.45 ACP question

[Citadel99]

I bought a box of cast bullets from my local gun store. They are 230 gr round nose. I've set my powder measure to 4.8 gr of Winchester 231. The OAL of the cartridge is 1.269". The bullets have a horizontal line at the base of the head of the bullet about 1/8" above the wax ring. The line is approximately 1/16" above the casing. Is that a problem? Hope that makes sense.

Mark

 

[ChristopherG]

I seat 230 lrn deeper than that--closer to 1.245 (Hornady 5's recommended length) in order to be sure I get the case mouth up to the ogive--the bit where the bullet begins to curve. I'd guess the horizontal line on your bullets is marking that point, and my first attempt would be to seat them to that line. Check your COL, of course, but with a reasonable charge like you're working with, going down to 1.23 or so shouldn't be any problem.

 

[Quantrill]

I start off by taking a USA hardball round and setting the seating die to that. Then the reloaded rounds will be the same as the army hardball which practically always feeds. Quantrill

 

[Jim Watson]

Citadel,

Is that "line" really a slight ledge, stepping down from the straight bearing surface of the bullet to the rounded nose? (Mine are, and most commercial casters use the same couple of brands of molds.)

If so, before you do any more, check them in the chamber of your barrel, clean AND OUT OF THE GUN. The round should drop in freely with the case head flush with the barrel hood (Of a 1911. If you are shooting some other brand, compare with a factory load.) If it does not, seat the bullet a bit deeper, with the "line" about .030" (1/32") above the case mouth, or even with the case mouth if you have to.

Mine come out 1.25" OAL and work well. The most common cast .45 ACP RN bullets are a bit blunter than jacketed which I load to 1.265" OAL.

 

[Citadel99]

Sounds good guys, thanks for the input. The rounds fit into my case guage, barrel, and magazine. I've made eight and will try them out soon before I go into mass production!

Mark

 

[stans]

As long as they feed and function properly, the OAL is ok. I usually seat lead bullets so that about 0.030" of the leading edge of the driving band is above the case mouth.

 

[Valkman]

You've gotten lots of good advice on the OAL, I just want to know if you've used 4.8gr of 231 before? That's a very light load, and you might want to bump it up a bit or load some there and then some at 5.0gr, 5.2gr and 5.4gr to see what is most accurate in your gun. I use 5.5gr myself.

 

[Citadel99]

Valkman,

The Winchester powder guide states that the max charge is 5.1 grains. I picked a load right in the middle of what their info says.

Mark

 

[Valkman]

That's why I always use as many sources as I can to pick a starting load - 5.1gr is in no way anywhere near a max load. Hornaday lists 5.7gr as max, Speer lists 5.6gr.

4.8gr is a good place to start but I think you'll find it's too light. It's great that you're not loading many to start with - you sound like you're doing it just right!

 

[Citadel99]

Thanks!

Mark

 

[Smythe77]

I agree with Valkman for I was experimenting with 4.8 gr of another powder, on Sunday, & a different (lighter) bullet tip, still I also did some in 5.0 & some in 5.2 well below max of said powder.

Had most of the 4.8 gr give trouble like stove-pipe to slide close on last shot. The minor step-up were perfect for the 45 & with some more shooting I might find that 5.1 will be the best in grouping for my 45 with that powder & bullet tip.