Need some help developing a load for .45 acp, universal powder, and 230 grain precicesion delta FMJ bullets. I am looking at my lee reloading book and it shows a max load of 6.0 grains while the Hodgdon site shows a max of 5.6. My hornady book does not have data for this powder/bullet. Does anyone have experience with this powder and bullet weight? I have searched the threads but can't seem to get enough info to feel comfortable with. Any help would be appreciated.
Universal powder, 230 grain fmj precision delta, and .45 ACP
- Thread starter Sb1911
- Start date
- Status
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Hodgdon's load data was developed using a COAL of 1.200", your load manual may be using a longer OLA and seating less bullet in the case. That would change the charge weights. I don't have the Lee manual so I don't know what OAL they used, what do they list?
Start low and work up until you find an accurate load which will probably be before you reach the charge limits.
Start low and work up until you find an accurate load which will probably be before you reach the charge limits.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
By reading that it sounds like you don't have a scale and did not weigh that charge to verify it's accuracy. The Lee chart is a guideline at best and is often incorrect when you actually weigh the powder charge. I know, I've been using a Pro Auto-Disk for a lot of years now. You must weigh all powder throw setups to verify the accuracy of the throw. You should also never start up near or at the Max charge of any load recipe. This is especially true when one source tells you a lower charge weight is the Max and that source is the distributor of the powder you're using. Always start low and work up to the max charge, never start at the max charge because it can be dangerous.
I'm not jumping on your case, I just want to be sure you are using safe loading practices so no one gets hurt.
I'm currently using a digital scale and throwing a charge of 5.7 to 6.0 grains. I am concerned due to what I have read on other forums that mid to low 5 grains will no cycle reliably. I have loaded 1000k 185 grains successfully with universal but have since run out and only have 230 FMJ's available. I don't reload with out at least 2 scales validating what my disk is throwing, I use a digital and balance beam.
Load data for any 230 Gr jacketed round nose bullet will work.
Hornady makes a 230 Gr "FMJ" that is a flat point, and it is always shown as being loaded at 1.200 OAL. Be sure that isn't the data you are looking at. That is what the Hodgdon online data shows. Don't pay any attention to that.
You want data for a 230 Gr jacketed Round Nose bullet. I suggest 1.260 to 1.265 OAL.
Hornady makes a 230 Gr "FMJ" that is a flat point, and it is always shown as being loaded at 1.200 OAL. Be sure that isn't the data you are looking at. That is what the Hodgdon online data shows. Don't pay any attention to that.
You want data for a 230 Gr jacketed Round Nose bullet. I suggest 1.260 to 1.265 OAL.
brutus51
Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
- Messages
- 1,367
Here's what I found regarding Universal.
5" barrel Government model
Hornady 5th edition 5.4gr. @ 700fps./ 6.1gr. @ 850fps. 1.230 O/A.
Hodgdon 5.1gr. @ 716fps./ 5.6gr. @ 844fps. 1.200 O/A. FP. bullet
4" barrel Sig P220
Speer #14 5.5gr. @ 730fps./6.3gr. @841fps. 1.260 O/A
No barrel lgth. or model specified
Modern Reloading 5.1gr. @ N/A 5.6gr. @ 844fps.
Hope this helps
5" barrel Government model
Hornady 5th edition 5.4gr. @ 700fps./ 6.1gr. @ 850fps. 1.230 O/A.
Hodgdon 5.1gr. @ 716fps./ 5.6gr. @ 844fps. 1.200 O/A. FP. bullet
4" barrel Sig P220
Speer #14 5.5gr. @ 730fps./6.3gr. @841fps. 1.260 O/A
No barrel lgth. or model specified
Modern Reloading 5.1gr. @ N/A 5.6gr. @ 844fps.
Hope this helps
I don't know where you got this information, but unless you've tried it yourself, that information is worth what you paid for it (as well as this
).The important thing is not to do something foolish like load up 300 rounds without test firing any. Try 5.0g and see how 25 of them shoot. Also load up a magazine or two's worth of slightly lower and slightly higher and see how they shoot. If the lower charges cycle the gun and you feel more comfortable with it, use that load or work down. If you are shooting better with the higher charges, use those or work up and just stay below the max recommended charge.
If you are staying mid range or lower in your charges, you are going to be fine.
I'm using Rainier 230 Gr plated bullets over a charge of 5.2gr of Hodgden Universal with OAL set at 1.220. My full size and compact 1911s like that load. Like others have said, check different charges to see what your pistol likes (without going over max).
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Lee disk
According to VMD calcs (.1099 for Universal) a .61 disk should throw about 5.55grns (.61/.1099) if your getting 6 it is throwing a little heavy. I find that some disks / powders do this for me as well. The .57 disk should be about 5.2 but it looks like your getting about +.2 so that would be 5.4ish. My .53 disk should be 4.9 but iI usually get 5-5.1. This woks well for me behind a 230gn LRN (about 800fps in my gun)so 5.3 5.4ish might be about right for FMJ.
Wish I had some more Universal to load right now.....:banghead:
According to VMD calcs (.1099 for Universal) a .61 disk should throw about 5.55grns (.61/.1099) if your getting 6 it is throwing a little heavy. I find that some disks / powders do this for me as well. The .57 disk should be about 5.2 but it looks like your getting about +.2 so that would be 5.4ish. My .53 disk should be 4.9 but iI usually get 5-5.1. This woks well for me behind a 230gn LRN (about 800fps in my gun)so 5.3 5.4ish might be about right for FMJ.
Wish I had some more Universal to load right now.....:banghead:
dickttx
Member
I have been using a PAD for the three years I have been back into reloading. I have always read about how bad and incorrect the Lee chart is.
I am getting ready to install the Hornady powder measure on my LnL AP. The best I can find for instructions is "Drop a load and weigh it, then adjust accordingly. If I am wanting 4.4gn I don't have any idea whether my guestimated sitting will be 2.1 of 9.7! Or if one turn of the metering screw will increase .1 gr or 1.0gn.
A little guidance like Lee provides would be very welcome.
I am getting ready to install the Hornady powder measure on my LnL AP. The best I can find for instructions is "Drop a load and weigh it, then adjust accordingly. If I am wanting 4.4gn I don't have any idea whether my guestimated sitting will be 2.1 of 9.7! Or if one turn of the metering screw will increase .1 gr or 1.0gn.
A little guidance like Lee provides would be very welcome.
Dudedog thanks for that info. I am going to take a few more test throws with the .57 and .61 and weigh them with the digital and balance beam to see if I can get to the bottom of the variances. my auto disk was impressively accurate before when I was loading up 185 grain JHP I but ran out of those so now I'm starting from scratch with the 230's. I also just moved and have not found a local gun range yet so it not like I can run over to the range and make my Chronograph fear for it life like I used to and see how the load is acting.
Dudedog
Contributing Member
Your welcome Sb1911.
My chrono has survived so far but I understand they lead "charmed lives"
Walkalong shot a nice hole in his. See this http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=733530
Some of my disks and powders seem to throw almost excatly what they should (disk size/VMD) other combos seem a little off.
One can of Universal I had seemed about perfect another was just a tad heavier than expected. (2 scales digital and beam as well).
Since I could not find any Universal I am trying SR4756, SR7625, Autocomp, and Unique. Autocomp seems right according to what the calcs say it should throw, but the other two are again just a tad heavier than expected. All are consistant. (except the Unique) If I sacrifice a chicken, hop on one foot and say the magic words I can even seem to get th Pro disk to throw Unique within about + or - .1 to .15 grns, usually +. (the hopping on one foot part must not be skipped otherwise it won't work) On Unique the charges seemed to be considerably lighter than what I expected it to throw and I weighed them again and again and again to be sure, could just be the lot I have.
My chrono has survived so far but I understand they lead "charmed lives"
Walkalong shot a nice hole in his. See this http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=733530
Some of my disks and powders seem to throw almost excatly what they should (disk size/VMD) other combos seem a little off.
One can of Universal I had seemed about perfect another was just a tad heavier than expected. (2 scales digital and beam as well).
Since I could not find any Universal I am trying SR4756, SR7625, Autocomp, and Unique. Autocomp seems right according to what the calcs say it should throw, but the other two are again just a tad heavier than expected. All are consistant. (except the Unique) If I sacrifice a chicken, hop on one foot and say the magic words I can even seem to get th Pro disk to throw Unique within about + or - .1 to .15 grns, usually +. (the hopping on one foot part must not be skipped otherwise it won't work) On Unique the charges seemed to be considerably lighter than what I expected it to throw and I weighed them again and again and again to be sure, could just be the lot I have.
Last edited:
- Status