.45ACP load help, please - Rainier 200g Plated HP

[UKWildcatFan]

I wanna try Bullseye out for once. I'm thinking of loading 4.0g and working my way up from there. Is this too low? I've read that, regarding powder charges, plated bullets' loads are closer to lead than jacketed. I can't find this bullet in any of my reloading manuals. Any info is appreciated.

Alex

 

[swanderek]

Well

Have you tried 200 gr before? 230 shoot better in a lot of pistols. However, I use 4.8 bullseye, that shot well in my SIG220

 

[UKWildcatFan]

I have but not with Bullseye. Is 4.0 too low? I really want to load 25 or so of the same powder, in increments of .3g and load test at the range.

 

[Mike 27]

My XD45 loves Bullseye. I would have to go look at my log and can't get it right now. I want to say I'm about a grain over that with lead and berry's and they are very accurate and a lot of fun to shoot. My favorite 45 load by far. I have about 600 of them loaded up right now if that gives you any idea.

 

[swanderek]

ok

Are you looking for a soft kick or more towards accuracy? A nice soft kick can be found on the powder CLAYS. Bullseye and WIN 231 are great .45 powders.

 

[UKWildcatFan]

I'm really just making sure of the safety of the load as I've already loaded 50 of them and don't wane to pull them if I don't have to. Is 4.0 of bullseye sufficient? Thx!

 

[rg1]

From this site it shows 4.0 grains of Bullseye with the 200 Rainier HP is the "start charge" with velocity at 656 fps.
http://cakesniffer.org/stuff/boom/RanierData.pdf

 

[Overkilll0084]

Lee Modern Reloading shows a 4.0 gr of Bullseye load for a 200 gr lead bullet.
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook:
200 gr (Lyman #452460 SWC) load starting @ 3.5 gr- 5.6 gr MAX, w/ 1.16" OAL
Note: Starting that low may require a lighter recoil spring. I have seen loads that low used in revolvers fairly often.
another from the same book:
200 gr (Lyman #452630 SWC) Load starting 4.9 - 6.0 MAX, w/ 1.235" OAL

FWIW, I run 200 gr RNFP cast with 4.6 gr of Bullseye. Mild and accurate.

So, Yes, starting at 4.0 should be fine. Depending on your needs/intended use (they are HPs after all), starting around 4.5 gr may be worth some thought.

FYI, from the Rainier Site:

We, at Rainier Ballistics, recommend using lead bullet load data when loading our bullets. There is no need for adjustment when using lead bullet load data. Our bullets are jacketed using an electroplating process and are softer than traditionally jacketed bullets; hence the recommendation to use lead bullet load data. If you only have access to traditionally jacketed load data, we recommend a starting powder charge directly between the listed minimum and maximum load. A roll or taper crimp may be used with our bullets; do not over crimp.

http://www.rainierballistics.com/mainframe.htm

 

[UKWildcatFan]

Ok, thanks again folks. I'll load some at 4.5 and do some further load testing. I'll report back.

 

[mnhntr]

I do not use bullseye but I load the same bullets with the lead data for A#5.

 

[ReloaderEd]

4.5 to 5.0 grains of Bullseye and a good 200 grain bullet either lead or jacketed will work well in almorst all 45 ACP pistols.

 

[IlikeSA]

I found 4 grains to be unreliable in my 1911 with a 185 grain JSWC, but I use a 18.5 recoil spring.

 

[UKWildcatFan]

Well, I've loaded 100 at 4.0g and another 100 at 5.0 - i'll see which I prefer with my Kahr CW45.

 

[Overkilll0084]

Well, I've loaded 100 at 4.0g and another 100 at 5.0 - i'll see which I prefer with my Kahr CW45.

Just my opinion, but when doing load development, you might want to consider loading up say, 10 to 20 of each load you are working with. You loaded 100 of each. If say, the 4.0 loads don't work well (fail to reliably cycle your pistol, for example), you now have a decision. Shoot them as best as you can, or go home & pull the remainder.
Also, jumping one full grain w/ a Bullseye load is pretty huge (heck most pistol loads for that matter). You could be missing out on a particularly good load that falls in the middle ground that you have skipped. I typically test in increments of .2 to.3 gr, depending on the spread from min to max.
Again, simply my opinion. YMMV.

 

[UKWildcatFan]

Understood, Overkill. Thanks for the info. I gotta lotta bullets so I'm going to load at .3g increments in between the 4.0 and 5.0.

 

[Mike 27]

I agree with UKWildcatFan, as bullseye 200gr lead is one of my favorites. Work up but I think you will have cycling issues with the lower charge, and have to work jams on the first 50. I load about 20 rounds per when working up and find the best one. The 45acp is a slow round and I really don't think you have to worry about exceeding velocities within approved data for plated bullets and lead data.

 

[Striker Fired]

I've never loaded 50 at a time for testing, I usually only load 7 to 10 and use a rest. By the time I shoot them ,I know how good they group and if they cycle the gun or are dirty ect...You could waste a lot of money and/or time if they don't shoot very good,then you either have to pull them or just blast them off just to get rid of them, not really gaining anything.

I've tried/have quite a few different powders and its surprizing how many times I load up the same bullet over three or four powders and two will group just "ok", one is bad, and the fourth shoots a great group and seems perfect. If I loaded 50 of each, I would have a heck of a pile of worthless rounds to deal with. The "ok" ones I may tweek a bit and retry,but only another 7 to 10.

 

[UKWildcatFan]

Makes sense, Striker. Yep, I'll load just a magazine full of each increment.

 

[MrCountyCop]

I usually do 10-20 per test load. 10 to run through the Chrony and 10 to check the accuracy. The pdf file going around from midway is old data and some exceed current published data BUT 5.0g - 5.3g of bullseye works well with Rainier bullets for me in a Glock 21 and Colt 1911. Alliant lists 5.8 as max for bullseye in 200g bullets so work your way up with just a handfull at a time.

 

[UKWildcatFan]

I need a chrony - ugh. Another $100 bill. What's new.

 

[Overkilll0084]

I need a chrony - ugh. Another $100 bill. What's new.

No hurry. Many people throughout the years have developed perfectly good loads without the benefit of a chronograph. I have one that I don't use too often. They are a PITA to use at the ranges I visit. If your loads group well and shoot to point of aim, that's most of the battle. Actual velocity, deviation, etc. is a nice thing to know, not necessarily mandatory. Practice/plinking loads for a pistol; you can get by just fine. Match ammo for your trip to the State or Regional championships? Now it's definitely time to know the numbers.

 

[UKWildcatFan]

Update: I've loaded 12 of each with Bullseye: 4.0g, 4.4g, 4.6, 4.8, and 5.0g. This is 2 mags worth for my Kahr CW45. I hope to take them to the range this week - we'll see. I'll report back re: my results. There is a natural progression with reloading, I'm finding. I used to just be thrilled solely with loading 230g LRN and firing them in my 1911s. Now I'm finding that I have the urge to dial in the best load, for each bullets that I reload, for each pistol. This takes time and money, but it's a lot of fun. Thanks for all of your feedback.