I Need Handload Data 45acp Berry`s 185gr HBRN

[kcofohio]

Thank you for the welcome, i`m liking this site alot, theres some really valuable info here as well as some really nice people.
Thats the neat thing about reloading, eventually we find something that works, but i think i`m just gonna stick with the 230gr 45`s. I`m not a fan of buying some of this some of that, then not use it all up. I`ve never bothered with WST because its so hard to find dealers here in my town that are willing to stock it. So i steer clear of powders that aren`t readily available locally. I`d love to try some, but i dont want a powder sitting around that only works for one gun one load so to speak. I do have several other pet loads i`ve worked up over the many years of reloading, i should just stick with those...lol.

You're welcome!

And totally understandable.

 

[Blue68f100]

If you ever try WST you may never go back to the other powders for BE or soft plinking loads. WST burns so clean at well reduced loads you will be surprised. I use it in my shotgun shell loads, too.

 

[Walkalong]

Do they stock Competition? It is a very close cousin to WST. It's what I bought a four pounder of last time instead of WST because WST was unobtainable at the time.

 

[thomas15]

I`ve never bothered with WST because its so hard to find dealers here in my town that are willing to stock it. So i steer clear of powders that aren`t readily available locally. I`d love to try some, but i dont want a powder sitting around that only works for one gun one load so to speak.

I like WST and use it in 45 acp and also in 9mm although Hodgdon/Winchester doesn't recommend it. I like livin' on the ragged edge.

 

[RussellC]

Why start so high?

Agreed. I found a while back that this bullet did not work so well for me loaded to the hot side. Accuracy suffered and target holes were elongated. Either tumbling or jacket coming apart?

Russellc

 

[Cooter Boolit]

Do they stock Competition? It is a very close cousin to WST. It's what I bought a four pounder of last time instead of WST because WST was unobtainable at the time.

no, they dont stock that one either, i called 3 places today.

EDIT:
I live in a rifle shotgun area, not many pistol powders are available. Most people here where i live dont reload pistol ammo much. Walmart 15 miles away, tons of pistol ammo and its cheap.

 

[Cooter Boolit]

If you ever try WST you may never go back to the other powders for BE or soft plinking loads. WST burns so clean at well reduced loads you will be surprised. I use it in my shotgun shell loads, too.

Now stop it Blue, yer a gonna force me to go git some and try it gull dern`it...!!!!
I believe you, i`ve been down this road many times over the years when someone recommended a powder. I`m going to call my dealer in the morning and see if he can get a one pounder for me. Heck i`ll try anything once. I`ve done some research on WST and it can be used in alot of different applications. Got nothin to lose at this point. Thank you for making up my mind about it...lol

 

[Blue68f100]

You want be disappointed. I had some one lead me to 10 yrs ago, and never gone back to what I was using before.

 

[RussellC]

Well, i wanted to reply back on how it went guys.... (45acp Berry`s Plated 185gr HBRN w/5.9gr WW231. Seated: 1.260 Crimped: .470)

No malfunctions, slide cycled fine, no sign of any high pressure. Accuracy just sucked, barely even hit the 8" paper target @ 10yds. These loads were everywhere but where i wanted them to be. I surely know i`m a decent shot with most any handgun, so i took that right out of the equation after the 5th shot. I use to shoot in bullseye & bowling pin competition for many years, so i know how to shoot very well, and most people that shoot with me today are amazed at how well i shoot, even for an old coot, i can still knock the heck out of the bullseye`s, just not with THIS load...lol.

Anywayyyyyyy......
The recoil... for a moment, i thought i was shootin a .22 pistol, talk about a powder puff load, these were it. I`m finding thru all the information i`ve seen and read so far, now i know why these bullets were given to me, the guy i got them from couldnt make the work either...lol. Hey they were free to me, so i thought i`d try them out. Personally, i think that hollow base is the problem with them. With a hollow base, i would also think you`d have sensitive crimping issues with this type of design.

Thank you for ALL the valuable info you folks presented here, i am VERY greatful. In the meantime, i`ll just stick with my ole` 200gr/230gr boolits, they`ve never failed me. I`m sure there are ways to improve this particular load, but it dosent intrest me at this point. Its not a boolit i would bother buying anyway. I`m sure somebody locally would like to have them, and they`ll pay me what i paid for them....nothing.

Thanks again guys, be safe out there...!

I had very similar results. This why I still have a box of 500 unopened. With 230 grain FMJ I was knocking the bullseye out.

Russellc

 

[Cooter Boolit]

You want be disappointed. I had some one lead me to 10 yrs ago, and never gone back to what I was using before.

I hear ya buddie... i think i`m gonna take ya for your word and buy some... IF i can find some...lol.
Ok, just a stupid question... (i`m very old but still willing to listen & learn), is the WST powder sensitive to pressure issues...???
Reason i ask is, i use CLAYS once in awhile, but not a fan of how such a tiny amount in charges can get pretty wild on pressure really quick.

 

[LiveLife]

is the WST powder sensitive to pressure issues...???

Yes, WST can be spikey at the top - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ts-and-discussions.778197/page-3#post-9890280

WST is less dense powder than W231/HP-38 and with 124 gr FMJ/RN bullet and 4.0 gr powder charge, will start to compress the powder charge at shorter than 1.160" OAL/COL. With 115/124 gr FMJ/RN bullets, I usually use 1.130"-1.135" but depending on powder, will use longer 1.145"-1.160" OAL so as to not compress powder charge.

WST is also reverse temperature sensitive which means it will produce higher velocities at lower temperatures. Here's a list of more temperature/reverse temperature sensitive powders - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...s-and-discussions.778197/page-7#post-10117881

WST is popular with match shooters and has produced smaller shot groups for me than other accurate load producing powders like Bullseye, Clays, Red Dot/Promo, Vectan Ba9.5, Titegroup, W231/HP-38, Vectan Ba9, WSF, etc. Only new powders like IMR Target, Alliant Sport Pistol and BE-86 come close to WST level of accuracy - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ick-plated-bullets.761471/page-5#post-9655361

i use CLAYS once in awhile, but not a fan of how such a tiny amount in charges can get pretty wild on pressure really quick.

Here's fluffy Clays in comparison but due to higher case fill, is designated for lighter target loads

 

[Cooter Boolit]

Yes, WST can be spikey at the top - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ts-and-discussions.778197/page-3#post-9890280

WST is less dense powder than W231/HP-38 and with 124 gr FMJ/RN bullet and 4.0 gr powder charge, will start to compress the powder charge at shorter than 1.160" OAL/COL. With 115/124 gr FMJ/RN bullets, I usually use 1.130"-1.135" but depending on powder, will use longer 1.145"-1.160" OAL so as to not compress powder charge.

WST is also reverse temperature sensitive which means it will produce higher velocities at lower temperatures. Here's a list of more temperature/reverse temperature sensitive powders - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...s-and-discussions.778197/page-7#post-10117881

WST is popular with match shooters and has produced smaller shot groups for me than other accurate load producing powders like Bullseye, Clays, Red Dot/Promo, Vectan Ba9.5, Titegroup, W231/HP-38, Vectan Ba9, WSF, etc. Only new powders like IMR Target, Alliant Sport Pistol and BE-86 come close to WST level of accuracy - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...ick-plated-bullets.761471/page-5#post-9655361

Here's fluffy Clays in comparison but due to higher case fill, is designated for lighter target loads

BDS....THANK YOU for all that info you posted, i am most greatful of the time you spent putting that all together...!!!!
I do use BE-86, actually i do have some VERY sweet pet loads using that powder in my 9mm guns. I have pondered the thought of trying it in the 45, just hadn`t had a lot of spare time to play with it. I might throw a few BE-86 rounds together early morning and see what it does. Any recommendations on a load for 45acp`s 185HBRN & 230FMJ berry`s plated with the BE-86...????

Thanks again my good friend, much appreciated...!

ole coot