Berry’s 230 gr 45ACP + Universal

[jski]

I have some 230 gr Berry's RN 45 ACP bullets I’d like to use with Hodgdon’s Universal powder. Went to Hodgdon’s reload data website and found:

Plan on using this in my S&W model 25-14 (modern) 45 ACP wheelgun. Would these charges be ok? Comes down to 230 gr HDY FMJ FP vs 230 gr Berry’s RN with the same charge.

BTW, these are NOT +P loads.

 

[Alaskamike]

Yes, the data shown in that screenshot is valid and good.

Note the OAL they used to generate this data is only 1.200". That is unusually short for a 230 grain FMJ given the max OAL spec of 1.275". I'm not familiar with the Hornady jacketed flat point bullet they used, but I suspect that short OAL is due to that bullet with its flat nose profile.

The Berry's plated bullet is the normal round nose profile, so the data will be a bit different.

Regardless of which bullet, the data shown should be perfectly fine in your model 25.

 

[jski]

There is the small difference in bullet diameter: .451” vs .452”.

 

[Blue68f100]

I have some 230 gr Berry's RN 45 ACP bullets I’d like to use with Hodgdon’s Universal powder. Went to Hodgdon’s reload data website and found:
View attachment 1199498
Plan on using this in my S&W model 25-14 (modern) 45 ACP wheelgun. Would these charges be ok? Comes down to 230 gr HDY FMJ FP vs 230 gr Berry’s RN with the same charge.

BTW, these are NOT +P loads.

Plated and jacketed are different but in a 45acp, the low pressure want make any difference. I my testing with plated bullets, is that the accuracy drops off around mid way when using jacketed data. I use lead data a lot of times for plated bullets. Start low and workup. Berry's use to recommend using Lead data or mid range jacketed as a max load. You don't have to worry about the max velocity of 1200 fps on a 45acp. You do need to make sure you don't damage the plating while seating and taper crimp.

 

[Cheesemaker]

Berry's recommend an OAL of 1.237 for their 230gr RN

 

[.45Coltguy]

jski, I load 230gr plated "X-treme" bullets for my Pietta .45 Colt/.45 acp using 5.4gr Universal and a OAL of 1.265". Works rather well in my revolver. And my 1911-A1 for that matter. You should be fine.

 

[N555]

Probably be fun be fine. Normally stick with plated data.
I would run it.

 

[Walkalong]

I have some 230 gr Berry's RN 45 ACP bullets

I load those to end up between 1.260 to 1.265 OAL.
That 1.200 OAL is for the Hornady 230 Gr FMJFP (Flat Point)

I've never been able to hurt a plated bullet at .45 ACP pressures/speeds.

 

[.45Coltguy]

I load those to end up between 1.260 to 1.265 OAL.
That 1.200 OAL is for the Hornady 230 Gr FMJFP (Flat Point)

I've never been able to hurt a plated bullet at .45 ACP pressures/speeds.
View attachment 1199652

Yep. Agree with this post 100%.

 

[jski]

Berry's recommend an OAL of 1.237 for their 230gr RN

View attachment 1199589

Excellent find. I’ll use that.

 

[jski]

jski, I load 230gr plated "X-treme" bullets for my Pietta .45 Colt/.45 acp using 5.4gr Universal and a OAL of 1.265". Works rather well in my revolver. And my 1911-A1 for that matter. You should be fine.

Always good to hear about someone’s real world experiences. You didn’t happen to bring along a chronograph and collect some numbers for that load?

 

[.45Coltguy]

Always good to hear about someone’s real world experiences. You didn’t happen to bring along a chronograph and collect some numbers for that load?

I did. MV avg'd 830 fps. It's a good load.

 

[jski]

Is Universal the worst metering powder or what? I use a Redding (manual) powder dispenser and both digital and analog (Ohaus 10-10) scales. I set it at 5.4 on the Ohaus scale and tried to get it to throw consistent 5.4±0.1 charges but was getting ±0.3.

I think I got rid of all the 5.7s but one may have slipped thru. Since these are not +P loads, I’m assume that’s not going to be a problem.

I’m thinking an automated powder dispenser (e.g., RCBS CHARGEMASTER LINK) would work far better on something that meters as badly Universal.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Is Universal the worst metering powder or what? I use a Redding (manual) powder dispenser and both digital and analog (Ohaus 10-10) scales. I set it at 5.4 on the Ohaus scale and tried to get it to throw consistent 5.4±0.1 charges but was getting ±0.3.

I think I got rid of all the 5.7s but one may have slipped thru. Since these are not +P loads, I’m assume that’s not going to be a problem.

I’m thinking an automated powder dispenser (e.g., RCBS CHARGEMASTER LINK) would work far better on something that meters as badly Universal.

Really? You're having trouble getting Universal to meter? In my RCBS Uniflow, it meters much better than Unique. Hmm.

 

[jski]

Really? You're having trouble getting Universal to meter? In my RCBS Uniflow, it meters much better than Unique. Hmm.

Both are large flake powders and both meter poorly.

The best metering powder I use is True Blue which is an extremely fine grain powder and hence, throws consistent charges with my Redding dispenser and my son-in-law’s Uniflow.

 

[Walkalong]

Is Universal the worst metering powder or what?

Not at all, not the best, but not a problem child.

 

[Walkalong]

The best metering powder I use is True Blue

Yes, it's outstanding, but to expect similar with any flake (Unique) or disc (Universal) powder is asking too much.

 

[jski]

Yes, it's outstanding, but to expect similar with any flake (Unique) or disc (Universal) powder is asking too much.

Agreed! But can you overcome that with something akin to RCBS CHARGEMASTER LINK where it’s constantly being weighed as it trickles out powder?

 

[Walkalong]

Yes, but don't get too wrapped up in trying to make Universal meter perfectly, it won't make it shoot better.

 

[jski]

Not at all, not the best, but not a problem child.

That ±0.3 gr metering from a good dispenser (Redding) is hard to deal with. I was literally throw the charge 3 times before getting one that was ±0.1.

 

[jski]

Yes, but don't get too wrapped up in trying to make Universal meter perfectly, it won't make it shoot better.

When you get a 5.5 gr recommendation in a reloading data site, is 5.8 acceptable?

 

[.45Coltguy]

When you get a 5.5 gr recommendation in a reloading data site, is 5.8 acceptable?

jski, you'll probably just have to figure out what powder meters good and works in your handloads. Universal seems to work for me. In my Uniflow, I use the small drum with a baffle. It really works well with Unique also. Hope this helps.

 

[Soonerpesek]

When you get a 5.5 gr recommendation in a reloading data site, is 5.8 acceptable?

If you choose to use a specific powder.......................you have chosen to deal with its quirks...........................................figure it out, or choose a different powder...............

 

[Walkalong]

When you get a 5.5 gr recommendation in a reloading data site, is 5.8 acceptable?

If 5.5 is max, no. I load so that the highest charge thrown won't be over max. I don't load at max much, but where I do, that's how I deal with thrown charges that will vary say +/- .2.

If you can't live with that, hand trickle charges, or buy an electronic scale/trickler, or use another powder, but there are a lot of good choices that won't throw +/- .1 Grs.

 

[Charlie98]

Yes, but don't get too wrapped up in trying to make Universal meter perfectly, it won't make it shoot better.

+1

I've found the dropped charge variations with Unique (that's what I use...) to matter very little at the target.

When you get a 5.5 gr recommendation in a reloading data site, is 5.8 acceptable?

As Walk suggests, adjust your drop to accommodate the charge variation. For example, my .45ACP load is 6.5grn Unique under any 230grn bullet, which is a max load (in my current Speer manual.) I set my drop for 6.4grn... and let the flakes drop where they may. I have loaded as high as 6.9grn Unique (old Speer data, since rectified...) so I know even if I drop 6.6grn, or even 6.7grn, I'm still OK, as Unique is very docile in that manner, as I expect Universal is as well.