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reloading 45 acp

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Link

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I got a box of Federal champion with my new 1911 -- 6711 Ruger. When trying to reload the primers seem to big to fit the primer hole. I used the chamfer balm on them and they still don't fit. I bought a bag of new starline and they fit ok. Any thoughts on this ?
I am starting my load at 4.5 grains of Bullseye, under 200 grain HP's. What would be the load to look for in a 4.2" barrel.
thanks Link
 
On loads: With 200 grain lead or plated-6-6.1 grains Unique.
185 hp plated-5.8 grains Titegroup
That's all I can find right now. This is out of my target book. I seem to have misplaced my pistol load book.
 
Many yeas ago I used 3 grains of Bullseye for target loads and it was very accurate. I experimented with the lightest load of Bulleseye I could use and still function the slide and I got the load down to about 2.5 grains of Bulleseye before it would not lock the slide back. It was very accurate and easy to shoot.
 
I am sure that you know that the 45 ACP headspaces on the lip of the case so case length is critical to proper functioning. And of course you have to be careful not to use too much crimp.
 
I have used 4.5 grains of Red Dot for 45 ACP 200 Grain Semi Wad Cutters for competition for decades. I used to buy 30 pound wrapped paper drums of Red Dot when they were still offered. Now just 8 pounders.

Bob
 
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I chronographed some 230gr and 231 powder the other day and got low to mid 700s at 5.1-5.3gr which 5.3 is max load that hodgdon lists. Mine were much slower than book but thats ok since its just plinking ammo with berrys plated. I just started reloading 45acp.
 
Link said:
I got a box of Federal champion with my new 1911 -- 6711 Ruger. When trying to reload the primers seem to big to fit the primer hole. I used the chamfer balm on them and they still don't fit. I bought a bag of new starline and they fit ok. Any thoughts on this ?
I am starting my load at 4.5 grains of Bullseye, under 200 grain HP's. What would be the load to look for in a 4.2" barrel.
thanks Link
Click to expand...

Link, be very careful: look at your brass and compare it with the new brass:
small primer and large primer pockets if you glance really fast at it, you can miss the difference.
if it is large primer pocket and you drop a Small primer in it it will just fall in,
but if you try to force a big primer into a small primer pocket of the brass, it will explode, my mentor had it happen recently: damn scarry for him
be careful
your load of 4.5 gr of bullseye is good starting point and work up.
with a 45 acp you dont need to get incredible speed out of it.
be safe
khanh
 
Wow my Federal measures .170 +_ and the Starline measures .205+_
So they do make small and large 45acp primer pockets as you guys said. We have never seen this before. I guess I 'm not a rocket scientist lol. I talked to a guy that told me they can have both in the same box of factory ammo.
The 4.5 grains of BE doesn't cycle but the 5.0 seems to work fine.
thanks guys.
 
Link said:
Wow my Federal measures .170 +_ and the Starline measures .205+_
So they do make small and large 45acp primer pockets as you guys said. We have never seen this before. I guess I 'm not a rocket scientist lol. I talked to a guy that told me they can have both in the same box of factory ammo.
The 4.5 grains of BE doesn't cycle but the 5.0 seems to work fine.
thanks guys.
Click to expand...

I've never seen large & small primer cartridges in the same box; but that doesn't mean it can't happen! Just be careful, especially of range brass pickups! Good luck with the reloading. I think you will find it very rewarding!

Tuxedo007
 
There's tons of pages about the small and large primers on the 1911 forum. Plus the site has everything / anything you would want to know about 1911's plus some. Sorry I didn't expound about the site...was in a hurry.
 
Having shot BE competitions off and on since early 1970s, I have a few observations to share.
I had a very accurate Gold Cup (Ransom Rested) that would function with 3.6-7gr of BE under a 200 H&G SWC. Shot this every Th night at club for years. Using a firm hold, it never alibied unless I got lazy and didn't clean every 3-4 months. Then came a heavy slide Giles I bought new. That required abt 3.8gr of BE which I was buying by the cardboard keg. Super smooooth was that pc of craftsmanship. All of that extra wgt on the slide only needed another .1 gr to work flawlessly.
Many years later, I started the IPSC game and shot WW230, 231 and 296. They were as dirty as the BE, even shooting much stouter loads under the 200 H&G bb SWC.
I rejoined the BE discipline and took some advice to try Hodgden Clays. Just plain CLAYS, not int'l, or the other variety. It took another .3 grain to function but is a very fluffy powder, can't double charge. Even using the Square Deal B and a Star Tool, it metered well. How much cleaner was it you ask?? It is SOOOOO much cleaner!!!!! Also, the burn rate, recoil impulse is such that it shoots much softer, maybe the reason for another .3gr needed. The difference is easily felt. Well worth the "expense". Cost is abt same per lb as BE. Less smoke too.
You mention the different loads you've tried.......I'm not sure what power range you are wanting to shoot but by now you've probably been advised about the spring rates/changing them out to tailor your load to 100% reliability. The BE game is the mildest, reliably functioning load you can put together. For the other games, you will need to make power factor and go from there. Obviously you want enough spring rate to keep from battering your slide/frame. Lots of options with the 1911, eh? Have fun whatever you do.
 
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