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Had some question on the Chrono data due to possible muzzle blast interference. Great excuse to spend more range time. 
Move the Chrono further back and used a cardboard to block the front of the Chrono. This eliminated any possible muzzle blast being registered by the Chrono.
Use the max load only and this time instead of loading/weighting one at a time, I just used Lee LoadMaster with disk powder measure.
Total of 25 shoots were recorded.
180 grn FMJ-FP
Avg = 1511 ft/s
Mean = 1508 ft/s
SDEV = 36.7 ft/s (~ 2% of Mean)
Max = 1572
Min = 1441
Temp ~ 85F
Broke the 1500 ft/s mark this time. That's ~ 910 ft.lbs of energy!!! With same bullet weight, it is right in the 44 Magnum range in Sierra loading manual. Not too bad from a 1911 framed pistol.
Accuracy seems good. Able to hit 12" plate at 100yrd with bench rest every shot with a ProPoint dot. Pretty flat trajectory.
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Well, I was able to get the loading data for 40 Super, thought I would try it in 400 Corbon. (Thx U Tony)
No9, WLP, 180 grn FMJ FN, OAL 1.25". 45 Super Re-sized Brass 5 Shots avg
#1 - 1217 fps
#2 - 1203 fps
#3 - 1230 fps
#4 - 1273 fps
#5 - 1314 fps
#6 - 1360 fps
#7 - 1390 fps
#8 - 1443 fps
#9 - 1469 fps
None shown any sign of primer flow/smear etc... All perfectly round indents. No pressure signs, no case dimension change, etc. 1469 fps load pretty much fill the entire case with powder, maybe room left for ~0.5 grn or so. Didn't get the 40 Super speed at 1500 fps, but 1469 fps is not too bad considering it still provides 862 ft.lbs ~3ft from muzzle.
I also tried W296 powder, well it just made a lot of loud noise, and blast.
Recoil was more but not substantially more than target load 45 ACP. Still easily managable and not uncomfortable to shoot.
I think it just got pushed over the 10mm limit.
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The slower powder did the trick... IMR 800X, CCI 350, 180grn FMJ FN, OAL 1.25" clocked at (5 shots avg) ~ 1353fps. There is definite sign of primer flow into the firing pin hole.
Also try the faster powder (TrueBlue) with standard WLP & FLP. Was only able to reach 1302 fps before the primer started to flow. (Side note, FLP seems to be hotter than WLP.)
Didn't get a chance to load IMR 800x with the WLP & FLP.
The limitation, again, seem to be the primer. In the end, 1250 fps is probably the reasonable full load for day to day use. oh, well.
I am not listing the powder charges, since these loads are not recommend for casual reloading. It is really a proof of concept test. Maybe in the future I'll get some 40 Super brasses (they use small primer) to see if that will make a difference.
Another observation is the magnum primers actually reduce the performance of a load due to it creates higher pressure without the benefit of relative velocity gain.
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Finally got some time to try out a set of loads. In summary, wasn't able to reach the desired 1350 fps, short about 99 fps, but gotten interesting results.
180grn FMJ FN with Ramshot True Blue and CCI 350 Mag LP primer. OAL 1.20"
Starline 45 Super brass formed to 400 Corbon
1911A1 with 26# recoil spring & 30# main spring & 6" barrel
Extra heavy firing pin spring, sqr FPS, and Titanium firing pin.
5 shots groups with avg fps. Over pressure (OP) sign checked by mic the case head. Listed by increasing powder charge.
1252 fps - FTE. Case stuck in slide. No OP
1256 fps - FTE. Case stuck in slide. No OP
1236 fps - Case ejected and slide locked back. No OP
1225 fps - Case ejected and slide locked back. No OP (most consistent load)
1240 fps - Case ejected and slide locked back. No OP (2nd consistent load)
1251 fps - Case ejected and slide locked back. No OP
Was not able to go higher due to punctured primer on the next higher charge
But no other case OP sign even with the punctured primer.
None of the case ejected was with any force. And since it is throwing 180 grn at ~ 1250fps, I figure the pressure is around ~34k psi, within the 45 Super casing's rating. Bit disappointed with the CCI 350 primer, but now I know why most higher pressure handgun loads use rifle primers instead.
Weird that I got higher fps at lower powder charge when the slide won't fully cycle.
For now, max is 1250 fps. Next trip, I may try with an OAL of 1.26" and slower powder to see if that will reduce the inital pressure some.
--------------------------------
Doing some research to start loading 400 Corbon and like to load 180 grn up to 1350 fps. It is bit hot, thus like to ask the tribal knowledge on this subject.
Chk around and found the following info:
45 ACP ~ 20 k psi
45 ACP +p ~ 23 k psi
45 Super ~ 28 - 35 k psi
460 Rowland ~ 40 k psi
10 mm ~ 37.5 k psi
400 Corbon ~ 26 - 29 k psi
40 Super ~ 37 k psi
Since all of the above calibers are being used in 1911 platform, thus 1911's breach lock design should be adequate to handle the higher pressure rounds. Only thing needed is to slow down the slide.
400 CB commercial case seems to be based on the 45 ACP +P except with a small primer pocket (for rifle primer). The actual usable case volume with a 180 grn FMJ is 10% higher compared to a 45 ACP with 230 grn FMJ, and 19% greater than 10mm with 180 grn FMJ.
With neck down design, the round is more reliable in feeding. (I actually chk this with just loading empty case without a bullet. It chambered flawlessly)
40 Super basically had the same concept as 400 Corbon and it started with a 45 Super Case, but was later updated to a longer case to provide more neck support with beefer case design.
With above, it would seem possible to load 400 CB with 45 Super case up to 35k psi. With its higher case volume, then with a longer 6" barrel and slower burning powder, one should be able to reach 1350 fps with 180 grn FMJ without stress out any of the components. However, I am not able to find any load data in this range, pretty sure not the first person to look at this. So what am I missing?
----------------------------------------
Move the Chrono further back and used a cardboard to block the front of the Chrono. This eliminated any possible muzzle blast being registered by the Chrono.
Use the max load only and this time instead of loading/weighting one at a time, I just used Lee LoadMaster with disk powder measure.
Total of 25 shoots were recorded.
180 grn FMJ-FP
Avg = 1511 ft/s
Mean = 1508 ft/s
SDEV = 36.7 ft/s (~ 2% of Mean)
Max = 1572
Min = 1441
Temp ~ 85F
Broke the 1500 ft/s mark this time. That's ~ 910 ft.lbs of energy!!! With same bullet weight, it is right in the 44 Magnum range in Sierra loading manual. Not too bad from a 1911 framed pistol.
Accuracy seems good. Able to hit 12" plate at 100yrd with bench rest every shot with a ProPoint dot. Pretty flat trajectory.
----------------------------------------------------------
Well, I was able to get the loading data for 40 Super, thought I would try it in 400 Corbon. (Thx U Tony)
No9, WLP, 180 grn FMJ FN, OAL 1.25". 45 Super Re-sized Brass 5 Shots avg
#1 - 1217 fps
#2 - 1203 fps
#3 - 1230 fps
#4 - 1273 fps
#5 - 1314 fps
#6 - 1360 fps
#7 - 1390 fps
#8 - 1443 fps
#9 - 1469 fps
None shown any sign of primer flow/smear etc... All perfectly round indents. No pressure signs, no case dimension change, etc. 1469 fps load pretty much fill the entire case with powder, maybe room left for ~0.5 grn or so. Didn't get the 40 Super speed at 1500 fps, but 1469 fps is not too bad considering it still provides 862 ft.lbs ~3ft from muzzle.
I also tried W296 powder, well it just made a lot of loud noise, and blast.
Recoil was more but not substantially more than target load 45 ACP. Still easily managable and not uncomfortable to shoot.
I think it just got pushed over the 10mm limit.
------------------------------------------------
The slower powder did the trick... IMR 800X, CCI 350, 180grn FMJ FN, OAL 1.25" clocked at (5 shots avg) ~ 1353fps. There is definite sign of primer flow into the firing pin hole.
Also try the faster powder (TrueBlue) with standard WLP & FLP. Was only able to reach 1302 fps before the primer started to flow. (Side note, FLP seems to be hotter than WLP.)
Didn't get a chance to load IMR 800x with the WLP & FLP.
The limitation, again, seem to be the primer. In the end, 1250 fps is probably the reasonable full load for day to day use. oh, well.
I am not listing the powder charges, since these loads are not recommend for casual reloading. It is really a proof of concept test. Maybe in the future I'll get some 40 Super brasses (they use small primer) to see if that will make a difference.
Another observation is the magnum primers actually reduce the performance of a load due to it creates higher pressure without the benefit of relative velocity gain.
--------------------------------
Finally got some time to try out a set of loads. In summary, wasn't able to reach the desired 1350 fps, short about 99 fps, but gotten interesting results.
180grn FMJ FN with Ramshot True Blue and CCI 350 Mag LP primer. OAL 1.20"
Starline 45 Super brass formed to 400 Corbon
1911A1 with 26# recoil spring & 30# main spring & 6" barrel
Extra heavy firing pin spring, sqr FPS, and Titanium firing pin.
5 shots groups with avg fps. Over pressure (OP) sign checked by mic the case head. Listed by increasing powder charge.
1252 fps - FTE. Case stuck in slide. No OP
1256 fps - FTE. Case stuck in slide. No OP
1236 fps - Case ejected and slide locked back. No OP
1225 fps - Case ejected and slide locked back. No OP (most consistent load)
1240 fps - Case ejected and slide locked back. No OP (2nd consistent load)
1251 fps - Case ejected and slide locked back. No OP
Was not able to go higher due to punctured primer on the next higher charge
But no other case OP sign even with the punctured primer.None of the case ejected was with any force. And since it is throwing 180 grn at ~ 1250fps, I figure the pressure is around ~34k psi, within the 45 Super casing's rating. Bit disappointed with the CCI 350 primer, but now I know why most higher pressure handgun loads use rifle primers instead.
Weird that I got higher fps at lower powder charge when the slide won't fully cycle.
For now, max is 1250 fps. Next trip, I may try with an OAL of 1.26" and slower powder to see if that will reduce the inital pressure some.
--------------------------------
Doing some research to start loading 400 Corbon and like to load 180 grn up to 1350 fps. It is bit hot, thus like to ask the tribal knowledge on this subject.
Chk around and found the following info:
45 ACP ~ 20 k psi
45 ACP +p ~ 23 k psi
45 Super ~ 28 - 35 k psi
460 Rowland ~ 40 k psi
10 mm ~ 37.5 k psi
400 Corbon ~ 26 - 29 k psi
40 Super ~ 37 k psi
Since all of the above calibers are being used in 1911 platform, thus 1911's breach lock design should be adequate to handle the higher pressure rounds. Only thing needed is to slow down the slide.
400 CB commercial case seems to be based on the 45 ACP +P except with a small primer pocket (for rifle primer). The actual usable case volume with a 180 grn FMJ is 10% higher compared to a 45 ACP with 230 grn FMJ, and 19% greater than 10mm with 180 grn FMJ.
With neck down design, the round is more reliable in feeding. (I actually chk this with just loading empty case without a bullet. It chambered flawlessly)
40 Super basically had the same concept as 400 Corbon and it started with a 45 Super Case, but was later updated to a longer case to provide more neck support with beefer case design.
With above, it would seem possible to load 400 CB with 45 Super case up to 35k psi. With its higher case volume, then with a longer 6" barrel and slower burning powder, one should be able to reach 1350 fps with 180 grn FMJ without stress out any of the components. However, I am not able to find any load data in this range, pretty sure not the first person to look at this. So what am I missing?
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