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Posted: 3/17/2013 5:27:44 AM EDT
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I started developing my load for a 200 gr plated RN bullet. I've been using bullseye since I have 12 lbs of it to burn through. CCI LP primers
1) 4.8 gr bullseye, COAL 1.270. 20 rounds, one round stove piped. 2) 5.0 gr bullseye, COAL 1.270 20 rounds, no failures. felt a little snappier compared to factory 3) 5.4 gr bullseye, COAL 1.270 20 rounds, no failures. felt same as 5.0 gr 4) 5.8 gr bullseye (max in my manual), COAL 1.270 20 rounds, no failures. I did not see flatting of any primers or bulging of the cases. I'm thinking my sweet spot may be between 5.0-5.4 until my round count increases on my FNX45. I have about 500 factory rounds through it right now. I would assume by decreasing COAL it would increase the pressure even more in the cartridge and make it even more snappy. Putting it out there to see if anyone has any suggestions based on their experience. |
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Quoted: I load plated and lead 230grn with 5.0 of BE. Works the action well on my XD and on my Marlin Camp .45. Matter of fact I just loaded 200 of lead on my new to me Dillon 550b. Boy that sure beats a single stage! This is an old standard/classic load in 45 ACP. 5.0 grs Bullseye with a 230 gr FMJ or cast RN. So 5.0 grs Bullseye with a 200 gr bullet is a milder load. I load for my 2 1911's and a Star. My OAL is 1.250. OP, what pistol are you shooting?
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I load plated and lead 230grn with 5.0 of BE. Works the action well on my XD and on my Marlin Camp .45. Matter of fact I just loaded 200 of lead on my new to me Dillon 550b. Boy that sure beats a single stage! This is an old standard/classic load in 45 ACP. 5.0 grs Bullseye with a 230 gr FMJ or cast RN. So 5.0 grs Bullseye with a 200 gr bullet is a milder load. I load for my 2 1911's and a Star. My OAL is 1.250. OP, what pistol are you shooting? I am just loading for target practice, we run friendly shooting competitions with our family. So we engage 8 inch steel targets from 7-15 yards. I shoot an FNX-45. I wasn't sure if the first load i worked up had enough power to cycle the action reliably since I had one stovepipe. I could try decreasing the OAL down a little. |
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Quoted:
I started developing my load for a 200 gr plated RN bullet. I've been using bullseye since I have 12 lbs of it to burn through. CCI LP primers 1) 4.8 gr bullseye, COAL 1.270. 20 rounds, one round stove piped. <-- not necessarily due to the amount of powder in the case in a 1911, could be extractor, could be limp wrist, could be ejector.. and so on... 2) 5.0 gr bullseye, COAL 1.270 20 rounds, no failures. felt a little snappier compared to factory 3) 5.4 gr bullseye, COAL 1.270 20 rounds, no failures. felt same as 5.0 gr 4) 5.8 gr bullseye (max in my manual), COAL 1.270 20 rounds, no failures. I did not see flatting of any primers or bulging of the cases. I'm thinking my sweet spot may be between 5.0-5.4 until my round count increases on my FNX45. I have about 500 factory rounds through it right now. I would assume by decreasing COAL it would increase the pressure even more in the cartridge and make it even more snappy. Putting it out there to see if anyone has any suggestions based on their experience. |
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If these are target loads you may be heading in the wrong direction. Many time you will find the lighter loads to be more accurate due to the human factor.
I've found that 4.2 gr of BE will allow me to stack 200 gr lead in crazy tight groups through both the Kimber and the 25-2. It's a heavy enough load to cycle the 1911 with the factory spring. The reduced recoil helps prevent muscle fatigue and allows you to perform better. If it works in your gun then I'd run with it. When I run 200 gr jacketed I'll step up to 4.5 gr of BE. It seems to work better for the 25-2. I used to be a more is better kind of guy. My Encore pistol in 460 S&W broke me of that habit. Blasting 200 gr bullets at 2700 fps from a 15" pistol is not an enjoyable experience. Now, if I want to shoot heavy or snappy rounds I'll go to my big revolvers. I save the 45s for lighthearted plinking and general fun. |
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Some handguns can be loaded to target velocity and under, 1911, Beretta 92, Hi-Powers just to name a few. Some pistols, like a service length XD require better than target velocity to cycle.
Why ? More than a few of these guns with no aftermarket spring choices have been equipped with + P rated springs. dc. |
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Did you weigh each charge or use a powder measure to throw volumes of powder?
With scale accuracy "stated" as +/- 0.1gr, and powder measures prone to throw different weights as well . . . there's not much room between 4.8 and 5.0 etc. If you didn't weigh each charge, my advice would be to go back and do it again. You didn't say what makes you think your sweet spot is between 5.0 and 5.4. If its simply that those rounds functioned well, fine. That's probably not a bad range to be in. It would be odd that 4.8gr stovepiped, yet 5.0gr felt snappier than factory . . . especially when your manual calls for a max of 5.8gr of that powder. Something in there doesn't jive. If you decrease the COL, you will have an increase in pressure. If you want more accuracy, the odds are you will find it below maximum loads/pressures. |
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Here's how I do .45acp load development.
Set oal for best feed, mindful to keep bullet ogive. This is where the bullet starts to curve. Keep ogive 1/32" above case mouth. Recommended OAL is just that, recommended. OAL is pertinent to test barrel and that's about it. Once oal is set I start low, working up in 3/10 grain increments. Once I find my tightest groups, tweaking oal and dialing charge begins. Since you're throwing Bullseye it's reasonable to expect measure to throw +/- 1/10th. My rule for load work is like my seat belt rule, everyone buckles up or we don't go. I won't work without a chronograph. dc. |
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Quoted:
Did you weigh each charge or use a powder measure to throw volumes of powder? With scale accuracy "stated" as +/- 0.1gr, and powder measures prone to throw different weights as well . . . there's not much room between 4.8 and 5.0 etc. If you didn't weigh each charge, my advice would be to go back and do it again. You didn't say what makes you think your sweet spot is between 5.0 and 5.4. If its simply that those rounds functioned well, fine. That's probably not a bad range to be in. It would be odd that 4.8gr stovepiped, yet 5.0gr felt snappier than factory . . . especially when your manual calls for a max of 5.8gr of that powder. Something in there doesn't jive. If you decrease the COL, you will have an increase in pressure. If you want more accuracy, the odds are you will find it below maximum loads/pressures. I used a powder measure to weigh each charge and then trickled to desired weight, each charge was weighed to ensure accuracy. It is possible that the one malfuction may have been a fluke, but that is the only malfuction I have encountered with that pistol. It just happened to be at the lower end of my powder charges. It would be possible to make more rounds at the lower end to see if the malfuction can be duplicated, more testing/data never hurts. You make a valid point about a chronograph, I have not used one when working up loads, ever. It may be time to add that to the list. I'm wondering what type of spring is in the FNX45. It feels like a strong spring to me, but this is the only 45acp pistol I own, so I really cannot compare apples to apples. Just to my other pistols which are in smaller calibers. Time for some more loading, thanks for all of the ideas everyone. |
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