1917 Load?
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Paul5388
US Veteran
The load you're using is a nice light load and should shoot good. I think I would try the same load, but use those 200 gr bullets as cast and lubed with Lee Liquid Alox.
Since the 1917 has pretty shallow rifling, the sized bullet may not be quite big enough to "engrave" properly and shoot good.
Usually, 5.0 gr of Bullseye is considered to be a factory duplicate load.
Since the 1917 has pretty shallow rifling, the sized bullet may not be quite big enough to "engrave" properly and shoot good.
Usually, 5.0 gr of Bullseye is considered to be a factory duplicate load.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Blasket,
Welcome to the forum. You have found the BEST section on it!
That being said, I want to second what Paul has said with only one other caveat. Your firearm was also designed to shoot 230gr FMJ or Ball ammo.
Make sure you clean the firearm to remove all leading then give some old fashioned 45ACP ball a try. You may be surprised.
If those shoot well, and you cast your own bullets (that information isn't in your post here) then do as Paul has said.
The "reasonable condition" hopefully refers to the outside of the gun and not the barrel. If the barrel is pitted you need to shoot only jacketed through it. Lead will never work well, at least in my experience.
How do the 200gr bullets fit in the chamber throats? Do they fall right through or do you have to push them?
Just trying to check a few things to better help you.
Welcome to the forum. You have found the BEST section on it!
That being said, I want to second what Paul has said with only one other caveat. Your firearm was also designed to shoot 230gr FMJ or Ball ammo.
Make sure you clean the firearm to remove all leading then give some old fashioned 45ACP ball a try. You may be surprised.
If those shoot well, and you cast your own bullets (that information isn't in your post here) then do as Paul has said.
The "reasonable condition" hopefully refers to the outside of the gun and not the barrel. If the barrel is pitted you need to shoot only jacketed through it. Lead will never work well, at least in my experience.
How do the 200gr bullets fit in the chamber throats? Do they fall right through or do you have to push them?
Just trying to check a few things to better help you.
Kapp
Member
I have a couple of 1917s that I have shot a lot of lead loads in with good results. I load a 230g LRN plain (flat) base, not beveled, over 4.3g of Winchester Super Target. It shoots extremely well in a Model 22 also. I cast these from straight wheel weights, so they are softer than "hard cast" bullets and are able to slug up to better engage the rifling. If you or some of your friends don't cast, try to find a soft cast bullet with a plain base. I don't think you'll get the results you want with hard, bevel base bullets.
Kapp
Kapp
Paul5388
US Veteran
I just assumed "my" wouldn't be a commercial cast bullet.
I use a 50/50 alloy of clip-on to stick-on WWs. I noticed today what I found in my berm had a good mushroom on the 358429s, but absolutely no expansion on the 200 gr LSWC .45 ACP. So expansion may not be in the books for even a soft alloy with the 1911s.
riversalmon
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Blasket I use WW HG #68 200gr over titegroup loaded in autorim brass. Been excellent for years. Might also check your barrel crown.
Dale53
Member
I shoot a couple of 625's with my cast bullets (H&G #130 and Saeco #68) with EXCELLENT accuracy.
However, the bullets are sized to the cylinder throats (.452") and cast of air cooled ww's + 2% tin.
I would check your cylinder throats. Some of the early Smith's had large throats. Cast bullets need to fit - proper size is a light push fit in the throats. It could be as much as .454"-.456" in diameter.
Dale53
However, the bullets are sized to the cylinder throats (.452") and cast of air cooled ww's + 2% tin.
I would check your cylinder throats. Some of the early Smith's had large throats. Cast bullets need to fit - proper size is a light push fit in the throats. It could be as much as .454"-.456" in diameter.
Dale53
Thanks for the info guys, you gave me a few things to work on and I will try them the weekend and report back on how it goes. I should have been clearer when I said "my loads". I load commercial cast bullets, working my way up to casting my own.
Paul5388
US Veteran
Here's a load that has been shot in a 1917, but it probably wouldn't be a good idea to use very many of them.
I have these in .45 Super brass and will use them in a M625. Weighing right at 270 gr (from the new Lee group buy 6 cavity at Castboolits), they'll clock about 960 fps.
The ring comes from using the wrong nose punch when I sized them.
I have these in .45 Super brass and will use them in a M625. Weighing right at 270 gr (from the new Lee group buy 6 cavity at Castboolits), they'll clock about 960 fps.
One thing you might consider- really check the barrel on your used 1917. I've seen several of them with bulged barrels. Often times, they got bullets stuck in the barrel, and when it wasn't detected, a second bullet was fired right behind it. Because the 1917 had a 'pencil' barrel, this always resulted in a bulge. Bulged barrel = crap accuracy.
Something to consider before you start doing a bunch of reloading work.
Something to consider before you start doing a bunch of reloading work.
bmcgilvray
Member
Both my Smith & Wesson Model 1917 and Colt Model 1917 like a 250 grain lead SWC and a smidgen more than 6 grains of Unique. They also do well with 230 grain lead round nose bullets and the same powder charge.
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