45ACP load with 178 Gr.cast SWC ??

[H Richard]

In working my way down the stack of bullets in my loading room, I found a box of Cast lead 178 Gr SWC bullets. It's been awhile since I loaded any, and then I had worked up a load with Winchester 452AA, (tells you how long ago that was). I believe Winchester Super Target replaced 452AA, and I do use WST with 200 Gr cast for a major load.

Does anyone have a good accurate load with WST or similar powder with a 178 Gr cast SWC?? At least give me a good starting point for this bullet. I'm guessing around 5.5 to 5.8 gr. WST. I normally use Fed primers, but due to short supply are reserving them for my light bullseye loads. Will have to use Winchester for these. I would intend to load to reach major, I believe that's 165 power factor now, so would have to reach 930 fps or a little better. I haven't shot any USPSA match's in awhile either , but am planning to try a couple again just for fun.

 

[Gun 4 Fun]

I just copied this down from Hodgdons website for you. I hope this is helpful to you.

180 GR. LFP Winchester WST .452" 1.140" 4.4 846 13,300 CUP 4.9 912 16,100 CUP

 

[Tell Sackett]

452AA! WOW, how long have you been reloading? 60 years? (Just Kidding)

I have used WST for many cast lead target loads, none with the 180gr bullet though. The lightest bullet I have in my "repertoire" is a 200gr H&G #68. The Hodgdon data for that weight of bullet says that the minimum with WST should be 4.4gr and the maximum is 5.1gr.

I have gone below the minimum load in revolvers with 4" barrels before and they all seemed to exit OK! They were kind of funny to listen to though. POP......................................................DING!

For your bullet I would have to stick with their data at first as mentioned above. Once you work a load up though be sure to share the results with us!

 

[H Richard]

That 452AA load was worked up Oct. 1988. 6.0 Gr 452AA, TZZ85 (military) brass, Fed 150 primer, 1.260" OAL, The load yielded 1015 fps (32 degrees temp), and .96" @ 25 yards, 5" barrel.

The original loads (and what I still use) with WST is 5.3 Gr. with 200 Gr. H&G. I got a letter from Winchester when WST first came out and not much data was available and they recommended 5.5 gr with 200 gr cast. I've probably shot 20,000 + of these loads, mostly in the same gun. Unfortunately my eye's are 21 yrs. older as well as my trigger finger. So, I don't expect quite as good of results as I got back in 88.

I'll start working up a load, and let you know the results.

 

[buckshotshorty]

452AA! WOW, how long have you been reloading? 60 years? (Just Kidding)

I can go one better........I still have a can of WW630! Still looks good; no red balls, smells good; no varnish, shoots good. I use it to load 357 mag loads.