anyone who uses cast make LOW power target loads?

[777funk]

Curious if anyone is reloading cast bullets in 45 with low charges? For target it seems like saving powder would be nice.

Is too low the point where the round won't cycle the firearm? I'd guess further would be the point where the projectile doesn't leave the barrel but wouldn't that line be pretty low (like a 2gr or less charge instead of 4-5)?

Seems like Cast can be a fun way to punch paper and good accuracy to boot assuming the fit is good.

 

[rcmodel]

Thats what cast bullets in .45 ACP are for.

The lighter 185 - 200 grain SWC's are first & foremost mid-range target bullets designed for exactly what you are asking about.

The 230 RN and RNFP are designed for cheap shooting with recoil similar to regular GI hardball ammo.
But they can certainly be loaded lighter too.

Minimum power level is what will still cycle the gun reliably.

Lower then that?
You don't want to go there!

rc

 

[LiveLife]

If you are looking for low cost light target 45 ACP load, it's hard to beat 200 gr SWC with 4.0 gr of Promo.

As indicated by Alliant, I use Red Dot load data for Promo by weight and 4.0 gr charge has worked well with different brand 200 gr SWC bullets to produce very accurate target loads that work well in 1911s/M&P45 without leading.

BTW, 4.0 gr of Promo also works well with Missouri 9mm 125 gr RN bullet (I referenced 2004 Alliant Red Dot load data for this load).

I normally use 5.0 of W231/HP-38 for 200 gr SWC, but have gone down to 4.8 gr with good results.

 

[Jeff H]

For target it seems like saving powder would be nice.

I don't quote get this. How much are you proposing to save? IIRC, my 45s use around 5 grains of Win231. At 4 grains, I doubt the gun would cycle reliably unless you use reduced poser springs. That one grain savings will be one pound of powder every 7000 rounds. $20.00 savings over 7000 rounds to make subpar ammo doesn't seem worth it to me.

 

[sellersm]

+1 to what bds and rcmodel have said!! The 200gr SWC is an economical target plinker. Only issue may be feeding, depending on the handgun used. My FNP-45 isn't a fan of SWC bullets.

 

[777funk]

I don't quote get this. How much are you proposing to save? IIRC, my 45s use around 5 grains of Win231. At 4 grains, I doubt the gun would cycle reliably unless you use reduced poser springs. That one grain savings will be one pound of powder every 7000 rounds. $20.00 savings over 7000 rounds to make subpar ammo doesn't seem worth it to me.

That makes good sense. Didn't think about it like that. I guess the economy really isn't there to skimp on a grain. Does anyone go lower than 4 grains?

I suppose with a light spring you could get away with more. In the Browning A5 shotgun, the recoil ejection system requires rings taken off or added on for the load being shot (old news I know) but can something similar be done with a pistol (weak spring for weak loads)?

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, you can get a lighter spring for shooting mid-range match ammo in a hardball sprung gun..
Just don't forget which spring you have in it when you switch loads.

But before you go off half cocked, you might need to spend $20 bucks on a Lyman #49 reloading manual.

In it, you will find 200 grain cast bullet loads using as little as 3.5 grains Bullseye for a starting load.

Don't try to reinvent the wheel.

rc

 

[rsrocket1]

My low recoil load was 3 grains of Red Dot under a 230g lead TC. Now it's 3g Clays with the same bullet. These very fast powders drive up the pressure to the point that they expand the case so it seals off the gasses so you don't get a blast of exhaust in your face. It also leaves the cases nice and clean and not sooty. 3.5g Bullseye or 4 grains of Unique will also give a very low recoil load, but will do the things that the faster powders prevent (sooty cases, blast back and unburned powder flakes).

The heavy bullet produces enough recoil to cycle the action reliably (unless you limp wrist it). When I went below 2.8g Red Dot and 2.5g Clays, sometimes the 1911 (stock springs) would not lock back on the last shot. You could probably use a lighter bullet, but may need a little more powder do drive it a bit faster to get the action to reliably cycle. Every gun is different so you may need to do trial and error. As you work your way down, don't worry, you will run into cycling problems way before a stuck bullet.

 

[Skulptor]

I shot Friday night steel last year for the first time and shot with a guy who rolled his own lead .45's. We shot under the lights and I swear to you, I would watch this rounds as he shot them. I think the lights helped that by reflecting off of the silver bullet. I was kind of amazed at first and asked him about it. He said "I like it like that". He never told me any details but they were awfully slow.

 

[rcmodel]

When I was a 26 year old man shooting for 5th. Army AMU I could see 230 grain GI hardball going down range on the 50 yard line if the sunlight was at the right angle.
And .22LR out of a pistol too.

Ain't no big deal if you got Chuck Yeager eyesight when you are that age.

rc