Problems with reloads

[smokingloon]

I am new to reloading and just fired off my first batch of reloads today. The problem I am having is that I am getting a cloud of smoke/dust after each round and would like to eliminate or atleast minimize this. Should I mess with the COL or powder charge?

Gun: Springfield TRP 1911 .45
Brass: Once fired winchester
Primer: Winchester LPP
Bullet: Mastercast 200 grain LSWC
COL: 1.25
Taper Crimp: .470
Powder: W231 (I tried 25 rounds with 5.0 grains and 25 rounds with 5.5 grains. The 5.5 grains had less dust but still much more then factory loads.)

[kurac]

You will have to change to a jacketed bullet if you want to minimize the smoke cloud. The smoke is from the cast bullet lube.

There are some swagged bullets that use a black moly coating that are less smokey, I get those from Bear Creak

[Beelzy]

Check the "dust", if its powder residue try a lighter charge.

You could be driving the LSWC a little too fast. Leading could be an issue
as well.

Don't adjust the COAL if the rounds feed correctly, that could result in
FTF issues. At least.

[bohoki]

oh man thanks for the heads up

i loaded up some of my home cast that i lubed with liquid alox

and had some i loaded a while ago i thought that i had a bad batch of bullseye i was getting a lot of smoke as it is a different lot of bulls teh bear creek was great just a little poof

but my tumble lubed stuff was like a 3 foot cloud of greyness like pigpens little cloud from the peanuts cartoon

[smokingloon]

Thanks for the info. I also did load some 185 jacketed flat point with 4.5 grains and shot really nice. Not dust cloud or anything like that.

[hylander]

My Setup:

Gun: Springfield Mil-Spec 1911 .45
Brass: Once fired Wnchester
Primer: WLP
Bullet: Mastercast 200 grain LSWC, Geat Bullet
COL: 1.43
Taper Crimp: .470, Target shows .471, but I now Crimp .470
Powder: 5.4gr. HP-38, which is the same as Win. 231
This is a great Load, 857fps
No real noticable Smoke
I also shoot 5.2 and 5.6 grains with no real noticable smoke.

[supersonic]

You will have to change to a jacketed bullet if you want to minimize the smoke cloud. The smoke is from the cast bullet lube.

^^^Absolutely +100%. I use LaserCast (w/ the green lube) for most of my .45ACP/.44MAG/.45LC/.45-70 loads.......WOW, talk about "when the smoke finally clears."

[rayra]

Mostly lube, but can also be some dirtier-burning powders (not 231, but others)
But what is this 'dust' of which you speak? It's smoke. Or if it is particulate as in unburned grains of powder, you've got one of several other potential problems going on. Too short a bbl for the charge you are using to be fully burned, too much powder period, or no crimp thus allowing the bullet to be launched clear of the barrel too quickly to allow fuller combustion - all of which mean you aren't getting full power / use of the powder charge you are using, so you might as well back it off a bit in subsequent loadings.

[smokingloon]

I'm guessing it was lube as others have mentioned. Can't really remember if it was smoky or cloudy.
When I cleaned my gun it didn't take long so I don't think it was due to unburned powder.

I taper crimp in a separate step to .470.

I made some more loads:
4.5 grains with 1.40 COL
4.7 grains with 1.40 COL
4.9 grains with 1.40 COL

Will be going to the range something this week to test them out.

[hylander]

I'm guessing it was lube as others have mentioned. Can't really remember if it was smoky or cloudy.
When I cleaned my gun it didn't take long so I don't think it was due to unburned powder.

I taper crimp in a separate step to .470.

I made some more loads:
4.5 grains with 1.40 COL
4.7 grains with 1.40 COL
4.9 grains with 1.40 COL

Will be going to the range something this week to test them out.

If that is 231 your loading, those are very weak loads.