First run Questions

[Rig Magician]

Hey I am getting ready to make my first run with my LNL AP press. I got it all cleaned up and my dies installed and set. I setup my powder funnel powder thru expander and I am working on getting my powder measure set. I will be loading .45ACP with 230 grain FMJ round nose, WLP primers, Bullseye powder and mixed brass first.
I have my OLA set at 1.260 is this to short for FMJ round nose? The books I have says 1.275. I checked one of my UMC's and it is 1.255. I kind of went inbetween the 2.
I am working on getting my PM set for for my starting load with Bullseye at 4.4 grains and working it up in .2 grain incremants till I get to 5.4 grains.
What do you guys think, does this sound like a good starting point?
Thanks,
Mark

 

[dagger dog]

What caliber are you shooting? .45 ACP ? It would be a big help if we knew. I would go with the data in Hornadys book (which is what you stated,1.275"). Pressures run higher the deeper you seat the bullet , so for your first try stick with the published data and you can't go wrong.

 

[Rig Magician]

Sorry, Yes it is .45ACP

 

[dc.fireman]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=505460

Hope that helps.

 

[Walkalong]

What powder? 4.4 Grs of what?

1.260 is just fine for 230 Gr RN bullets in .45 ACP. 1.275 is max O.A.L. for .45 ACP

 

[Rig Magician]

Sorry I updated the orignal post again, it is bullseye and FMJ round nose. Man I have to proof read that better. Sory for the confusion. I am taking it realy slow. I did reset the OAL to 1.274.
Thanks mark

 

[Walkalong]

I would stick with 1.260 to 1.265 myself. 1.275 is max, and some mags don't like it. Some guns either.

4.4 Grs of Bullseye is really light. Speer #13 shows 5.2 to 5.7. I assume your data shows a max of 5.4 since you put that as a stopping point.

Alliant shows one charge...5.7 Grs for 840 FPS in a 4.4" barrel.

 

[Rig Magician]

Walkalong thanks for the help.
I had it set there and someone said to follow the manual so I reset it back to 1.274. If I have feed problems I well bring it back down to 1.260
I got that load from Lyman's pistol and revolver handbook. It actulley said to start at 3.8 up to 5.3 g of Bullseye for a 230g TMJ.
I will try these and see how they shot and may have to work up to a higher laod.
Again thanks for the help
Mark

 

[Presto]

The Lyman manual does start very low for most cartridges. I wouldn't start below 4.5gr with your setup. Just load a few and try them out before moving up. A chrono is your best friend while you are working up a load.

I know you haven't asked for advice on your loader, but I would like to mention one think about it. Before you start loading, you might want to take apart the primer feed and deburr everything. That means any sharp burrs on the ram below the plate, the hole in the slider, the outside edges of the slider, the hole in the bottom of the tube holder, and anything else that feels rough. This can save you a lot of headaches later.

Have fun and be safe!

 

[Rig Magician]

I did some checking this morning. I pulled the barrel from .45 ACP XD pistol and checked the head spaceing on my first round of bullets. They did head space correctly when I droped them in, but when I loaded a couple in the the mags and tried them the first round would load up fine but it would hang up and not eject with out dropping the magazine. Now I am sure that the spent cartdige would eject with no problems as the bullet would be gone and there would be nothing to stop it from ejecting.
I am thinking that since I started so low on my charge weight per my lyman manual, I may go back and set them with a smaller OAL to say around 1.265 which has be reccomended by a couple of people and see how they do there. I will try them there and then readjust if I need to. Since I just have 40 of them to do I will do a couple and retest to see how that works.
Thanks everyone for the help and info. I will check back and see if there is somemore advice later.
Thanks,
Mark

 

[Walkalong]

but it would hang up and not eject with out dropping the magazine.

Not unusual to have trouble ejecting a long loaded round in many pistols. They are designed to eject empty brass.

 

[Rig Magician]

That is what I was thinking. I know my factory rounds eject with no problems. I may shorten them up as you advised earlier. Thanks for all the help.