COL for Rainier .45 ACP Plated

[emptybrass]

Finally got some Unique for the first time today (new at reloading) and I'm loading some 230 gr Rainier plated in .45 ACP. I figured out a safe starting load of 5.3grains of Unique but don't know which COL to use. Hornady 8th shows 1.230 for FMJ-RN and 1.245 for LRN. I understand that I should treat the projectile as a lead bullet, so do I use the COL for lead or for FMJ?

I've got 15 primed and holding powder waiting on your advice.

 

[rg1]

Rainier Ballistic data from Midways testing showed they used 1.265" in their tests. I'd suggest 1.250-1.260" and do the chamber check with your barrel removed to make sure they headspace properly without the bullet contacting the rifling. Here's the Rainier-Midway charts: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=..._YDACw&usg=AFQjCNGEknGPoTlMza_WrmChzOn2Xci0oA

 

[emptybrass]

Rainier Ballistic data from Midways testing showed they used 1.265" in their tests. I'd suggest 1.250-1.260" and do the chamber check with your barrel removed to make sure they headspace properly without the bullet contacting the rifling. Here's the Rainier-Midway charts: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=..._YDACw&usg=AFQjCNGEknGPoTlMza_WrmChzOn2Xci0oA

Thanks rg1, for the link. I went to Rainier site but could not find any real numbers. Still learning where all the data is stashed.

 

[LiveLife]

230 gr Rainier plated in .45 ACP ... but don't know which COL to use.

Determining OAL/COL should not be a guessing game and using published lengths won't ensure the rounds will reliably feed/chamber in your pistol/barrel.

Walkalong has a nice thread to determine max OAL/COL using the barrel drop test. Once you determine the max OAL/COL, next you should feed/chamber the dummy round (no powder/no primer) from the magazine to determine the working OAL/COL that works reliably for your pistol/barrel - www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=506678

I currently use 230 gr X-Treme plated RN and 185 gr Berry's plated HBRN (which has the same nose profile as the 230 gr RN). Below is a comparison picture of Berry's RN loaded at 1.260" next to factory 230 gr FMJ and TMJ RN rounds but most 230 gr RN bullets should work around 1.250" - 1.270" depending on the pistol/barrel.

 

[wlkjr]

SAAMI specs for .45acp is min. 1.190 to 1.275 max

 

[emptybrass]

Thanks for all the good info. I'm good on the plunk test and still do it for every batch (this is just my 18th batch so I'm still a newbie at this) for my handgun loads and use a headspace gage for my .223 loads. My concern for the correct COL on this round was not so much what was going on on the outside of the round but what different bullet seating depths was doing to the powder vs volume in the casing. Am I being overly cautious?

 

[theslasher]

The 45 acp was designed for the 1911. The standard 45 acp round is 230 gr round nose. Oal is 1.250"

 

[rcmodel]

No it isn't.

The standard GI issue ball load, as well as the GI National Match 230 grain FMJ-RN load is
1.265" - 1.271" OAL.

It always was, and it still is.

rc

 

[Rico567]

I've reloaded the Rainier 230 gr. RN plated bullet for some time with complete satisfaction. My OAL is 1.260, shot mostly through a Glock 21. But YOUR barrel and chamber, as others have noted, trumps any particular "spec," GI or otherwise. If your chamber and leade haven't heard of the spec, then the spec may not work. Do the "plunk" test.

 

[Walkalong]

I used to load them at 1.260 to 1.265 OAL, an it worked fine in my .45. Many years before I had any knowledge of the plunk test.

 

[theslasher]

"No it isnt?" Then why do I have a 10 year old box of remington umc 230 gr ball ammo that each and every round is 1.250"? Cant I assume thats the standard length? For 10 years ive been loading to that same length and my Colt Government has never had a hiccup. On top of that the little instruction paper that came with my last Wilson Combat 47d magazine says in a special note for handloaders something like, optimum feeeding is attained when loading to an o.a.l of 1.250"

 

[rcmodel]

There are a lot of subtle differences in RN bullet ogive shape between manufactures.

I do not know how your Remington bullets shape compares exactly with the military bullet.
If it is slightly more rounded, it is slightly shorter for the same weight.

All I know is Military 230 Grain RN-FMJ is loaded to an average length of 1.265" - 1.271" OAL.
And that has been the standard length for many many years.

I have measured:
WWC 64 National Match, RA 65 Ball and RA 68 Ball.
All three average 1.265" - 1.271" OAL.

rc