Quantcast
  1. Upgrade efforts paused for now. Thanks for your patience. More details in the thread in Tech Support for those who are interested.
    Dismiss Notice

Reloading .45 ACP now...

Discussion in 'Handloading and Reloading' started by Michael Tinker Pearce, Jun 18, 2017.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Michael Tinker Pearce

    Michael Tinker Pearce Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2016
    Messages:
    1,512
    I try to pick up only my own brass at the range, but things get mixed up and I wound up with stuff I didn't shoot. It happens, but it led me to discover some unusual things when I busted out the new .45 ACP dies and started de-priming.

    Like the Sellier & Bellot cases with primers that could not be removed. No, really! I literally punched holes in them trying to get them out, and they are still there. It was only a few, so I just shrugged and tossed them. Or the Blazer Brass cases that were primed with small-pistol primers, probably Magnum? Who knows. Weird.

    Setting up the bullet-seating die required some fiddling. I finally got it seating the bullets to just the right depth- and noticed that the cases were wrinkled just below the bullet. (I am the brute squad.) OK, a bit more adjustment needed... Got things set right eventually and headed off to the range to test them out. The loads functioned and fed perfectly, and accuracy was at least as good as I an shoot.

    It wasn't my best shooting ever today frankly. I fired the single-shot .22 and the Steampunk Snubby, and while the results weren't embarrassing they were nothing to show off, either. I did manage to fire a decent string of shots with the LDA .45 Carry at the end of the day- 3 strings of five shots each at seven yards, fired as quickly as I could without getting thrown off the range-
    [​IMG]

    The load is a hard-cast 200gr. LSWC on top of 6.8r. of Unique with a CCI 500 Large Pistol Primer. It has some authority but recoil is easily managed in the short .45. I think this is likely to become a standard load for me.
     
    bannockburn likes this.
  2. JR24

    JR24 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2011
    Messages:
    5,278
    Location:
    Upper Midwest
    Blaser uses standard small pistol primers. Its annoying but they run fi e with CCI small pistol primers for me.

    Nice shooting, and I like the looks of that load. Been trying to find a 200 grain I like in .45 acp.
     
    Tcruse and Michael Tinker Pearce like this.
  3. GRIZ22

    GRIZ22 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2006
    Messages:
    5,965
    I've used the same combo but with 6.0 grains of Unique for years. Chronographs at about 950 fps from a 4". You should give that load a try.
     
  4. wally

    wally Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2004
    Messages:
    13,588
    Location:
    Houston, Tx
    That was my standard load for years, although I used 6.6gr of the "old" Unique when I was younger and liked a bigger boom :) When the "new" Unique came out and I'd used up the last of my "old" I backed off from 6.6 to 6.0 and never saw a reason to work higher.

    I've recently switched to AA No. 5 since Unique had been basically unobtainium until recently, so I've kept my Unique for my 9mm & .40S&W loads where it burns much cleaner than it does in .45ACP

    Some S&B ammo is Berdan primed, these are likely the onse you couldn't deprime.
     
    Michael Tinker Pearce likes this.
  5. gotboostvr

    gotboostvr Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2007
    Messages:
    4,980
    I prefer 4.5gr of bullseye under my 200gr LSWC's for a nice shooting 1911 load.

    Your Unique load might be moving a little faster though.
     
    Michael Tinker Pearce likes this.
  6. Sunray

    Sunray Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2003
    Messages:
    11,573
    Location:
    London, Ont.
    The Sellier & Bellot primers might be lacquered in. Had some 9mm like that I acquired from the OPP(same as State Police) who had not bothered to clean up after themselves on a CF range.
    The small primers are normal now. Started by Winchester and their NT ammo. Pitch 'em or trade 'em to somebody who uses 'em. Just don't mix 'em with your regular brass.
    4.5 grains of BullsEye under my 230 grains RN or FP's is a nice, accurate, target load.
     
    Michael Tinker Pearce likes this.
  7. Michael Tinker Pearce

    Michael Tinker Pearce Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2016
    Messages:
    1,512
    No, these were not Berdan primed; single central hole, perfectly conventional. The primers simply would not come out.

    I think I'll back down to 6 grains of Unique- it works and right now I'm probably just blowing the extra .8 grains out that stubby little barrel.
     
  8. Michael Tinker Pearce

    Michael Tinker Pearce Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2016
    Messages:
    1,512
    By the way- I am using Unique exclusively at the moment because a friend gave me four pounds of it- one can of Hercules and three cans of Alliant. Right now dies and other reloading components are more important than buying more powder. :)
     
    gotboostvr likes this.
  9. 460Shooter

    460Shooter Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2011
    Messages:
    13,249
    :D

    He's only mostly dead.....
     
    Last edited: Jun 19, 2017
    Michael Tinker Pearce likes this.
  10. catgunguy

    catgunguy Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2013
    Messages:
    42
    Michael Tinker Pearce, nice looking Para. It looks like it likes to shoot. Thanks for the picture.
     
    Michael Tinker Pearce likes this.
  11. bannockburn

    bannockburn Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2007
    Messages:
    25,668
    Tinker

    Nice group with the LDA .45! I have found that in really short barrel 1911s that they work really well with 185 and 200 gr. ammo.
     
  12. 1KPerDay

    1KPerDay Member

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2006
    Messages:
    19,811
    Location:
    Happy Valley, UT
    Post some pics of your steampunk snubby
     
  13. entropy

    entropy Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2004
    Messages:
    15,164
    Location:
    G_d's Country, WI
    He did, in another thread. Nice shootin, Tex! :D That load works, it's a keeper. I use the load GRIZ22 uses, and also 8.4 of AA#5 with a 200gr. LRN at 1.19" COAL. And as bannockburn points out, shorter .45's tend to like 185's and 200's. I had a friend give me 2# of Unique and 2# Bullseye when he thought he was moving down to Florida; he ended up having to stay here in WI, at least for a few more years. If he ever gets to reloading, I'll give him back what I haven't loaded up yet. The downside with AA#5 is it's dirty-like TulAmmo dirty.
     
  14. Michael Tinker Pearce

    Michael Tinker Pearce Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2016
    Messages:
    1,512
    This is a S&W .38 Double-Action, Safety Hammerless, 4th Model made in about 1904-1909. When I got it it was a bit rough and had a 4-1/4" Barrel. I shortened the barrel to 1-5/8", made and mounted a new front sight and made a custom ergonomic grip. The loads are .38 S&W with a Hornady 148gr. HBWC ver 2.5gr. of Unique with a CCI primer. This has proven to be an accurate load with decent penetration, and gentle on an old gun like this.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    Seven yards, rapid-fire.
     
    Dudedog, 1KPerDay and drband like this.
  15. Landric

    Landric Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2003
    Messages:
    903
    Location:
    North Carolina
    But does he have a holocaust cloak?
     
    Michael Tinker Pearce likes this.
  16. Dudedog

    Dudedog Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 19, 2013
    Messages:
    6,784
    Location:
    Southern CA
    Don't know if the S+Bs had crimped primers but there is .45 brass around that does have crimped in primers. PITA, I just recycle the crimped pistol brass as I have enough fun removing them from .223/5.56 brass.
    Nice shooting, good looking gun(s).
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2017
    Michael Tinker Pearce likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice