Started working up my first load.

[ljnowell]

Well, set up my reloading press this afternoon and started working on first load. Reloading .45acp for a *gasp* Glock 21.

For my first trip through I am using Ranier plated 200gr HP, IMR 700x, and winchester large pistol primers. I have read in all documentation to load to lead specs for ranier plated rounds so thats where I started. My first batch of 5 rounds were loaded 4.2gr @ 1.245 OAL. The chambered into the gun well, unfortunately they didnt have the wallop to cycle the slide. I stepped it up to 4.8 grains. This cycled the slide, just barely, but didnt have enough go to do it at the right speed. I ended up working my way up to a 5.2gr charge of 700x. This cycles the slide well, feeds well, and at 15 yards held a nice group with the cheapo plated HP. It grouped as well as or better than WWB. My next step is to fine tune it. I was advised to load some .2 gr less and some .2 gr more and try both of those for accuracy and keep going from there.

I should note that I am pretty sure that I am safe and within the proper pressures, as I did not recieve any glock smileys on the rounds that ejected.

 

[Dean Williams]

You might want to back off a bit on the powder. This is an over maximum load in eight of my nine manuals. One says it is "only" a max load.

Also, check with the Glock shooters here about shooting the Ranier in your pistol.

 

[ljnowell]

You might want to back off a bit on the powder. This is an over maximum load in eight of my nine manuals. One says it is "only" a max load.

Also, check with the Glock shooters here about shooting the Ranier in your pistol.

The data I loaded with was from IMR. Ranier plated are recomended as cheap substitute to full metal jacket in a glock. Not safe for lead but ok plated. Ranier recomends loading to a lead charge and lists max at 5.5 gr.

 

[rfwobbly]

Dean is correct. STOP! You are near max.

I'm now looking at the on-line IMR loading data for 45ACP and for a 200gr cast lead bullet (what Ranier calls for) with 700X the loads run from 4.6 to 5.3 MAX with a OAL of 1.225 inches.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

This cycled the slide, ....but didn't do it at the right speed.

What kind of measure is that? That is far from quantifiable data. Too many other factors effect cycle speed such as lubrication, recoil spring weights, is the gun "broken in", magazine spring stiffness, bullet crimp, etc., etc.

I do not use 700X, nor do I shoot a Glock, but IMHO this gun should cycle well with powder loads down around 4.7 to 4.9, and if not, you should stop and find out why.

 

[jfh]

Just to make it clear--Ranier recommends that their plated bullets be loaded with cast lead recipes, not jacketed recipes.

Jim H.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Yup jfh...That's what Rainier says. However...I have been loading Rainier bullets using Jacketed data with no problems. I load at levels under 1200 fps as recommended by Rainier...

 

[ljnowell]

Dean is correct. STOP! You are near max.

I'm now looking at the on-line IMR loading data for 45ACP and for a 200gr cast lead bullet (what Ranier calls for) with 700X the loads run from 4.6 to 5.3 MAX with a OAL of 1.225 inches.

I know that is near max. I dont intend to increase the load anymore.

I do consider whether or not the slide will cycle because the load is too weak to be good data, as I dont want a single shot pistol. As far as good data, I ran them across a chronograph this morning and through a g21 clocked 930fps on average.