@ Varminterror - LoadMAPS are
NOT Loadbooks. They are two different things and I positively know that because I own both. MidwayUSA does not publish or sell LoadMAPs anymore. A simple check for Load
MAPs, not Load
books at Midway will prove it to yourself.
LoadMAPs data are
NOT compilations. The LoadMAP manual specifically states that, “
Warning: The data contained in this manual was created under strictly controlled conditions* in the laboratories of MidwayUSA.
* Test Conditions: New cases, charges +/- 1/10 grain, temperature 70F +/- 2 degrees and 60% humidity +/- 5%, facility is 758 feet above sea level. This doesn’t sound like compilations to me.
@ RecoilRob- Semper Fi right back atcha - First Marine Air Wing - Cambodia and Laos 1969-1971.
The link about ballistic gel testing was awesome! Lots of usable info and now I’m psyched about getting into it - thank you very much, it was more than just helpful.
I was looking over the info on the 185gr. bullets as you suggested. It reminded me of when my friend and me would ride around his 300 acre pasture and my 25 acre hunt camp looking to shoot armadillos. At that time, circa 1990s, I was testing Remington’s 185gr. +P Golden Sabers in my .45. I was impressed when the round would actually fracture the armadillos shell! We couldn’t even duplicate that with a .223 in an AR-15.
The link showed that the Remington bullet expanded to .75 inch and stayed within 12 to 18 inches - pretty impressive. Only the Winchester Ranger T-series had greater expansion at .99 and 1 inch and did not over penetrate - very impressive!
I’m going to experiment with the Ranger T-series, but I’m still going to go ahead with loading the 250gr. Hornady round.
@ LoonWulf - I’m assuming when you mentioned those higher than standard velocities in the .45 you were using the .45Super cases.
From my research I’ve found credible info that most hollow point bullets will not expand well if the cavity gets clogged with clothing, etc.. That’s why I’m currently carrying Hornady’s Critical Duty ammo in all my SD autos. The tip is filled with a polymer that supposedly (I haven’t found any contrary info about that yet.) will reliably expand through clothing and some other barriers as well. I’m thinking that wet newspaper and dirt will have that effect on expansion. I rarely hunt anymore unless a deer wanders into my backyard and even more rarely with a handgun, so I’m not sure what you were looking for in your hunting ammo - as I recall, while expansion was important it was less important than penetration.
You went above and beyond the call of duty with all the data that you posted! The note in the data,
“Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge”
I’m sure took into consideration some of the conditions that might cause a reloader to err on the possibility of over-pressuring a load and causing a hazard and a liability.
In the 250gr. Hornady HP/XTP data you supplied the 10.0gr. charge of Blue Dot was dangerous.
In the LoadMAP manual the max charge was significantly higher than that while still producing a max of 21,000 psi. The LoadMAP info is safe
ONLY if the all the rules are followed.
When I figure out how my new “do-all” printer scans a page, I will let you see for yourself how LoadMAP compares with QL data.
I’ll keep what Walkalong said about pressure signs in the .45ACP case in mind from now on. I’ve never seen over pressure in any of my .45ACP loadings and I attribute that to strictly sticking with published data from reputable sources and cautious reloading practices.
Off Topic: I like your avatar and I think it's complimentary to your screen name. It looks like a vampire wolf to me and as such I thought you might enjoy one of the best werewolf transformations I have ever seen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AY8mUo3Lf4
@ ArchangelCD - Nothing wrong with guessing, educated or otherwise, as long as you say it’s a guess and I don’t think that you are off base at all. In fact, I’m going to re-think if all this rigmarole I’m going through over a bullet that is 20 grains more than a 230gr. bullet is worth it.
I appreciate the link you posted too - thanks….. Doc