Suggestions to Start Loading .45 ACP

[CoalTrain49]

If you have never loaded 45 ACP start with FMJ, the easiest to reload. Plated is going to cause you some problems to start, and so will lead. Don't buy a bunch of bullets to start with.

Neck tension is the tricky part. Sizing die will have to be adjusted to get the desired effect.

Seat and crimp in separate operations. Get a dedicated crimping die of some sort.

A gauge is also a good idea. It will check your max COL and your case size at the same time. Of course everything depends one your barrel chamber but there is a good chance if it won't fit in a gauge it won't fir in your chamber either.

There are about 10 different powders that will work. You will get 10 different answers to that question. Bulky powder is a good idea. I use American Select. So does Jerry Miculek.

 

[Dudedog]

If I am using a progressive or turret, I use the bulkier powders to make sure that I do not double charge a case.

On a progressive a RCBD lockout die is your friend. Various powder cops are a second choice. The RCBS lockout die is money well spent IMO.

Plated is going to cause you some problems to start, and so will lead

Not knowing any better I started loading 9mm with non coated lead bullets from MBC. Since I hadn't read how hard they are to start off with I didn't know they were supposed to be difficult.
3 or 4K rounds later I discovered that they are supposed to be harder to deal with. (you may or may not have leading issues to deal with when using lead bullets) Still hadn't discovered that until I read it

Jacketed are easiest, but plated are no problem, just don't over crimp.
I like to seat and crimp in two steps but it is by no means required.

The softer BHN 12 MBC 200gr SWC bullets worked better for me than the BHN 18 ones for light to medium loads. For Full power loads it was to close to call between the BHN 12s and BHN 18s, in my 2 ,45s. If I was loading nothing but full power I might lean towards the 18s, for anything else I had better results with the BHN 12s.

 

[Walkalong]

TheDomFather, having a tough time getting those .451 185 Gr bullets in the 9MM cases?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[crabwearer]

I do 5.3gr HP-38 with 230gr plated bullets. Nice middle of the road combination, can go up or down from there. Works great in my 1911.

 

[Hoopjj]

I like 7.4 gr of BE-86 with RMR 185 gr rnfp seated to 1.170

 

[Delmar]

Been shooting 200 gr LSWCs for decades using Bulls-eye powder. Yeah, I know, it burns a bit dirty but it gives me my best groups for my Government Model, Officer Model and my Gold Cup National Match. For the last year I have been loading Acme coated LSWCs and they seem to run about as good, with much less smoke in the bargain, not to mention no lead in the barrel at all. I size mine at 1.250 OAL and they feed fine through all 3 pistols. Some like to load them with 4.5 grains or so, but I get my best accuracy at 5.6 grains.

 

[wally]

Neck tension is the tricky part. Sizing die will have to be adjusted to get the desired effect.

Take the easy way out. Buy a Lee "factory crimp" die and adjust the seater to do nothing but remove the flare you needed to start the bullet.

 

[Walkalong]

Plated is easy to load, so is lead, but plated is super easy. If you don't have enough neck tension your sizer is too big or your expander is oversized. Test that by sizing and seating a bullet with no expansion. Have good neck tension now? Expander is too big. Still no neck tension? Sizer is too big. Sizer problem? Get a new sizer, or thicker brass (Non RP). Expander problem? Polish expander down until neck tension is good.

The "taper" crimp should remove the flare and maybe .001 more. No more than that. More "taper "crimp" will not fix a neck tension problem.

Skip the FCD. Get a $12 Lee taper crimp only die if you want to taper "crimp" in a second step.

 

[kerreckt]

I load the old standby of 5.0gr. of Bullseye under 230gr. fmj. Over the past 35 years, I have tried others but this one works very well.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The biggest problem I've found in reloading .45 ACP is ironing out the flared case mouth. If you get failures to feed, or partial feeding, look at the crimp.

Taper crimp as a separate step from bullet seating and check crimped cases by pulling them between your thumb and forefinger to see if you can detect any remaining flaring.