LiveLife
Member
I started shooting Missouri bullets with 18 BHN in 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP.
Particular to 45ACP, 5.0 gr of Bullseye/W231/HP38 worked well with 200 SWC (IDP #1) and 230 RN (SoftBall) in producing accurate shot groups and minimal/no leading in the barrels of various pistols I shot them out of. I knew that 200 SWC bullet came in 18 and 12 BHN, but since I was happy with the accuracy and minimal/no leading with the 18 BHN bullet, I did not think much about the softer 12 BHN bullet.
Last year, when I was doing load tests with Promo using 2004 Alliant Red Dot load data in 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP, I found that 4.0 gr of Promo produced accurate loads with 200 gr SWC that produced mild recoil but caused more lead smearing near the chamber end when shot out of Taurus PT145 with decreased accuracy (M&P45/1911s shot this load without issues). It was determined that PT145 barrel bore size was a bit larger than the .451" bore size of M&P45/1911s and the lighter 4.0 gr charge of Promo was not properly bumping the base of the 18 BHN bullet (obturation).
When the 4.0 gr Promo load was loaded with the softer 12 BHN 200 gr SWC (Bullseye #1), it produced better obturation of the bullet base and accuracy/lead smearing improved. This load is now my wife's favorite 45ACP load and a retired friend's designated PT145 load due to mild recoil and accuracy.
What's been your experience with Missouri bullets specific to various hardness (18/15/12/10 BHN)? Do the different bullet hardness factor into your particular load development? Has anyone tried the 10/15 BHN bullets?
Particular to 45ACP, 5.0 gr of Bullseye/W231/HP38 worked well with 200 SWC (IDP #1) and 230 RN (SoftBall) in producing accurate shot groups and minimal/no leading in the barrels of various pistols I shot them out of. I knew that 200 SWC bullet came in 18 and 12 BHN, but since I was happy with the accuracy and minimal/no leading with the 18 BHN bullet, I did not think much about the softer 12 BHN bullet.
Last year, when I was doing load tests with Promo using 2004 Alliant Red Dot load data in 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP, I found that 4.0 gr of Promo produced accurate loads with 200 gr SWC that produced mild recoil but caused more lead smearing near the chamber end when shot out of Taurus PT145 with decreased accuracy (M&P45/1911s shot this load without issues). It was determined that PT145 barrel bore size was a bit larger than the .451" bore size of M&P45/1911s and the lighter 4.0 gr charge of Promo was not properly bumping the base of the 18 BHN bullet (obturation).
When the 4.0 gr Promo load was loaded with the softer 12 BHN 200 gr SWC (Bullseye #1), it produced better obturation of the bullet base and accuracy/lead smearing improved. This load is now my wife's favorite 45ACP load and a retired friend's designated PT145 load due to mild recoil and accuracy.
What's been your experience with Missouri bullets specific to various hardness (18/15/12/10 BHN)? Do the different bullet hardness factor into your particular load development? Has anyone tried the 10/15 BHN bullets?