Question of Diameter for .45 ACP

[TexasTed]

I have been reloading for about two months and have stayed with Win 231, CCI Primers, but have tried several 230 RN Bullets, Speer, Hornaday and finally Ranier. All have been .451 dia. However, I have noticed .452 dia. bullets and am wondering what the effect they have? Are they interchangable with .451 dia.? and if I expand the casing for a .452 does it shorten the life of the casing?

I would also like info on when a casing is to damaged to use again. Most of my brass has been reloaded at least 4 times and I have loaded some mixed brass I picked up from the Range. How can I tell when it can't be reloaded anymore?

 

[The Bushmaster]

You can reload .45 ACP brass until you can't read the brand on the case head or it splits. I will almost bet you will not be able to read the brand before it splits, but I've been wrong before. I will let someone else answer the first one. I load only copper jacketed bullets...

 

[Jim Watson]

I use .45 ACP brass until it splits, peens the rim out too large to gauge, or I lose it.

A thousandth difference in bullet diameter is not significant. Most jacketed .45 ACPs are .451" but the Mag-Tech jacketed and nearly all cast bullets are .452". A .452" jacketed heavier than 230 grains is probably for .45 Colt but will shoot in an auto if it will feed.

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

.451 VS .452 for .45acp

.45acp 1911 autos and revolvers were designed to fire .452 lead bullets and .451 jacketed bullets as simple as that by the weapons makers.

I prefer any other primer brand other than CCI since CCI was invented especially in serious matches where you want the best possible scores. The cheapest is not the best unless you use them only for practice.

For my Original Saeco Co. Molds customers shooting Bullseye they prefered Federal for the 25 yard range and Winchester for the 50 yard range because they a little hotter.

Bullets. Normal for many decades was 185 grain bullets for the 25 yard range and 200 grains for the 50 yard Bullseye range. However I advised using Winchester primers and the 200 grain 068 bullet for both ranges as both ranges had identical ammunition for practice and competition which worked out well.

Preferred brass is GI of the same maker and year of WCC (Winchester), Starline, Federal and Winchester.

For Progressive reloader pistol reloaders I advise nothing but WW231 as it meters accurately and does not throw out of the cases during reloading no matter the speed. Bullseye powder is famous for piling up at the rear of automated reloaders.

 

[Ron Brooks]

Paul,

What about WST for 45acp in progrossive presses?

Ron

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Other powders

WW231 was the best powder available when WW230 was discontinued and when finding an excellent powder that does the job perfectly in the thousand and more reloaders I sold well I have had no reason to change because in todays market of tools and products newer is not always better from companies that want some of the cash market of old excellent products.

Famous company names are bought and their products are made of cheaper materials and of lesser quality workmanship to make more profits.

The orientation of companies that I represented was to make excellent tools and the best ever made that our parents and grand parents enjoyed. Tools were made that were to last lifetimes and more. Well maintained Star reloaders 20, 30, 40 and 50 years old still do excellent work. There is no comparison between the Original Saeco Company Bullet molds and current ones made by later companies that bought the name. Saeco 1,000 watt Lead Casting Pots lasted 25 to 29 years in daily commercial use. I still have my 50 year old Saeco Pots. There is no profit in making lifetime products by todays companies.

Why are Older Winchester Rifles and Smith and Wesson Pistols worth more?

It may be interesting to start some surveys as to what tools and components are liked today.

 

[pilot teacher]

My cases-- I have Winchester, Star and R-P cases. These cases have been reloaded about 21 times with no problems. Used 231 for a while did not like it.
Now use Power Pistol, Bullseye, 700X and VV310. Total cases about 600.

 

[robertbank]

.45acp brass will last over 20 reloads that is for sure. Just load them until they split or crack at the mouth from belling. IF I were you I would try Win, Rem or Federal primers before CCI. Have had more trouble with them then any other brand. 5.3 gr 231 under 200 gr LSWC is a great load in my guns and meets PF for IPSC/IDPA if you are into playing the games.

Toss Amerc brass as soon as you find it. Great for re-cycle bin and that is all. Amerc is the only brass I know of that isn't worth picking up unless you are a brass recycler.

Take Care

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

700X powder

As a commercial reloader for my police buddy competitors and my own department and area police departments I studied powder charts and saw that I could save money using 700X powder for police .38 and .45acp reloads as it took less powder for the FPS needed for full power and target loads.

But while using police department brass inventory I learned that the departmental brass inventories started wearing out faster than I was used to with my normally preferred WW231.

I learned that 700X has a high fast pressure curve that stressed the brass and limited the brass life so I returned to WW231 and stayed with it.

 

[trickyasafox]

i've had good luck with unique, still havent shot tons of it, but so far it seems really promising.

 

[taliv]

fitz, did you notice a difference in felt recoil between 700x and w231?

 

[johnmcl]

Piling?

Hi Paul,

Earlier you wrote "For Progressive reloader pistol reloaders I advise nothing but WW231 as it meters accurately and does not throw out of the cases during reloading no matter the speed. Bullseye powder is famous for piling up at the rear of automated reloaders."

What do you mean by piling up at the rear? I'm a Bullseye user firing 4.7 grs under a 230 gr FMJ. (Trying to duplicate the WWII load just for grins...) I'm on a Dillon 550.

This leads to the real question of whether I should transition to WW231 for a more uniform loading?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts,

John


It has worked great for me and my competitor customers no matter the reloaders I sold but I have had nothing to do with Dillons since I was a dealer for his first reloader the RL1000 that I still have hundreds of dollars of parts for.

Use whatever works for you and your machine.

Also many of my really serious customers loaded a years supply of their competition ammo at the same with everything of the same lot number, same temperature and even same humidity and stored it all under the same conditions until opened from its insulated chest at the firing range.
Paul

 

[Ron Brooks]

W231

Been thinking about this, and as I recall doesn't 231 give velocity variations with temperture changes. As I recall it caused its share of troubles by folks shooting Minor at IPSC and not making it, or someone just missing Major and having a lot or recoil for Minor.

If I remember right that was why some of the shooters went off to WSF and WST. Otherwise 231 was a great powder.

Anyone else rember this?

 

[vzwnnj]

Ron,

I am currently using WST in my 550b with both Berry's 185gr HBRN plated bullets and Speer 230gr FMJ. It is great for the 185gr and works good up until about 800fps for the 230gr...anything more than that I would use W231, but there are many good 45acp powders out there