New to Reloading, Need Help With .45 Recipe

[CDPshooter]

Help me! There is a ton of data on how to reload or should I say recopies for .45's.

I thought I had my basic shopping list and head out to Bass Pro Shop. To my not surprise, they didn't have what I was looking for my first ever batch of ammo. My recipe calls for the following.

1Lb. of Bullseye
200 gr. .4515 of Sierra FPJ Match
CCI large pistol primers.

So what I did get was,

1 Lb. of Unique
230 gr. .451 of Hornady FMJ-RN
Remington No. 2-1/2 Large pistol primers

I tried to look in a couple of data books at Bass Pro, but they didn't have any of the Nosler or Sierra .45 bullets. the only two I seen there was the Hornady .452 and .451 and no recipe.

Now, I went home and looked up a recipe in the Alliant powder (Unique) recipe. They say to use 230 gr. speer TJM RN with CCI Large pistol primer.
Now my question is should I try what I have or go for another trip to the shopping mall.

What I'm surprise was that, most of the bullets in Bass Pro are Hornady.

Anybody out there please, need your feedback on what should I do?

[drdarrin@sbcglobal.net]

Try Alliants web site. I'm sure they have load data for that powder and a 230 gr bullet.


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[CDPshooter]

I did, the difference is TJM RN and FMJ-RN. The grain is the same, also should I change the Primers? I bought Remingtons and it calls for CCI's.

[CDPshooter]

oh, the recipe calls for .452 and I have .451 Diameter .

[sammy]

oh, the recipe calls for .452 and I have .451 Diameter .

For a lead bullet you use .452

For a jacketed bullet it is .451

Go check load data at Alliant's website for load data. That is the first place to go.

[sammy]

Where are you located?

[nahpungnome]

FMJ has a lead exposed base, TMJ has no exposed lead. Other than that, there shouldn't be much difference as long as the bullet weight is the same.

When I work a load, I try to use a little more than the midpoint between the lowest and highest suggested grains of powder. So it min is 5 and max is 6, I'll start at 5.6 ish.

I've found that going to the minimum suggested load will give me cycling problems in my 1911s, but are fine in my CZ97 because I have a lighter recoil spring.

I don't think the .001 is going to make much of an impact as far as your loads go since you're using fmj or tmj (unless I read that wrong). Just start mid or mid lower if you're comfortable and work upwards. I use xtreme 45acp and they're .452 and they do fine using jacketed loads.

The primers shouldn't really matter, you might get a variation in velocity, but I've found there isn't even much difference between mag and regular primers. I use Winchester Large pistol and it says right on the box that it's good for regular and magnum loads.

[CDPshooter]

Thanks for the info, I"m located in South Hayward. I'm shooting a 3" barreled Kimber. It is all factory parts, should I start half ways of the min. and the max. Ill make 8 rounds, then I'll start going up every eight and stop @ 5.6 ish.

Again, thanks for the info and will respond with the results in the near future

[Bill Steele]

Unique will work fine. Soon you will be happy with any powder you find. Use the Alliant data for any 230gr jacketed. your primers you have will work fine, no substitution needed.

With Alliant, they list max load and tell you to use -10% as the start load. I agree with nahungnome on start loads, they tend to be pretty weak. The good news with Unique, it will likely cycle your slide, even at start levels. The bad news is until you get it closer to max, it will shoot pretty dirty.

That should about cover it.

Have fun, ask questions.

[CDPshooter]

Cool I'll keep that in mind. For my next shopping list , what powder do you recommend for the .45 and a .380?

[Divernhunter]

I use Win 231 in the 45ACP. I do not load 380.
I also have used Unique. I have a bunch of Hi-Shor 700-X so I use it also.
I would not worry about the primers. I tend to use mag primers(win/CCI or whatever) in all my loads. Never had any trouble even with max.
I would start about the middle between min and max.
With that bullet my Hornady book shows 4.8 as min and 7.3 as max.

[Bill Steele]

Cool I'll keep that in mind. For my next shopping list , what powder do you recommend for the .45 and a .380?

For 45 Auto, you had it right with Bullseye. My only more favored is VV-N320, but it is kind of spendy and doesn't last very long at the volume guys like Powder Valley as it is a favorite of practical pistol competitors. Other really good ones for 45 is WST and Clays (probably impossible to find). You will get some that tell you W231, but I don't favor mid burner and slower ball powders in a caliber with a big old case with lots of free space like the 45. A ball powder like AA #2, pretty fast burner, will work. A good one burn wise is 700X, but it doesn't meter quite as well as others on the list above.

For 380 I am working on some loads right now, I think Win 572 looks like it might be the ultimate (for velocity in an otherwise anemic round). I am also having good results with CFE Pistol, BE-86 and HS6. All of these will get a 95 gr jacketed bullet going 950fps out of my G42, slightly less from the Kahr.

Anyway have fun.

[stevec223]

I worked up some really nice 380 loads with BE-86.. Going to give it a try for the 45 also.. My 3in kimber 45 likes the 185gr, 200gr and 230gr loads I worked up with longshot... Check hodgdon.com for more powders and loads before your next shopping trip.. Many powders can be used for each caliber... . Make a list to take with you.. Be safe.. Cheers..

[CDPshooter]

On the .380, what grains are you guys using with BE-86?, since two Calgunners are sigesting to use it.

to everyone who responded to my my help.
Thanks for the recpies and keep on shooting!!

[Pablo5959]

I work with BE-86 a lot, and find that I'll start <10% and still need to go lower.
So I'll back off until cases start getting sooty. Then work back up for accuracy.