45 / 50 Caliber Reloading

[langtree]

Am I the only one that loads a 45 with 185 gr. bullets.
I find them just as accurate and seem to be a little easier on my pistol.
Bullets are also cheaper than the 230's.

[rayikeo2]

I load 185 and a lot of others do too, and I agree with what you said. It all depends what you are going to use the ammo for.Target shooting and plinking 185's are great. Most people prefer tp use 230's for hunting and self defense. However there is doubt about which is actually best. Everyone has a different opinion.

[fredj338]

My std practice load is a 200gr. I like some 185gr loads for ccw in smaller/lighter 45s instead of 230gr+P loads that only increase recoil. The 185gr XTP or 185gr RGS is a pretty good 185gr load.

[owwwtlaw]

Got a problem with the Hornady 230 grain XTP. I'm using 5.9 grains of Unique and the overall length is 1.230 as my Hornady book suggests. Problem is, something is causing by brass to expand when I seat the bullet. The round stops about a millimeter short in my chamber because of this bulge near the bottom of the case. I wouldn't think the bullet is compressing the powder and causing this since I am under the max powder charge. Any ideas?

[rayikeo2]

Your seating die body is not adjusted correctly. Correct adjustment should have a gap the width of a nickel between the shell holder and the bottom of the die. When this is set, then you can set the seating plug to the correct depth. Your problem is the die body is crushing the case. Seating dies never toutch the shellholder when the ram is fully up.

[owwwtlaw]

Thank you for the advice, I'll make the adjustment and give it a try.

[fredj338]

If you are bulging the case, it's likey the crimp is set wrong. As rayikeo notes, read the directions with your dies for proper setup. You can not compress powder enough to bulge a case.

[aack73]

ok i am a new reloader. i am working up a load with clays under an h&m 230gr fmj. at 1.200 oal. i started at 3.7 but wound up at 4.0 gr. which according to hogdon is max load. so far the brass looks good and no noticeable signs of pressure. recoil is so smooth and have yet to properly test accuracy. the oal on hogdon site was 1.200. my question is i want to increase this and use the same load to test for accuracy. i have loaded 3 at 1.200, 3 at 1.215, 3 at 1.235, 3 at 1.255, and 3 at 1.275. can some one educate me as to how the oal will affect my load pressure etc. suggestions? so far my max load at 4.o gr clays under 230gr fmj oal of 1.200" is shooting 735fps to 745fps.

[Dirty Rod]

Pressure and velocity SHOULD decrease as OAL increases.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by aack73

ok i am a new reloader. i am working up a load with clays under an h&m 230gr fmj. at 1.200 oal. i started at 3.7 but wound up at 4.0 gr. which according to hogdon is max load. so far the brass looks good and no noticeable signs of pressure. recoil is so smooth and have yet to properly test accuracy. the oal on hogdon site was 1.200. my question is i want to increase this and use the same load to test for accuracy. i have loaded 3 at 1.200, 3 at 1.215, 3 at 1.235, 3 at 1.255, and 3 at 1.275. can some one educate me as to how the oal will affect my load pressure etc. suggestions? so far my max load at 4.o gr clays under 230gr fmj oal of 1.200" is shooting 735fps to 745fps.

Unless you are using the EXACT 230gr FMJ, then your OAL is TOO short. Hogdon uses the Hornady TCFMJ, it will seat shorter than the 230gr RNFMJ. Clays is a touchy powder, unstable as you aproach the top end. The pressure curve goes vertical as you cross max. Seating too short will increase pressures, so ALWAYS load to the longest OAL your gun will run with, regardless of the data. OAL is ALWAYS gun & bullet specific.