625 .45ACP W231 load data.?

[PLINKING.40]

I went and looked into all of my reloading books for info on using W231 with 230gr lead cast Berry's RN, to shoot in my new s&w 625-8, an most of them stated to start @ 4.6min and 5.3max, and I think Serra said 5.8gr Max...my dillon was set at 1.274 oal, and 5.1gr w231, shooting my 1911's..with Berry's 230gr, Plated RN bullets, and had a few Chronyed and they wouldn't make PF. for IDPA..
Am I safe with that Load Calculate, or should I drop down to 4.9-5.0gr w231 for RN lead cast..Don't want the new shiny gun to go BOOM..
What is your recipe with my same Fixin's..??

[johngalt]

I load 230 gr FMJ + 5.6 gr W231

[oldtimer]

I use 255 lead WN 231 4.5 very mild

[Rule3]

I use 5.0 grs HP 38/w 231 for the 230 lead RN in all my semi autos.
5.3 grs is the max per Hodgdon web site. So you current set up should be fine IMO. The Berrys hard cast lead bullets are a very hard alloy up around 20-21 BHN.

As to PF I can not say if it will meet it as I only shoot paper.

As a side note a Competitive shooter in my club (who has money and uses factory ammo) stated that another guy did not meet PF using Win White Box 230 gr FMJ.

[Skip Sackett]

Originally Posted by oldtimer

I use 255 lead WN 231 4.5 very mild

Now, not with that weight bullet but with that amount of powder, I regularly got my fanny spanked on the PPC range by my mentor.

I never really got into using W231/HP-38 for the 45ACP choosing rather to use Bullseye or AA#2 as staples there.

If you want to make 175PF with a 230gr bullet, all you have to do is drive it to 760fps. Not sure what weight of powder will get you there but it should be easily attainable.


As for the strength of that firearm. Um, to make that a 30,000psi gun, all they do is cut the chambers a tad deeper! Its called a 460 Rowland conversion. Look it up on the web. If I remember right, a 230gr FMJ @ 1200fps or so. If that don't git-r-did, youse in the wong place bubba!


I run some 240gr LSWC out of my M625JM at about 1100fps and it will do that all day long. At close range, 15 yards or less, it will put them all in the same hole!

Now, what you need to see is where their OAL is compared to yours. If yours is a bit longer, that is the reason you aren't seeing the results they post. Either shorten the OAL or raise the powder. My formula, and this is not scientific at all, is for every .030" deeper in the case, I reduce the maximum charge by .2gr. I may go over their maximum load if I am longer in the OAL than they are. Same ratio applies. .030" less in the case and I may increase the powder charge by .2gr to keep the velocity near the same.

It all depends on the powder being used and the type of bullet. I am not so generous with jacketed stuff. more by book kind of thing. But with lead, in the 45ACP, in a revolver, You should be good to go.

p.s. As a side note. The barrel cylinder gap is a non-issue when working up a load for these firearms. My M625JM shoots within 50fps of my PT1911. Sometimes even as much as 50fps faster with the exact same loads.

Hope this helps!

[ArchAngelCD]

My favorite .45 Auto loads are a 230gr LRN or 230gr FMJ bullet over 5.5gr W231/HP-38. I have found both to be very accurate and clean.

[Bear4570]

Originally Posted by ArchAngelCD

My favorite .45 Auto loads are a 230gr LRN or 230gr FMJ bullet over 5.5gr W231/HP-38. I have found both to be very accurate and clean.

This is the same load I use in all my .45 acps, Auto's & Revolvers. Have not found any better.

[kreativecid]

Not too far off topic but I use WST under 230fmj through my 4" 625JM. Makes PF and is super soft shooting and insanely accurate.

[Dave T]

I recently wanted to duplicate military ball (milspec: 230@830fps) with Barry's plated RN and 231. Like you I found the max loads in most manuals did not reach that very normal velocity. I did find two sources that list 6g-6.2g as max with 230g projectiles. When I tried 6.0g under a 230g RN fired through a 5" Government Model it produced 232 fps. That was 10' from the muzzle and an average for a full magazine of 7 rounds.

Just as with the 38 Special I find current load data for the 45 ACP seems to be watered down, probably under the guise of reducing liability for those publishing the data.

Dave

[Rule3]

To avoid any confusion, The OP is using the Lead Berrys Bullets.

[PLINKING.40]

I loaded up 1,000rds of 230gr Berry's lead RN, w/ 5.1g of W231, with a OAL of 1.273,ish. So I could keep shooting the same load in my Kimber, and Springer, that has never Hickup'd so far. so i figured I would be safe..It does look like the Manuals down load a little more on there recipe's for Legal reasons...I shot about 60 rds out of my 625PC last night and didn't have very much recoil, and seemed to be pretty accurate (for a new Rev shooter) the gun, not me.
So I will see how it goes for a while when I get more Trigger time. Thanks for Ya'lls help with new Revolver Shooter and with the load data, if you run across another recipe Chim in so i can take notes to keep at my Bench..
Gary.

[bronco45]

Let me jump in here! I use a 230LRN over 5.3grains 231 out of my JM625 and it shoots into one hole a little over an inch offhand at 50 ft.

Great GP load for the 625 and works well in my M&P45c also. The M&P doesn't group quite as well as the JM, with anything.

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally Posted by bronco45

Let me jump in here! I use a 230LRN over 5.3grains 231 out of my JM625 and it shoots into one hole a little over an inch offhand at 50 ft.

Great GP load for the 625 and works well in my M&P45c also. The M&P doesn't group quite as well as the JM, with anything.

Have you ever checked the velocity you get from those rounds? What OAL are you using?

[PLINKING.40]

Yes I am wondering as well.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by OCD1

I use 5.0 grs HP 38/w 231 for the 230 lead RN in all my semi autos.
5.3 grs is the max per Hodgdon web site. So you current set up should be fine IMO. The Berrys hard cast lead bullets are a very hard alloy up around 20-21 BHN.

As to PF I can not say if it will meet it as I only shoot paper.

[b[As a side note a Competitive shooter in my club (who has money and uses factory ammo) stated that another guy did not meet PF using Win White Box 230 gr FMJ.[/b]

The Whitebox chrono'd for me at 850 FPS....and Rem "UMC" was only 780...???

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Dave T

I recently wanted to duplicate military ball (milspec: 230@830fps) with Barry's plated RN and 231. Like you I found the max loads in most manuals did not reach that very normal velocity. I did find two sources that list 6g-6.2g as max with 230g projectiles. When I tried 6.0g under a 230g RN fired through a 5" Government Model it produced 232 fps. That was 10' from the muzzle and an average for a full magazine of 7 rounds.

Just as with the 38 Special I find current load data for the 45 ACP seems to be watered down, probably under the guise of reducing liability for those publishing the data.

Dave

Thats got to be a mis-type??? Thats slow enough to SEE the bullet going downrange!!

[Skip Sackett]

Originally Posted by PLINKING.40

I loaded up 1,000rds of 230gr Berry's lead RN, w/ 5.1g of W231, with a OAL of 1.273,ish. So I could keep shooting the same load in my Kimber, and Springer, that has never Hickup'd so far. so i figured I would be safe..It does look like the Manuals down load a little more on there recipe's for Legal reasons...I shot about 60 rds out of my 625PC last night and didn't have very much recoil, and seemed to be pretty accurate (for a new Rev shooter) the gun, not me.
So I will see how it goes for a while when I get more Trigger time. Thanks for Ya'lls help with new Revolver Shooter and with the load data, if you run across another recipe Chim in so i can take notes to keep at my Bench..
Gary.

Gary,
I use the same bullets from time to time. In fact, I have shot a bunch of those bullets in my Taurus PT1911. It is an accurate pistol to say the least. I was shooting it in a gallery type PPC and the highest score I had was a 296 something x. The only difference is powder type. I use AA#2, 5.3gr to be exact, and have had good results with that load.

FWIW

HTH


p.s. That load and 4.7gr of Bullseye duplicates the Fiochhi ammo available at our range. Shoots right at 780fps from a 5" 1911 or 4" M625JM, same same.

With that velocity, you should be able to make a 175PF, I think.

[PLINKING.40]

Thanks, I have about 3lbs of 231 left, but I have heard alot of Buzz about Tightgroup being a good powder, and the say it measures well and not as dirty as 231, and you use less..MMM, mabe when i run out of what i got..

[Rule3]

If you load HP 38/Win 231 more towards the max loads, it is not as "dirty". Reduced loads leave a more black soot.

[john16443]

Originally Posted by Dave T

When I tried 6.0g under a 230g RN fired through a 5" Government Model it produced 232 fps. That was 10' from the muzzle and an average for a full magazine of 7 rounds.

Dave

I really hope that the "232 fps" is a typo

[PLINKING.40]

me too, sound likes a Squib just hitting another squib, then the target at that speed..

Hey John16443, what parts you from.up Yonder on the Hill?You shoot IDPA or USPSA..?

[john16443]

Plinking.40 - sent you a PM

[38-44HD45]

WAAAY back when, when I shot .45 ACP in IPSC, I used thousands of rounds of this load: 5.8 gr. of 231 under an H&G #68 200 gr. hardcast SWC. It ran about 925fps. from a 4 1/4" barrel, 940 or so from a 5", was clean and superbly accurate. HP38=WW231.

[LOBO]

230 gr Winchester FMJ
Winchester case
Federal primer
5.2 grains of Win-231
1.25" coal


230 grain Lead RN
Winchester case
Federal primer
4.8 grains of Win-231
1.25" coal


200 grain Lead SWC
Winchester case
Federal primer
5.2 grains of Win-231
1.20" coal

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by PLINKING.40

I went and looked into all of my reloading books for info on using W231 with 230gr lead cast Berry's RN, to shoot in my new s&w 625-8, an most of them stated to start @ 4.6min and 5.3max, and I think Serra said 5.8gr Max...my dillon was set at 1.274 oal, and 5.1gr w231, shooting my 1911's..with Berry's 230gr, Plated RN bullets, and had a few Chronyed and they wouldn't make PF. for IDPA..
Am I safe with that Load Calculate, or should I drop down to 4.9-5.0gr w231 for RN lead cast..Don't want the new shiny gun to go BOOM..
What is your recipe with my same Fixin's..??

Well you load isn't very hot so no need to worry about over pressure. I shoot a 230grLRN @ 1.260" o/ 5.3gr W231. It runs just over 820fps in my 4" M625, 5.2gr runs right around 800fps.