below min loading

[cpatbay]

I accidentally loaded some 45acp with powder weight below min recommend by hodgdon. These are 185 gr xtp with titegroup powder. Min suggested was 5.0 gr but my loading was 4.6 gr. Can I still fire these below min loading rounds for plinking safely?

[joelogic]

I don't know if anyone will tell you they are safe but usually the minimum is the minimum to build enough pressure to work the action. The bullet would probably travel down the barrel with 1gr. Squibs are dangerous because a primer has enough power to dislodge the bullet but not enough to exit the barrel.

[Bill Steele]

I load below start load levels all the time. As Joelogic points out, you can get a load down to where your recoil spring will be too heavy for the energy generated in recoil and the round will not cycle your gun sucessfully.

At 4.6gr of Titegroup your gun may or may not cycle successfully. If you start getting stove pipes (failure to eject the spent case fully) or load failures, you know you are not getting the slide back all the way. Just clear the failure and continue until all rounds are gone. Good failure drill practice.

4.6gr will get the bullet out no matter what (unless you forgot powder in one of them). If you do have a squib load (one where you have no powder and just a primer), you will likely have to clear manually as it will not cycle the gun. If that ever happens, always STOP and check to make sure the barrel is clear. If you wear adequate hearing protection, you will likely not hear the squib, it will only seem to be a "click" and no fire to you. Anytime you encounter this condition (that is, no big bang, no recoil, no noticed impact in the target area), STOP, clear the weapon and make sure the barrel is clear. Carrying a short piece of wood dowel in your range case is a good tool to clear a squib stuck bullet. Never clear a "click" with a normal FTE/FTF failure drill and just keep shooting.

Revolvers are really important to check on the "click" as there is no FTE/FTF to clear. It can feel like you just had a "light strike" on the primer. If the bullet doesn't stop in the cylinder gap and jam the action, you can have a big kaboom on the next pull of the trigger. Every single squib I have had with revolvers the bullet stopped in the cylinder gap, jamming the action (thankfully).

[CSACANNONEER]

Be safe. Pull them and start over.

Minimum loads have nothing to do with cycling actions. If that that was the reason for minimum load data, why would there be minimum load data for non semi auto cartridges? Published data is there for your safety. Use it to your advantage or take your chances.

[Sub95]

the only thing that might happen is the slide might not come back all the way to load a new round.

but one of my books says 4.5grs of titegroup = 750fps c.o.a.l of 1.212"

[Clownpuncher]

What load data were you using? Have you checked other references? The difference between my Speer book and Sierra book are tremendous in some instances.

Sierra says for a 185gr JHP min load with titegroup is 4.5grs will give you 750fps with a coal of 1.212"..... 4.8grns gives you 800fps I would imagine you would be in that range if the COAL is 1.212"

Speer doesn't list titegroup.

Perhaps someone has a Hornady book that lists it with your bullets. Either way, I think you will be fine, just watch for the issues outlines above.

[cpatbay]

I loaded them at COL of 1.225". The loading data I have are from Hodgdon website.

[mls204]

most likely you will just have cycling problems and stovepipes. they're pretty safe to shoot, just not accurate. you're not going to blow your gun up with a min load if that's what you're worried about.

i'm working up a load for my p220 and at 5.0 gr of titegroup and a 200gr swc plated bullet i'm still getting the occasional stovepipe and failure lock back on the last round.