Got My First Press....

[target1911]

......and I would like some opinions on target loads for 45ACP and 9mm.

Bullets
Powder
How much Powder
Primers.......etc

I have a friend that reloads and uses....
230gr LSWC
Titegroup powder but not sure how much
this load works great in my Kimber and PT 145....
but I just want other opinions
Thank You ALL

 

[loadedround]

I think you need to buy several reloading manuals and sit down and read them and then use thieir recommended starting loads to begin your reloading. Just remember advice is cheap and everyone has lots of it. Start with a good source.

 

[presspuller]

I use winchester primers (because they are the cheapest) 4.5 grains of titegroup behind a .230 fmj round nose Remington bullets and it does great.
This is well below published max load.
I think the starting load for combo is 4.4 grains.

 

[lee n. field]

Bullets
Powder
How much Powder
Primers.......etc

For .45, 230 grain round nose (lead or jacketed), ahead of 4.8 grains of Bullseye. Large Pistol primer of whatever brand. Random scavenged brass.

 

[kellyj00]

I'm not going to tell you my favorite load for 45acp because hodgdon claims reloading pistols with Titewad is "putting your life in your hands" It's a very light load that burns extremely clean, with absolutely no leading due to the very quick burn characteristics of Titewad.

We're trying out Titewad in 9mm this weekend, so I'll have to post it if it works well without any signs of extra stress.

Titegroup and RedDot are my other two options. I like titegroup because I have a lee auto disk measure and the charge weight of the Titegroup is the same between my 9mm and my 45acp. Again, I'm not going to share the weight because someone will definitely tell me it's not safe...it's below the "minimum" listed on hodgdon's website, that's for sure. Works well for plinking, not a tremendous velocity and low recoil. Definitely wouldn't use it for long-range pistol shooting...not enough velocity.

I have NEVER loaded a cartridge to maximum charge. I bought 20 rds of JHP ammo for SD, and that's the only time I really ever want high velocity.

 

[xsquidgator]

As far as powder goes, I've used Unique and W231 with good results. I'm kind of switching over to W231 in hopes it will meter more consistently than my Unique, but I've got several pounds of Unique left still and I like it other than occasionally I get up to 0.4 grains variance in the charge I'm trying to throw. Both Unique and W231 seem to burn pretty dirty at least with the sort of lower-pressure rounds I think I'm loading, but I don't mind. Despite the metering problems sometimes I almost think of Unique as a comfortable old friend.

 

[target1911]

Despite the metering problems sometimes I almost think of Unique as a comfortable old friend.

LOL kinda like the ppl that refuse to give that wanderfull smell of
the ole' Hoppes #9. I dont use anymore but I think I will soak a couple of old dried out air freshenrs with it just for the smell.

 

[LHB1]

David,
Some advice based on 43 years of safe reloading:

1. Buy and read at least two good books on reloading to understand the process and especially the warning signs. Reloading isn't brain surgery BUT exceeding safe limits can be costly unless you have spare hands and eyes.

2. NEVER USE ANY LOADING RECIPE GIVEN YOU BY A FRIEND, STRANGER, OR FROM THE INTERNET UNLESS YOU CAN CONFIRM IT AS A SAFE LOAD IN AT LEAST ONE AND PREFERABLY TWO COMMERCIALLY PUBLISHED LOADING MANUALS.

3. Another 20 or 50 or even 100 fps velocity probably won't make that much difference in the effectiveness of your loads. Don't push the limits on velocity at the risk of exceeding safe pressures. I have two loads for my .44 Mag pistols. One load shoots 210 gr bullets at 1100 fps; the other load shoots 255 gr bullets at 1425 fps. Each load has killed one deer and one wild hog. Don't think the deer and hogs knew which load they were shot with.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[target1911]

LHB1

Very sound advice that i intend to follow. I will only be loading target loads for some time. I want to be very familiar and comfortable with the process before I try anything else. I really have no need for anything more than that because I dont own a pistol suitable for hunting.....YET

 

[kellyj00]

as a cheap plinker, I can tell ya if you're going 9mm and 45acp, go titegroup.
If you have a turret press, get a second turret with those dies....makes life very easy.

I load one cartridge every 6 seconds on average when I'm in a hurry on my 4 hole turret press. When I'm just going at normal, comfortable speed I can get about 150 every 30 minutes. 9mm's take a little longer, the components are smaller and 125gr rnfp bullets tend to be topheavy and fall over side ways before you can seat them.

The best thing I ever did was invite a friend over to use my turret press. When you can trade off and have someone to talk to you'll load for hours and hours without looking at a watch.

I'll post some pictures of what we did last saturday. Just over 400 45acps and just under 500 9mm's.