I'm loading .45 acp on my new Lee classic cast turret press. Powder is Accurate #2, cci large pistol primers, tumble-cleaned and inspected range brass. Rocky Mountain Reloading 230gr plated bullets. Recommended (Lee) charges: 5.0 minimum- 5.6 max. Minimum OAL recommended is 1.230. I set my seating die to 1.240.
I started out with the recommended pro auto power measure disc for a 5.0 drop of #2. Wasn't even close to enough after running a dozen drops and weighing each. Finally found a disc cavity that worked for 5.0 gr. of #2, loaded 10 rounds, moved up a size for the next step. Surprised---Next disc setting dropped 5.0 consistently after a dozen drops that I weighed! Obviously I missed the setting on the first 10 rounds I loaded. The second set all came in at 5.0 (checked rounds 1, 6, 10). Then moved on to next disc setting for a 5.5 gr drop. No problems there, loaded 10 at 5.5. After all that I went back to the disc cavity for the first set, dropped a dozen charges and then 4-5 more that I measured each time. Those weighed 4.7gr each within 0.1 gr of each other. So I guess my first 10 rounds are slightly under charged at 4.7 gr of #2.
My question is: do I shoot the rounds loaded with 4.7gr of #2 OR just pull those bullets and reclaim the powder for another time?
Any insights would help me out since I'm new to reloading. Thanks!
I started out with the recommended pro auto power measure disc for a 5.0 drop of #2. Wasn't even close to enough after running a dozen drops and weighing each. Finally found a disc cavity that worked for 5.0 gr. of #2, loaded 10 rounds, moved up a size for the next step. Surprised---Next disc setting dropped 5.0 consistently after a dozen drops that I weighed! Obviously I missed the setting on the first 10 rounds I loaded. The second set all came in at 5.0 (checked rounds 1, 6, 10). Then moved on to next disc setting for a 5.5 gr drop. No problems there, loaded 10 at 5.5. After all that I went back to the disc cavity for the first set, dropped a dozen charges and then 4-5 more that I measured each time. Those weighed 4.7gr each within 0.1 gr of each other. So I guess my first 10 rounds are slightly under charged at 4.7 gr of #2.
My question is: do I shoot the rounds loaded with 4.7gr of #2 OR just pull those bullets and reclaim the powder for another time?
Any insights would help me out since I'm new to reloading. Thanks!