Nosler 185 TMJ reloading help

[hooks]

HI guys,

I am new to reloading and need some help. I am reloading a Hornady 185 grain TMJ SWC 45acp for a 5" barrel. I am using 4.2g of Vihtavuori N310 with an OAL of 1.240. The data I have relates to a Speer 185 TMJ SWC bullet, not Nosler. I seated and crimped the Noslers per the Speer data. I figured that this would get me close. I checked the loaded cartrige in the removed barrel chamber and the base of the cartrige sticks out .075 past the barrel hood. Is there that much difference in bullet design or am I missing something?

Hooks

 

[Jim Watson]

There is that much difference in bullet design. OAL for one brand means little for the next brand. Seat to chamber flush, whatever it takes. Then hope for good feeding.

 

[Ol` Joe]

I haven`t loaded your exact bullet but I load Noslers 185 JHP to 1.235-1.240" in my 45 acp. I would imagine the 185 TMJ would be of similar shape, but I`ve been wrong before.

 

[hooks]

Thanks..Jim and Ol' Joe I will seat the 10 I have loaded to chamber flush and see what happens.

 

[CZ57]

hooks: are you sure it was a NOSLER and not another brand? JW is correct about various bullet shapes; it's best to get OACLs for the specific bullet you're using. Sounds like your Overall Cartridge Length is too long with whichever bullet you're using. A simple rule of thumb with SWCs is to seat so that no more than 1/32"/.031" of the shank/driving band (Portion of the bullet that's full diameter) is exposed above the casemouth. If it's a Hornady, it's shank is long in terms of 185 gr. .451" bullets and it's nose short. Accurates recommended OACL for this bullet is 1.135", Hodgdon's is 1.195". I can't find a 185 gr. JSWC at NOSLER's website. I checked because I couldn't recall it.

Since you're saying that it is overlength by .075", I'm guessing you may have the Hornady JSWC. This load will cause an out of battery condition. Click on this link: http://www.hornady.com/shop/?page=shop/browse&category_id=59c9d81fc2bf7c3529f3f66193c47dbc and see if this isn't the bullet you're using. Select .451 45 CAL

 

[hooks]

It's Hornady

Sorry guys, it's Hornady 185 grain TMJ SWC. I have some Nosler bullets on my bench and for some reason got mixed up. I edited my original post to quote the right stuff.. Thanks for setting me straight CZ 57.

 

[hooks]

I did find the COL, it's 1.169. This confirms the .075 mismatch I was getting. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[CZ57]

Glad it worked out! Great bullet. You should have a really good load!

 

[hooks]

Thanks CZ 57, I did load to the low end of the chart 4.2g of 310 VV... just 10 rounds to see how they shoot and cycle. I have to wait for my 1911 frame to come back from Chuck Rogers.. to see for sure.

 

[CZ57]

Hooks: the start charge for the Hornady 185 gr. JSWC may be a tad lower than what V-V shows for the 185 gr. SPEER TMJ. I don't have a Hornady manual. 10 rounds with 4.2 grains should be fine, but probably a bit higher velocity than what the 185 gr. SPEER achieves at this powder charge. I only mention this because this is a "match" bullet and a lower velocity that still provides 100% functioning could be a tack driver, maybe 4.2 grs. will be as well!

 

[hooks]

Thanks, I'll try it and see what happens.

 

[hooks]

Just for the heck of it I emailed Vihtavouri with the details, and asked them to work up some minimum and maximum loads for me...

 

[hooks]

VV's response

Hello James,

We have tested loading data with Speer 185 grs bullet, but we are not able to give proofed loads for a 185 grs Hornady SWC because we have not tested them.

Best regards,

Nammo Lapua Infocenter



No Luck unfortunately....

 

[CZ57]

Hooks: try e-mailing Hornady @ www.hornady.com
Just to be on the safe side, you could build some test loads, 5 or 10 each at 4.0 and 4.1 grains to account for the longer bullet shank and shorter OACL of the Hornady JSWC. If they function reliably, you have some loads for comparison to start. If you plan on shortening the loads you've already made, you'll have rounds to establish that pressure is acceptable. In all likelyhood, 4.2 grains is fine because of the .45 ACPs low operating pressure, but since this is a very fast burning powder, it's worth confirming. You may even find for future reference that 4.0 or 4.1 grains delivers better accuarcy.

 

[hooks]

Thanks, I'll email them and post the results here.

 

[hooks]

results

I called Hornady and they just had load data for 320VV. The Tech looked see if Lyman tested but they listed 320VV also. I loaded some 310VV at 3.9 grains to be safe and will test them before going with the 4.2g loads.

 

[CZ57]

Sounds like a gameplan to me!