Sanity check on .45 Auto loads

[MovedWest]

I've just started reloading for .45 Auto and am doing a lot a extrapolation and interpretation of powder, bullets and seating depths. Can you more experienced 45 loaders please give these loads a look and let me know if I'm out of bounds anywhere?

I've come up with these numbers from 6-7 books plus powder and bullet manufacturer data. I've stepped the loads and the loads listed are the maximum I intend to load.

230gr Sierra Sports Master JHP
5.0gr 700X
OAL = 1.200"
CCI 300 primer

200gr Hornady HAP JHP
5.0gr 700X - or 7.0gr Unique
OAL = 1.230"
CCI 300 primer

Thanks in advance.

-MW

 

[Reloadron]

With the 700X and a 230 grain bullet I would start below the 5.0 grains of powder, maybe around 4.6 to start. Your 200 grain bullet loads look OK at 5.0 grains of 700X powder. We are loading Hodgdon 700X powder correct?

Ron

 

[MovedWest]

With the 700X and a 230 grain bullet I would start below the 5.0 grains of powder, maybe around 4.6 to start. Your 200 grain bullet loads look OK at 5.0 grains of 700X powder. We are loading Hodgdon 700X powder correct?

Ron

Thanks Ron, that's correct - Hodgdon 700X. Actually, you nailed my starting load at 4.6gr. My max load I have planned is 5.0gr.

 

[RugerBob]

I like 700x in 45acp. But That's as far as I can go. I like 230gr, prefer 200gr.
Casting my own it works well. I seat mine at 1.195 for 200gr FP.
I find 5.1gr 700x cycles the action well with no feeding issues in either of my 1911s.

 

[Reloadron]

That should work fine.

Ron

 

[MovedWest]

I like 700x in 45acp. But That's as far as I can go. I like 230gr, prefer 200gr.
Casting my own it works well. I seat mine at 1.195 for 200gr FP.
I find 5.1gr 700x cycles the action well with no feeding issues in either of my 1911s.

Do you use 5.1gr of 700X with 230gr bullets or 200gr bullets for cycling and feeding benefits? Sounds like 200gr, but just clarifying.

 

[cfullgraf]

My standard 45 ACP load for decades has been a 230 gr. RN bullet and 5.0 grains of 700-X. I agree with Ron that it is at the high end of the scale and should be approached carefully.

 

[hdwhit]

What length of barrel will this be shot from?

 

[MovedWest]

What length of barrel will this be shot from?

I was planning on trying the loads out on 2 firearms - a standard full size 1911 with a 5" barrel and a Baby Desert Eagle with a 4" barrel.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm not a fan of very short OAL in the .45 Auto evening though for some reason Hodgdon likes 1.200". I would lengthen the cartridge using the Plunk Test to set the bullet seating depth. That will also force a powder adjustment to equal the velocities generated by the original load.

 

[MovedWest]

I'm not a fan of very short OAL in the .45 Auto evening though for some reason Hodgdon likes 1.200". I would lengthen the cartridge using the Plunk Test to set the bullet seating depth. That will also force a powder adjustment to equal the velocities generated by the original load.

I'd actually never heard of the plunk test until now - that's brilliant! I'm going to start using that more often in my reloading. Thank you!!

I agree on the short seating depth. I thought 1.200" was kinda short myself, but published data is usually credible. Good to know I'm not alone on that. My HAP rounds I loaded exactly the way Hornday's 8th edition advised for standard XTP rounds. Rcmodel recommended that in an old post and his advice is law in my opinion.

 

[Reloadron]

The Plunk Test brought to you by the THR Library of Wisdom.

Ron

 

[RugerBob]

@MovedWest -Yes, I use 5.1gr with both 200 and 230gr.