.45 MB leading

[FNP45]

I'm trying to get these MB .452 RN 230gr to work in my FNP, they are a 18 BNH.

So far here are the loads.

5.3 gr W231 @ 1.260" OAL.......... Leaded in the first inch or so of the barrel

5.7 gr W231 @ 1.260" OAL.......... ^^^^^^^^^^^

4.8 gr Titegroup @ 1.260" OAL.......... ^^^^^^^^^^^

Lyman shows 5.8 max for W231 and 5.1 max for titegroup for 225gr LRN bullets.
I've read that people say to up the charge to seal the bullet in the barrel and get rid of the leading near the chamber, but more charge really?

The pic below is after 10 rounds.

Thanks

 

[rcmodel]

Well, Hodgdon says 5.3 grains W-231 is a max load.
And they say 4.8 Titegroup is a max load.

So going up seems to be out of the question.

Onlyest suggestions I have is:
1. Slug your barrel and see if it is bigger then the .452" bullets.
If it is, you need bigger bullets, or softer bullets.

2. Make sure you aren't over-crimping and squeezing the bullet base undersize.

Case mouth on the .45 ACP should measure no less then .469" after taper crimping.
But .471" to .472" might be more better with lead bullets.

rc

 

[Hondo 60]

45ACP, right?

If that's the case, you're using too hard of a bullet.
45ACP will run 700 - 900 fps.
An 18 BHN bullet will not obturate (seal off the gasses)
And with the leading in the first 1/3 of the barrel, that kinda proves my point.

A 12 BHN would be much better for you.

Slugging the barrel will tell you if bullet diameter is the issue, but I'd bet a softer bullet will do the trick.

 

[FNP45]

I have read on here about using the 12 hardness for better seal.
I'm crimping around .470, hardly crimping at all.
Kinda of a bummer though cause I've got over 400 of these things left.
Guess I'll slug the barrel just to make sure of it's size.
Yes it is 45 acp

 

[Walkalong]

A 12 BHN would be much better for you.

Agreed. While many folks can shoot the 18 BHN in their gun without leading, if it isn't a good fit for yours, it will lead, because it will not bump up to seal the throat/bore. Buy some 12 BHN bullets.

 

[918v]

1. Slug your barrel and see if it is bigger then the .452" bullets.
If it is, you need bigger bullets, or softer bullets.

2. Make sure you aren't over-crimping and squeezing the bullet base undersize.

1. This has nothing to do with bore size. His throat is too big.

2. Crimping does not reduce the diameter of the bullet base. if you notice, the crimp die applies pressure near the ogjive, while the base sits some half-inch below the case mouth. It is the base that seals the bore, not the ogjive.

I think some guns just are not suitable for lead.

Soft lead works better than hard lead in low velocity/low pressure applications.

 

[Walkalong]

His throat is too big.

Agreed.

 

[glockky]

Man I had the same problem with the MBC 185 SW 18BHN. The 18 is just too hard. I could not get it to stop leading, I finially loaded some at high end jacketed load data and it got better but the bullet is just too hard. I have got some 12 BHN on the way.

 

[gregj]

I've run into the exact same problem, with the exact same bullet, with nearly the exact same loads in my Kimber Gold Match. Everything I've been told says the same thing, go with BHN12 instead of the 18. According to my manuals (Sierra, Speers, Hornady, Lyman) 5.7gr of W231 puts it in the middle of the range. Lately I've been running 5.4gr of W231 in my Kimbers.

 

[USSR]

...you're using too hard of a bullet.

I'm using bullets that have a BHN of 9 in my Colt Gold Cup.

Don

 

[FNP45]

Thanks for the info, I had already purchased the 18's before reading about loading 12's. I'll look into getting some of them for a trial run, not going to try with the 18's anymore. Getting the lead out is a pain, and I've tried the chor boy thing, I think I need a better solvent.
If anyone is interested in the 18's I'll be putting them up in th FS section later, if they work for you....

Thanks

 

[bayhawk2]

A blown up view of the leading you have in that picture?
I wrap the chore boy around a .45 caliber bronze barrel brush
and give it a few runs back and through.That amount should come right out?

 

[shooter_from_show-me]

I learned my lesson on running a 18 BNH to slow in my 7.5" Ruger SBH. What I received was about 4.5" of the barrel being leaded an that sucked getting out.

What I was using was 5.0 gr of Titegroup on a trial run with 240gr Keith Style bullet from MBC. No more I'm sticking with 9.2 gr's.

 

[Steve C]

The .45 ACP is a relatively low pressure cartridge and you should use a softer bullet with it to avoid leading. Try some 12 BNH bullets and your leading problem will most likely go away.

First make sure your bore is absolutely clean. Lead accumulates on copper fouling as well as other lead fouling so a clean bore is needed to avoid leading. A relatively new bore may be a bit rough before being shot enough with jacketed bullet to smooth out so if it is a new bore and cleaning doesn't solve your problem shooting acouple hundred jacketed followed by a good cleaning may be the solution though you can speed up the process by using bore lap.

 

[Hammerdown77]

One thing you might try, since you have a lot of those bullets, is to tumble lube them in Lee Liquid Alox.

I have a couple of 1911s that lead a little bit right after the chamber no matter what I do. it does not affect accuracy. It is self limiting (does not get worse past a certain point). I just run a bore brush wrapped with Chore Boy back and forth a few times in that area. Lead comes out in slivers, easy as butta.

 

[FNP45]

Yeah I just gave up on em'. Not normally a quiter but I don't really have the time or patience right now to keep on messing with them. I let them go to another member here that will enjoy them. Being new to reloading I think I'm just going to go back to the plated bullets and enjoy it. I'll come back to the lead side I'm sure after I get a little more experience under my belt.

 

[BossHogg]

I too got the 18 BNH LSWC 200 gr because Universal Clays has a starting load of 5.8 gr at 889 fps. Being 889 fps was the start load I thought 18 BNH would be needed. I soon found the load was to hot for my guns, or me, so I used the rest of them for my 45 colt. From now own it's 12 BHN for all my 45 acp. Live and learn I guess.