.45acp Reloads

[jimmyj]

Hi:
I have been loading 4.5 grs.bullseye powder with a 200 LRN (cast).
I am not real pleased with this combo.

Even if Unique is hard to meter, I would like to load unique.
any opinions ?

Thanks,
Jimmy

 

[arjay]

I've probably used more Unique than BE for a 200 gr swc.Its worth a try.
6.5-7 grs should do it.Its kind of sooty for target loads is why I've switched to BE

 

[Wee Hooker]

Without knowing what properties your trying to improve, it's hard to say if Unique is the powder to get you there. Will it work? Absolutely. Will it be better than what your shooting now? Maybe.
Personally, my "go to" range loads for 200 gr cast bullets utilize 4gr of Clays . Soft shooting, clean and plenty accurate enough for what I do. Second choice is W231. TightGroup is VG too IF you are running plated bullets. It gets smokey with cast bullets.

 

[fredj338]

So lets find out a few things.
Why do you not like BE?
Why do you want to load Unique?
I like Unique, especially with lead bullets, but it is best run well above midrange. So for target loads, faster powders run better IMO.

 

[SMSgt]

Several (many?) powders burn cleaner at mid-point and higher on the load range scale. I like HP-38, but a low charge of that is very sooty in comparison to higher charges.

Knowing what displeases you about Bullseye would help in finding answers. Never used the stuff my self, so don't know what might be the issue.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

My standard 45acp load is 5 grs of WW231 behind my cast 230 gr. truncated bullet.

 

[muddocktor]

I'm not shooting cast, but rather 230 FMJ bullets from Zero, so take this as you will. I'm really liking a load of 5.0 grains of Shooters World Clean Shot or 5.0 grains of Accurate #2. Both meter real well and shoot great and pretty soft shooting and run clean for me. And 6.2 grains of SW Ultimate Pistol also is a really nice load.

 

[jimmyj]

My reloads from two different semi-auto half the time the bullets "Keyhole".
Thinking moving the bullet faster might cure "Keyholing"?

 

[arjay]

Have you measured the diameter of em?

 

[alwslate]

Your load of 4.5 grs of Bullseye is pretty light. Try 5.0 grs which is still
a fairly mild load with a 200 gr bullet.

 

[Forrest r]

bullets that keyhole = too small in diameter

Don't know what expander you're using to bell your 45acp cases. The factory expander ball is designed for the smaller/shorter jacketed bullets. A lee factory expander (has brass ring/watermark left on it from the 45acp brass) next to a lyman m-die that is designed for cast bullets.

As you can see the lyman m-die is longer & it expands the case deeper protecting the cast bullet's bases.

Some 200gr swc's that I cast/load. Note there's no wasp waist, bullet bulge, no base of the bullet being seen thru the case. The cases are expanded correctly for the .452" +/- 8bhn cast bullet.

Those bullets pictured above, not hand picked/cherry picked target by any means. Nothing more than the test target used that day to test a new nm 1911.

FWIW:
The h&g #68 & #130 cast bullets have been used by countless 1000's of bullseye shooters for decades using 3.6gr to 4.0gr of bullseye powder. 4.5gr of bullseye pushing a 230gr jacketed rn bullet has been the mainstay for the government marks (match) 45acp ammo. 5.0gr of bullseye pushing a 230gr jacketed rn bullet has been a duplicate load for the standard military issued 45acp ball ammo.

If you have to either go to p+ loads with bullseye or hot loads with unique to keep your bullets from tumbling. That's telling you the cast bullets are too small or to hard or a combination of both.

 

[Andy Lowry]

I like Tightgroup for .45ACP, but then I'm a weirdo. I reserve Unique for .38 Special and light-to-medium .357. I have tried Unique in .45, but think of it as a little too filthy for a semi-auto, which is what most of my .45 shooting is done with.

When you say you see keyholing, is the target hanging loose, or is it firmly attached to a backing? I've seen keyholes from shooting a suspended paper target from 7-10 yards, as the muzzle blast moves the paper some. Otherwise, it would be good to check bullet and barrel diameters.

 

[stansdds]

Yep, need more information. Bullet diameter, barrel groove diameter, cylinder bore diameters if it is a revolver, target distance, and how the target is fastened to the target holder. Bullseye is a classic powder for the 45 ACP, favored by bullseye shooters for target loads and can even drive a 230 gr FMJ to duplicate factory (not +P) loads.

 

[joeintexas]

Jimmy, I load 5.1 gr Unique on the 200 gr lrn. Shoots nice but it is a little dirtier than 231. Got to clean them anyway so..

 

[nachogrande]

PER LYMANS CAST MANUAL

5 - 6 Gr of *UNIQUE* is the minimum starting load for a cast 200 gr SWC. I've been happy with 6 gr's of unique & 200 gr cast swc's.

 

[arjay]

bullets that keyhole = too small in diameter

Don't know what expander you're using to bell your 45acp cases. The factory expander ball is designed for the smaller/shorter jacketed bullets. A lee factory expander (has brass ring/watermark left on it from the 45acp brass) next to a lyman m-die that is designed for cast bullets.

As you can see the lyman m-die is longer & it expands the case deeper protecting the cast bullet's bases.

Some 200gr swc's that I cast/load. Note there's no wasp waist, bullet bulge, no base of the bullet being seen thru the case. The cases are expanded correctly for the .452" +/- 8bhn cast bullet.

Those bullets pictured above, not hand picked/cherry picked target by any means. Nothing more than the test target used that day to test a new nm 1911.

FWIW:
The h&g #68 & #130 cast bullets have been used by countless 1000's of bullseye shooters for decades using 3.6gr to 4.0gr of bullseye powder. 4.5gr of bullseye pushing a 230gr jacketed rn bullet has been the mainstay for the government marks (match) 45acp ammo. 5.0gr of bullseye pushing a 230gr jacketed rn bullet has been a duplicate load for the standard military issued 45acp ball ammo.

If you have to either go to p+ loads with bullseye or hot loads with unique to keep your bullets from tumbling. That's telling you the cast bullets are too small or to hard or a combination of both.

Is this the case with 45 colt too?

 

[Forrest r]

yes arjay.
Pretty much the same with any caliber/cast bullet

 

[arjay]

yes arjay.
Pretty much the same with any caliber/cast bullet

I think I'll pull a bullet and see what that 454 measures after being squashed into the brass
Is anyone making expander buttons for that size?

 

[just plain joe]

This is not your load, but for many years I have loaded 230 grain FMJ bullets atop 6.5 grains of Unique at about 877 fps. In my old Lyman reloading manual this is listed as a "factory duplication load".

I have had zero problems with the manner in which Unique meters. YMMV.

JPJ

 

[Forrest r]

I think I'll pull a bullet and see what that 454 measures after being squashed into the brass
Is anyone making expander buttons for that size?

These guys make excellent quality custom expanders for little $$$ that use the lee univeral expander die. Simply screw their custom expander on, plug & play.
NOE Bullet Moulds

Lyman also makes a m-die for the .454" or any mfg that has "cowboy action" dies will have expanders made for lead bullets.