First time reloading 45acp

[zgoettsc]

Hey everyone,

I have a few questions for all you pros out there. I recently picked up a hornady lock and load ap press. Got it set up, cleaned all the oils off with hornady one shot gun cleaner and lube, and started to dial it in. Here is where my first question comes in... I am having inconsistent powder throws (variations of +/- 0.2 gn for the ideal load). I have adjusted the powder measure to do a complete cycle, so that it is not help up or coming up short at the top. I have also dropped 10 charges at the setting before weighing the charge to let it sink in. I am wondering if the inconsistency could be due to a buildup of powder from sticking to the lube leftover from the one shot cleaner? Any ideas on how to improve consistency?

Also, how do these loads look?

230gn Xtreme PlatedHP AA 5 7.9-8.1gn Winchester LP 1.215"-1.225"

230gn Xtreme PlatedHP AA 5 7.5-7.7gn Winchester LP 1.215"-1.225"

230gn Xtreme PlatedHP IMR SR4756 6.5-6.7gn Winchester LP 1.215"-1.225"


Any advice would be great! Thanks!

 

[Collo Rosso]

If the powder measure is brand new break it down and wipe everything with a used dryer towel to kill static. Some recommend graphite.

 

[MarkDozier]

I would break the powder measure apart and clean it again. Then use it.
what manuals are you using.
The loads seem a bit hot. so do some test loads. with varying charges.
I would go to 5 to 5.3 grains..

 

[Engineer1911]

230 gr RN plated AA #5 is 7.1 gr to 8.3 gr from AA data 5.0.

Throw 10 charges and see what you get for a total powder weight. This method has only worked since 1975 for me.

 

[zgoettsc]

230 gr RN plated AA #5 is 7.1 gr to 8.3 gr from AA data 5.0.

Throw 10 charges and see what you get for a total powder weight. This method has only worked since 1975 for me.

Yep, saw that source. It seems as if I am under the max charge, although my COL is shorter, which should increase pressure. What should I look for when shooting to indicate too much pressure? I have read a number of sources about it, but they all seem to weigh pressure signs differently.

Thanks!

 

[zgoettsc]

If the powder measure is brand new break it down and wipe everything with a used dryer towel to kill static. Some recommend graphite.

I will try this. Thanks!

 

[SMSgt]

I'm not familiar with those powders, but some just are not consistent from a dropper.

As for measuring 10 drops, remember that it's an average of ten varying drops. You won't be loading the "average" drops. My powder dropper will drop exact amounts with HP-38, not so much with IMR4198.

 

[stevehart3578]

I may get flamed for this but +/- .2 gr is nothing. If you were to open 50 factory rounds the variations in weight would surprise you.

Those loads look fine. I have gone as high as 8.8 gr of A#5 in my 1911.

You are loading for a 1911 and not a revolver, right? Not that it matters much but in my revolvers I go slightly higher.

 

[Moonman]

Take a little time and go over to,
TheFirearmsForum.com

Go to the RELOADING thread,
Look for the STICKY,
'Hornady LNL-AP Set-Up Hints and Tricks'

it's a video series by 76Highboy on the press.
TRULY GREAT STUFF!

He'll have your press a sailin' in no time.

One of the Videos is the POWDER SYSTEM.

 

[zgoettsc]

I may get flamed for this but +/- .2 gr is nothing. If you were to open 50 factory rounds the variations in weight would surprise you.

Those loads look fine. I have gone as high as 8.8 gr of A#5 in my 1911.

You are loading for a 1911 and not a revolver, right? Not that it matters much but in my revolvers I go slightly higher.

Good to hear. Thanks for the input. Nope, not a 1911, I'll be shooting an M&P45c and an XDs45.

 

[zgoettsc]

Take a little time and go over to,
TheFirearmsForum.com

Go to the RELOADING thread,
Look for the STICKY,
'Hornady LNL-AP Set-Up Hints and Tricks'

it's a video series by 76Highboy on the press.
TRULY GREAT STUFF!

He'll have your press a sailin' in no time.

One of the Videos is the POWDER SYSTEM.

Wow, thats an awesome thread. I will look it over in detail to dial everything in. Thanks for the link!

 

[Moonman]

zogoettsc,

You'll be really glad you spent the time to watch 76Highboys
videos about the Hornady LNL-AP.

He's saved many misguided souls a HEADACHE and Gotten their presses
salin' smooth and producin' bunches of ammo.

Hornady should HIRE HIM TO DO VIDEOS.

 

[HOPSTER]

Hornady sells an adapter that enables mounting a case activated rcbs uniflow powder measure on your press. I have four of them set up for different calibers. Get the RCBS "Competition" small pistol measure - comes with a powder baffle and micrometer adjustment knob. For me, with consistent press operation (RL550b) I get +/- .1 grain. Also you will need a flaring tip for the 45, from Hornady. The case is flared and powder drops at the same time. I break in my new powder measures by degreasing then removing static, as suggested above, with dryer sheets. I take a soft brush and rub some moly powder into the metering chamber and on the drum, and in the cone at bottom of hopper. Drop at least ten loads to get it stable, after making any adjustments. The powder measure can be transferred to other tool heads easily with spare adapters on each tool head.

 

[jmmitc06]

I may get flamed for this but +/- .2 gr is nothing. If you were to open 50 factory rounds the variations in weight would surprise you.

No flame! I was planning on saying a similar thing in regards to the powder measure. +/- .2 grains may be within the tolerance of the powder measure, the scale or the the combined tolerance of the two. As such, I would first test the scale. Calibrate, then measure the standard weights several times so you know if the scale's tolerance is significant. I'm sure the scale is fine, it sounds like you reload just not 45acp until now but I would check it then work on the powder measure. I do not use the powder you are using but have you tested with another powder? Maybe the geometry of the powder doesn't like the powder measure? The measure can probably get +/- .1 when calibrated but if the scale has a significant tolerance as well, you could be getting +/-.1 but then measuring at an additional +/-.X discrepancy from measurement error.

 

[zgoettsc]

Hornady sells an adapter that enables mounting a case activated rcbs uniflow powder measure on your press. I have four of them set up for different calibers. Get the RCBS "Competition" small pistol measure - comes with a powder baffle and micrometer adjustment knob. For me, with consistent press operation (RL550b) I get +/- .1 grain. Also you will need a flaring tip for the 45, from Hornady. The case is flared and powder drops at the same time. I break in my new powder measures by degreasing then removing static, as suggested above, with dryer sheets. I take a soft brush and rub some moly powder into the metering chamber and on the drum, and in the cone at bottom of hopper. Drop at least ten loads to get it stable, after making any adjustments. The powder measure can be transferred to other tool heads easily with spare adapters on each tool head.

I will keep the RCBS measure in mind if I cant work it out. As for an expander, I use the universal poder expander from Powderfunnels.com -- Fully Featured Powder Through Exapnder and it seems to work really well.

 

[zgoettsc]

No flame! I was planning on saying a similar thing in regards to the powder measure. +/- .2 grains may be within the tolerance of the powder measure, the scale or the the combined tolerance of the two. As such, I would first test the scale. Calibrate, then measure the standard weights several times so you know if the scale's tolerance is significant. I'm sure the scale is fine, it sounds like you reload just not 45acp until now but I would check it then work on the powder measure. I do not use the powder you are using but have you tested with another powder? Maybe the geometry of the powder doesn't like the powder measure? The measure can probably get +/- .1 when calibrated but if the scale has a significant tolerance as well, you could be getting +/-.1 but then measuring at an additional +/-.X discrepancy from measurement error.

I looked at the scale and it looks good. Maybe part of the problem is that it measures to the hundredth of a grain and I am too anal

I can try a new powder tomorrow and see how it runs. Are these unusual powders? I feel like I can't find any other powders anywhere.

 

[Moonman]

The Hornady measure is a good one, I even put one on my Dillon.

Just remember to use THE SMALL PISTOL ROTOR for small charges.

The Rifle rotor has a 3/4"or so hole through it.

MY pistol rotor is equipped with a micrometer adjuster.

76Highboys videos will show you the HORNADY dropping

RIGHT ON CHARGES every time.

Some EXTRUDED powders will get SHEARED by the rotors rotation.

****NOTE!****

THE POWDERFUNNELS.COM UNIT ONLY BELLS THE CASE MOUTH, IT DOES NOT EXPAND THE INSIDE OF THE CASE ANY AT ALL!

 

[HOPSTER]

The Hornady measure is a good one, I even put one on my Dillon.

Just remember to use THE SMALL PISTOL ROTOR for small charges.

The Rifle rotor has a 3/4"or so hole through it.

MY pistol rotor is equipped with a micrometer adjuster.

76Highboys videos will show you the HORNADY dropping

RIGHT ON CHARGES every time.

Some EXTRUDED powders will get SHEARED by the rotors rotation.

I probably should have explained it better ......
The RCBS Uniflow Competition powder measure is available as a kit with large and small drums/shafts, or in a kit with "small" only (pistol sized up to .223 sized powder drops) or in a kit with "large" only. I only need the large for 308 win , 5o Beowulf, 762x54R, 35 Rem etc...... sized powder drops.
223 Rem and all pistol sized drops can be covered with the small kit only, but the full (large and small combo) is a better bargain. You can buy the plain Uniflow in either size and upgrade it to the "competition" model by adding powder baffle and micrometer shaft. Adding the micrometer shaft adds no accuracy to the powder drops, just adds a nice way of gauging small changes/adjustments. The regular shaft will work fine for starters. The baffle is about 6 bucks or less. The hornady adaptor to mount on your press is around $50 or less. The design is the same as the adapter made by RCBS but has more options . The Hornady and RCBS parts are interchangeable on the powder measure adapters as far as the main parts. The adapter is used to set the depth of case mouth belling. Once its adjusted for that toolhead/caliber, you can leave it on there, and the powder measure can be removed and reinstalled without changing any adjustment. Each toolhead can have its own adapter (just the lower adapter, about 12 bucks) and the case mouth belling adjustments are then saved.

Regarding extruded powders .... I use primarily Reloader 15 for 223 loads, an extruded powder, and have not had any problems with powder cutting/shearing. I guess there are some "long" extruded powders out there that might be worse for drum measures.

Another option:
If you want higher accuracy you can always go electronic. I use a RCBS electronic powder dispenser (best of the ratings I researched) plugged into a voltage conditioner, de static'ed before each use, calibrated before each use, tested with lyman test weights in the load range I'm using at the time, and no lights or fans in the room (daylight loading mostly). IMHO, only a good triple beam scale is more accurate ...
When I'm load testing the RCBS dispenser comes in handy, dispensing about two loads per minute or more, and pushbutton weight changes are slick. I use this on my Dillon with Lee powder through expander dies where the powder measure would usually go. It's slower but I don't mind ... gives me more time to check powder levels in each case and seat bullets a little straighter.

Sorry about the long post but I hope it helps in some way to share the results of my 945 years of reloading experience

 

[scooter123]

I would break the powder measure apart and clean it again. Then use it.
what manuals are you using.
The loads seem a bit hot. so do some test loads. with varying charges.
I would go to 5 to 5.3 grains..

Mark, I would urge you to review your load manuals, because that 5 to 5.3 grain charge with Accurate #5 wont cycle a 45 ACP semi with a standard recoil spring and just might result in a squib. Perhaps you are using Accurate #2 where your suggested load makes perfect sense.

Marks suggestion about cleaning your powder measure is an excellent suggestion. This time I would use plain old dish soap and water and make sure to hand dry every single part. The goal is a totally dry and perfectly clean powder measure. With Accurate #5 that should get your consistency from charge to charge into the +/- 0.05 grain or less range.

I'll also state that I would expect that any powder measure made in the past 50 years to use materials that are conductive, so you shouldn't have any issues with static electricity. To me the big question concerning Static electricity and powder is whether to ground the press (or powder measure) or not. My head says grounding would be a good idea. However, logic also leads me to think that Static is a result of an charge imbalance between parts and conductive materials in constant contact won't become imbalanced, so why bother with grounding the press. I would expect that by far the most likely cause of a Static Discharge is a Human Body who walked over some wool carpeting wearing cotton socks. So, those concerned about Static may want to consider doing their reloading while wearing a grounding strap or just doing it in bare feet. (perhaps there should be a T Shirt about "Husbands should be kept in the basement reloading with bare feet")

Finally, I am another who will strongly endorse the RCBS Competition powder measure. Keep a chart showing the micrometer setting for each powder and weight and you'll find that data can get you to a particular recipe within 3 throws when you do a new setup. I can also tell you that a brand new RCBS measure comes coated in a rust inhibitor (oil) so they do need a good cleaning before you put any powder in one.

 

[Moonman]

****NOTE****
The OP as a NEW HORNADY LNL-AP PRESS.
Why do you folks keep referring TO AN RCBS POWDER MEASURE.

The Hornady LNL -AP POWDER MEASURE is just fine,
he just needs to learn about the proper cleaning & GRAPHITE lubing of it.

When he watches the 76highboy video series concerning this press,
HE'LL BE GOOD TO GO.