200 grain Gold Dot recipe

[Jcobb]

Tell me if this sounds about right.

.45 ACP 200 grain Gold Dots, 5.8 grains Bullseye, Federal 150 Primers, COL 1.20.


I made up a batch of about 15 and test fired them a couple of days ago. Accuracy wasnt as good as I was expecting, but that couple be shooter error. These are the first full power loads I have shot in a while so my technique may have been off. Any idea what these would chrono at?

[ichy_trigger]

5.8 is hot, I would check them with a chrono and look for signs of high pressure.

[Jcobb]

Originally Posted by ichy_trigger

5.8 is hot, I would check them with a chrono and look for signs of high pressure.

NO DOUBT it is HOT!!

I checked the Speer Reloading manual for the 200 grain gold dot and bullseye powder, and 5.8 was the maximum. I dont have access to a chrono so no idea about that, and I am researching how to check for high pressure. I made another batch with 5.8 gr BE and a batch with 5.6 gr BE. Hopefully I can get to the range in a couple of days and to test them again. My concern with reducing the load too much is that I will not get enough velocity for proper expansion.

[ichy_trigger]

Well 5.8 will give you plenty of expansion...lol
look for flattened primers, thats normaly the first sign of high pressures.

For leagl reasons, its not normaly a good idea to carry reloads for SD. They would be good for practice and hunting though.

[Jcobb]

I have mixed feelings on carrying handloaded rounds for PD. I really like the Gold Dots, but they are expensive. Im a police officer, and I feel like in an off duty situation, a shoot is either justified or not, it doesnt matter what rounds were used. On the other hand, being an officer I KNOW that even though the shoot may be ruled good, a civil suit is likely. In that event, I definately want the odds stacked in my favor so factory is the way to go. SO, to split hairs, my thinking is to develope handloads that match the Gold Dots for the majority of practice, but carry the factory.

Anyway, the primers arent flattened, and do not appear to be backing out of the primer pocket. The cases are not bulged or deformed and look good as well. Is there anything else to look for?

Once again, thanks for your assistance.

[ichy_trigger]

Originally Posted by Jcobb

I have mixed feelings on carrying handloaded rounds for PD. I really like the Gold Dots, but they are expensive. Im a police officer, and I feel like in an off duty situation, a shoot is either justified or not, it doesnt matter what rounds were used. On the other hand, being an officer I KNOW that even though the shoot may be ruled good, a civil suit is likely. In that event, I definately want the odds stacked in my favor so factory is the way to go. SO, to split hairs, my thinking is to develope handloads that match the Gold Dots for the majority of practice, but carry the factory.

Anyway, the primers arent flattened, and do not appear to be backing out of the primer pocket. The cases are not bulged or deformed and look good as well. Is there anything else to look for?

Once again, thanks for your assistance.

Flat primers are NORMALY the earliest signs of a load being too hot. Sometimes in really hot loads you will get brass flowing but I think if your primers look good then you are ok. When I develop a really hot load, I go until my primers start to flatten and then I stop. In my .44 I went until the primers started to flatten but my cases still slip out of the cylinder pretty easily. Im already throwing 240 grain bullets at 1445 fps with a 5.5" barrel. My accuracy sucks though and I tend to get the best accuracy at around 1230 fps. or so. You have to decide if power is more important than accuracy. I use my .44 for hunting so accuracy trumps power. Normaly if Im not shooting an accurate load, I trash it for somethign else. Power isnt any good if you cant hit what your aiming at with it.

[fredj338]

BTW, flattened primers are not always a sign of pressure. Federal primers are "soft" & can flatten w/ less tan max. pressure. In a semiauto it's tough to read pressure signs as the case extraction is not easily measured. A chronograph helps but best to stay within the loading manuals. Your load is hot, if you want more vel. w/ less pressure, move up to a slower powder like Unique. I don;t use BE but your vel. are probably running just over 900fps according to the Alliant site.

[Jcobb]

Thanks for the info. Any opinions on the Shooting Chrony F1 Chronograph?

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...741&t=11082005

Is this any good or would I be better off with something different?

[ichy_trigger]

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...429&t=11082005
This is the one I have and its only $99.00. Mine has been VERY accurate when my loads have been chronoed at matches.

[fredj338]

The Chronies are ok, but I don;t like shooting at the guts of my chronograph. I would psend just a bit more & get teh CED Millenium or if you can find a used one (no longer made), the Oehler is first class.