Could anyone tell me the pressure of a 45 acp with a 230gr LRN with 5.0gr unique at 1.27 OAL? Please and Thank You! Dave
Hey Dave. Lyman #48 says their 225 grain LRN seated to 1.227" using 5.5 grains of Unique (lowest starting charge) results in 695 fps and 10,100 C.U.P. of pressure. Should give you some idea of what to expect. FWIW, the Lyman 3rd Cast Bullet handbook uses the same bullet in .45 Auto Rim with 5 gr of Unique, and gets 550 fps without listing pressures... Figure maybe 8000 C.U.P. or so?
Older Alliant data shows a 230gr (target) load with a Fed. 150 primer and a min.OAL 1.19" 5.0gr of Unique at 790 fps, PSI 11,800 This data does not specify bullet profile. My guess is a 230gr LRN with a COL of 1.27" with 5.0gr of Unique will soot up the gun big time, and may not cycle the action. Be sure to have a range rod with you if you try that load.
QL says 11,000 psi peak with a 1.275" COL and a Lee 452-230-2R which is close to a standard profile lead RN bullet. Out of a 5" barrel, 575 fps at the muzzle. I used to use 5g under the Lee 452-230-TC seated 0.085" deeper to where the cone meets the case mouth and get 800 fps which is theoretically 16,000 psi. The burn is much cleaner. When I first loaded for my 1911, I used the Lee 0.5cc scoop thinking I was loading 4.6g Unique. Turns out it was less than 4g. I got sooty cases, blow back into my face but all the bullets shot fine and the slide locked back after each mag was empty. For your situation I don't think you will run into failures to eject or certainly not stuck bullets but you might load up 10 rounds with 5.5g Unique and try them out along with your 5.0g loads. You will get more recoil, but you might find the loads less smokey, less unburned powder flying around and maybe even less exhaust getting blown back into your face. You're still several tenths of a grain below max published (Alliant) load.
I guess I could have went into the reason. I use that load in my 1911's with no problems. My father in Law has a 455 webley set up for moon clips and 45acp but from my reading they should stay under around 13,200PSI. I was pretty sure that those loads would qualify but just wanted to check. It will not be shot often, we just wanted to shoot a few rounds through it. Dave
I have 5.5 grains Unique data with a 230 LRN. The velocity you will get will be close to 800 fps, which is the original velocity of the 1910 era cartridges used in the first 1911's. Kimber Custom Classic 5” barrel 230 LRN Valiant 5.5 grs Unique lot UN331 1989 Mixed brass WLP (brass) OAL 1.250" taper crimped 0.469" 16-May-09 high 83 °F Ave Vel = 827.4 Std Dev = 17.63 ES = 85.68 High = 871.6 Low = 785.9 N = 31 Rock Island Arsenal GI M1911 RIA 5" barrel 230 gr Valiant LRN 5.5 grs Unique lot UN331 WLP OAL 1.250" taper crimp 0.469" 18-Dec-17 T = 60 °F Ave Vel = 796.6 Std Dev = 24.69 ES = 98.87 High = = 846.5 Low = 747.6 N = 32 Very strong case ejection, about 20 feet Colt SIG SAUER P220 230 LRN 5.5 grs Unique Lot UN331 mixed brass WLP OAL 1.25" taper crimp 0.469" 23-Apr-11 T = 75 °F Ave Vel = 790.6 Std Dev = 17.14 ES = 57.3 High = = 815.6 Low = 758.3 N = 10
Noticed this after posting the above thread. Do not load any cartridges close to 45 ACP pressures unless you want to stretch the top strap. Trust me, I know. Load below 45 ACP pressures and velocities. Keep your velocities less than 700 fps in a Webley. I recommend 255 LSWC as they will shoot closer to point of aim, and I recommend using Bullseye powder. 45 Auto Rim 455 Webley MkVI rechambered 45ACP manufactured Enfield 1923 255 LSWC (.454) 4.0 grs Bullseye thrown, R-P AR cases, CCI300 primers 20-Jan-02 T = 42 °F Ave Vel = 640 Std Dev = 21 ES = 79.1 Low = 586 High = 665 N = 12 Shot to point of aim 25.0 yards 255 LSWC (.454) 4.5 grs Bullseye thrown, R-P Auto Rim cases, CCI300 primers 20-Jan-02 T = 42 °F Ave Vel = 681 Std Dev = 8 ES = 28.4 Low = 667 High = 696 N = 12 Shot to point of aim 25.0 yards better accuracy
For my early Mark I Webley, I recently used 4.5 gr Unique under 230 gr lead RN (.452). The accuracy was pathetic, possibly due to the .452 bullet . Seemed to shoot 10 degrees to the left. Couldn't even place the shots on the paper target at 7 yards. Hope your results will be better.
Yes, smaller diameter bullets shot just awful in mine. I think a big part of the problem was the chamber reaming was not a precision operation, it was the cheapest, fastest means of converting these pistols to go bang with 45ACP ammunition. I have one cylinder I bought at a gun show, chamber was reamed out straight through, and they are big holes. I used the largest commercial cast bullets I could find, which were .454 diameter, and with those bullets I could hit a 12" gong target at 25 yards. I am very sure that an original unmucked up Webley would hold two inches at that distance.
The best thing to do is to slug your barrel. That will take the size variable out of the equation. For a revolver, especially an old one, you could go much lower than 5.5g and not worry about sticking a bullet. Even if you did, driving it out would be no problem. One time, I shot a commercial hardcast bullet out of my 4" Ruger Service Six with an accidentally zero powder charge and chronographed the velocity at 231 fps and the bullet hit the target. I would probably now get a stuck bullet with my cast bullets because they are softer and I make sure they're oversize. Knowing now what you intend to shoot your OP question, they will do fine.
