Magnum Primers?
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For plated bullets, they recommend using Lead loading data. Hodgdon.com lists
230 GR. LRN
Hodgdon Universal
.452" 1.200"
4.5 703 11,400 CUP - min
5.4 857 16,800 CUP - max
45 ACPs tend to do the best with 230gr right around 800fps for accuracy. With Magnum primers I'd start at 4.7 or 4.8 and work towards 5.0-5.1
230 GR. LRN
Hodgdon Universal
.452" 1.200"
4.5 703 11,400 CUP - min
5.4 857 16,800 CUP - max
45 ACPs tend to do the best with 230gr right around 800fps for accuracy. With Magnum primers I'd start at 4.7 or 4.8 and work towards 5.0-5.1
You can shoot em, nothing is dangerous, and there are variations from pistol to pistol. The 800fps 230gr is more of just a standard over time. 5.4 is max with normal primers, but the pressure is not scary at all. If you have enough extras around, just shoot em and dial it back.
Andrew Leigh
Member
It is like golf ...... less is more. Less force better result. Unfortunately we live in an age which requires that we max everything. This obsession is both destructive and counterproductive. I could not care how fast you bullet is but how well you shoot.
My 30-06 loads are below the suggested speed but work great in my rifle ....... they are almost always sub MOA at 100yds.
My 30-06 loads are below the suggested speed but work great in my rifle ....... they are almost always sub MOA at 100yds.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Using that OAL you don't even need to pull the bullets you made with 5.4gr since Hodgdon lists an OAL of 1.200". I also feel you don't need to drop back to 4.7gr, starting at 5.0gr will be fine. Even though magnum primers will burn slightly longer and slightly hotter than standard primers they don't create a nuclear explosion.
Lost Sheep
Member
Let's get technical (Re: post 30)
Overall length is measured from base of the case to tip of the bullet. But that is not REALLY what you want to measure. Unfortunately, that is the only thing we CAN measure.
The real measurement you want is the volume inside the case.
The length from web to bullet base is a proxy measurement for that volume. But we can't measure that directly.
The overall length of the cartridge is a proxy for THAT measurement.
The overall length of the cartridge can vary considerably based on the shape of the nose. If you have a perfectly round nose profile vs a more elongated curve vs a spitzer point you can easily see that overall length is an imperfect proxy.
Fortunately, 45 ACP bullets don't vary that much in shape. But hollowpoints will make a difference.
So, as promised, I will get technical now.
If you have a bullet of a given weight and load data (including OAL) for a differently shaped bullet of the same weight, it might be worthwhile to find the different in actual bullet length and adjust the recipe's OAL to account for that difference.
Reloading isn't rocket science, but it does involve smoke and flame and things that go terribly fast. Pay attention to detail and you will be fine.
Your caution about shooting the few cartridges you feel are heavily loaded is commendable.
On the good side, the 45 ACP is a fairly low-pressure cartridge developed over 100 years ago and modern guns are built of a bit stronger metal than back then. Your loads are probably good to go as long as the internal volume is not too small. But only cartridges? Pull them. It's good practice and a good practice. You don't have to punch out the old primers. Just re-bell the case mouths, charge the cases and seat/crimp the bullets.
Lost Sheep
Overall length is measured from base of the case to tip of the bullet. But that is not REALLY what you want to measure. Unfortunately, that is the only thing we CAN measure.
The real measurement you want is the volume inside the case.
The length from web to bullet base is a proxy measurement for that volume. But we can't measure that directly.
The overall length of the cartridge is a proxy for THAT measurement.
The overall length of the cartridge can vary considerably based on the shape of the nose. If you have a perfectly round nose profile vs a more elongated curve vs a spitzer point you can easily see that overall length is an imperfect proxy.
Fortunately, 45 ACP bullets don't vary that much in shape. But hollowpoints will make a difference.
So, as promised, I will get technical now.
If you have a bullet of a given weight and load data (including OAL) for a differently shaped bullet of the same weight, it might be worthwhile to find the different in actual bullet length and adjust the recipe's OAL to account for that difference.
Reloading isn't rocket science, but it does involve smoke and flame and things that go terribly fast. Pay attention to detail and you will be fine.
Your caution about shooting the few cartridges you feel are heavily loaded is commendable.
On the good side, the 45 ACP is a fairly low-pressure cartridge developed over 100 years ago and modern guns are built of a bit stronger metal than back then. Your loads are probably good to go as long as the internal volume is not too small. But only cartridges? Pull them. It's good practice and a good practice. You don't have to punch out the old primers. Just re-bell the case mouths, charge the cases and seat/crimp the bullets.
Lost Sheep
Clark
Member
Magnum pistol primers make extra pressure like 0.7 gr extra powder.
They do not make extra velocity like .7 gr extra powder.
With 9mm, 38sp, and .223, there are huge amounts of safety margin, so it does not matter much.
But stock 1911 barrels in 45acp sometimes are getting close to the case bulge.
The 45acp case web is 0.18" thick.
Some 1911 barrels have .235" of feed ramp intrusion.
That makes for .055" of thin unsupported case wall.
The case wall is ~ .015" thick, and so we have a bridge over a hole that is 4 times wider than it is thick. That wants to blow a bubble.
If some "gunsmith" modified the barrel with a Dremell or Fordham rotary tool turning Cratex rubber bits with embedded abrasive to "polish the feed ramp", then thing may be worse.
They do not make extra velocity like .7 gr extra powder.
With 9mm, 38sp, and .223, there are huge amounts of safety margin, so it does not matter much.
But stock 1911 barrels in 45acp sometimes are getting close to the case bulge.
The 45acp case web is 0.18" thick.
Some 1911 barrels have .235" of feed ramp intrusion.
That makes for .055" of thin unsupported case wall.
The case wall is ~ .015" thick, and so we have a bridge over a hole that is 4 times wider than it is thick. That wants to blow a bubble.
If some "gunsmith" modified the barrel with a Dremell or Fordham rotary tool turning Cratex rubber bits with embedded abrasive to "polish the feed ramp", then thing may be worse.
BADUNAME37
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Chronograph
All this could be easily settled by using a chronograph and comparing like bullets to like bullets of the same weight.
If your bullets are not traveling anywhere near as fast as some factory loads, then you can most likely use the primers with your loads without issue. You may even find that your bullets WITH magnum primers do not meet the velocities of some factory ammo.
Some factory ammo is especially HOT.
All this could be easily settled by using a chronograph and comparing like bullets to like bullets of the same weight.
If your bullets are not traveling anywhere near as fast as some factory loads, then you can most likely use the primers with your loads without issue. You may even find that your bullets WITH magnum primers do not meet the velocities of some factory ammo.
Some factory ammo is especially HOT.
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