Low recoil/velocity 45acp load

[Jim Watson]

When you get down into very light loads as used for 25 yard or 50 foot bullseye shooting, the Ball powders get a little erratic. I like the way 231 and WST meter, but Bullseye, Solo 1000, and Clays give more uniform velocities in the 3.5-4 grain range.
I have not put a gun in the Ransom Rest to see if it matters on paper, though.

 

[epj]

Haven't tried a lot of other powders in those low volumes, but I have found Clays to meter very accurately in my Dillon 550. Less than a .1 variation.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Exactly!

Beware of exceeding published loads with Clays. It's pressure spikes rapidly once max loads are reached. If you stay in the stated range, you'll likely be very happy with the results.

This is the main reason that Clays should NEVER be used in a firearm where a KB is possible. The data that you use on this powder too had better not be from a manual. It should only be used from Hodgdon's data. The 40S&W should not be loaded with this powder and especially when loaded in something with an unsupported chamber.

Case in point: Several of us have had KBs with Clays in Browning High Powers chambered in 40S&W. The data I used was from a reputable and current at the time, manual, the Lyman #47. It states that with a 175gr LTC(if memory serves me right)you can use 3.9gr as a maximum load with Clays. At the time, the Hodgdon data(from their annually printed manual) said that 3.5gr was a maximum load. Well, at the time I used the Lyman exclusively. It wasn't until after the KB that I called Hodgdon and found out the error. The technician mentioned that he had referred folks to the Lyman many times, he would rethink that action from then on!

Clays is a good powder for revolver and low pressure semi-auto rounds, like the 45ACP. Just don't use it to build any +P rounds as the results may be catastrophic! IMHO anyway!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I gave Clays a try in some .38 Special target loads. Because I was using a very light charge (2.5gr w/148gr DEWC) the results were a round that was a little smokey. Actually, there was more than a little smoke so I decided it wasn't worth it especially since Clays doesn't meter well at all with that light a charge.

Now I have a jar and a half or Clays with no use in sight... lol

 

[d625]

Recoil springs?

VV lists 5.0 grains of N320 as the minimum charge for a 200 gr. jacketed bullet, but 4.7 grains for a 200 gr. cast bullet. Your plated bullets are really more like cast bullets in terms of hardness.

There have been lots of good suggestions, but since I have so much inventory of VV N320 and 200gr RN plated bullets, I think I will give the 4.7 grains of N320 a try.

This will be in a 1911PD - any advice on what weight recoil spring to use? Also, I would like opinions on a straight weight spring vs a variable since I have no experience with a variable weight spring

 

[HKSmith]

As I mentioned, I'm using 4.8 grains of VV N320 under a 185 gr. jacketed bullet with brisk functioning in a 1911PD. The recoil spring is stock and the gun is unaltered.

 

[Rolando]

I recently loaded some 4.6gr W231 with 230gr LRN.
Cycled the slide well. Pretty mild.

 

[Spotteddog]

The rule of thumb is to use the highest rate spring that will allow the slide to cycle. In other words, hypothetically if a 14# and a 16# spring will both let the gun run with a certain load, the heavier of the two springs is the one to use to avoid frame batter.