading about 6 months ago. I have my first rounds of .45 sitting on the shelf waiting to be torn down (75 quantity). I have CCI primers 6.0 grns of unique and oal of 1.210. berry's 230 grn round nose.

My question is: is the 1.210 to short and powder to high? I'm thinking about tearing them down and would like your suggestions.

I have been shooting some 6.2 grn at 1.250 oal and like them.

 

[patrolman]

Seems like 1.210 is better suited to hollow points in that bullet weight. Sounds a tad short for a round nose.

If 1.250 is working well for you, why the change to 1.210?

 

[dpwilson]

1.250 was after I had done alot more research. I think I will just tear them down and try the same OAL with a different powder charge.

I'm loving reloading. I have found a 9mm recipe that works well for Unique in my pistols same with .45. I shot 21.2 grns of h110 for my .357 and forgot how much I loved that gun. This is a great site and I thank everyone for there help and I hope to pass on info to others when I learn more.

 

[JDGray]

My Lee manual says 6.0 is max for 230gr fmj, at 1.190" oal. 16,000 psi

5.0gr Unique max, for 230gr lead, at 1.190" 11,600 psi

Both loads are way lower than the 21,000 psi limit.

I wouldn't sweat it on pressure, but not sure how well they'll shoot.

 

[Steve C]

Your powder charge is fine and as long as the bullet is seated so case mouth is at or below the start of the bullet ogive there's no reason to worry about the seating depth. Try a couple mags of them out to see if they feed reliably in your pistol. If they do there's no reason to tear down the loads unless you just want to use your bullet puller.

Don't microanalyses small differences in OAL, try them out. Take that caliper and bury it in the bottom of a drawer and use a factory round to set your seating die for an OAL that will work, use the caliper to make sure you are under max OAL. Check your load in a case gauge or removed barrel chamber to make sure it fits properly.

 

[dpwilson]

Okay, I'm gonna give them a shot. This should make a pretty good start for the first camp trip of the season. Thanks for the help.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I shot 21.2 grns of h110 for my .357 and forgot how much I loved that gun.

What is the bullet profile and weight in that load?

 

[dpwilson]

OAL on the .357 I did 1.60 with 125 grn xtp.

 

[Walkalong]

I load the Berrys 230 Gr RN between 1.260 to 1.265 O.A.L. Works great. Same for the 185 Gr HBRN from Berrys.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Your .357 Magnum recipe seems fine and I wouldn't worry about the .45 Auto rounds with the 1.210" OAL either. Sounds like you're hooked for good now! LOL

 

[Doogledog]

Just load them to the length that fits your magazines. I always keep an extra mag on my bench to double check the COAL for the .45's I load. I do have a caliper, but rarely use it for .45's.

 

[ForneyRider]

I load 230gr FMJ to 1.262 which is the measurement I got from Remington UMC ammo. Loads great.

I use W231 and Power Pistol for 45 ACP.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use W231 and Power Pistol for 45 ACP.

Good choices IMO. I use W231 and AA#5 for my .45 Auto rounds. It's hard to beat W231 in the .45 Auto, it's my goto powder in that caliber. (and several other calibers too)

 

[Walkalong]

W-231 and AA #5 was all I used for years in .45 ACP, mostly W-231 for target and 90% practice loads.