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 .45 ACP Reloading Questions - Worth A Look 
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Location: Bothell
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.45 ACP
Accurate #5 Powder
X-treme 230 .451 bullets
CCI Small Primer
Blazer Brass Casings

Western Powder & others provide a COL of 1.237.

SAAMI provides the minimum of 1.190 and a maximum of 1.275.

1) How should I read the 1.237 they provide, as the minimum or maximum?
2) Since the SAAMI range is so vast should I presume that it's safe as long as they fall within that range?
3) The X-Treme bullets are copper plated RN. There is never any mention of this manufactures bullets in various powder manuals. Is there a type that matches/comparable (ie. FMJ)?

Any input on a good loaded length range for 45 ACP is appreciated.

note: The factory Blazer Brass bullets have a COL of 1.264


Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:06 pm
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See below.

benchmark wrote:
1) How should I read the 1.237 they provide, as the minimum or maximum? You should consider a COL in a reloading manual as a minimum. As you push the bullet farther into the case, pressures will rise significantly. Using a longer COL will decrease pressure, i.e., be safer. You can go shorter than the manual recommends, especially if you're not using a max powder charge, but work up the load carefully.
2) Since the SAAMI range is so vast should I presume that it's safe as long as they fall within that range? No. The SAAMI range is not related to your particular reloading data.
3) The X-Treme bullets are copper plated RN. There is never any mention of this manufactures bullets in various powder manuals. Is there a type that matches/comparable (ie. FMJ)? Generally, you'll load plated bullets with data that falls somewhere between lead bullets and FMJ bullets. The Lee loading manual has some data for plated bullets. If in doubt, start low and work up.

Any input on a good loaded length range for 45 ACP is appreciated. I load my .45 at 1.23", which I think is shorter than most but it seems to work for me. I had some issues with some longer cartridges (maybe about 1.25"? not sure now) that wouldn't fit into my Sig P220 magazine, so that drove me to load them shorter.

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Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:15 pm
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Thanks


Wed Jul 04, 2018 12:42 pm
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Sir:

I've been loading the .45 ACP for many years. I do not worry about OAL.

Why not?

I was shown a way to ensure proper length and how to almost eliminate feeding problems in one simple step: Set your seater die to load to the same OAL as a round of factory loaded 230 grain ball ammunition. I also highly recommend that you crimp in a separate step, to a crimp diameter between .468 and .470. I prefer .470 myself.

In doing this, I have NEVER had a feed problem in a handgun chambered in .45 ACP that was not traced back to the magazine. I have loaded many types of JHP ammunition; my favorite one, tbhough is my own cast bullet. It's from Lee molds, the HG 68 200 grain bevel base LSWC. I cast them out of pure lead or wheelweights, sized to .452 in a Magma Engineering lubrisizer, and lubed with Javelina Alox.

My favorite target loads--used for NRA Precision Pistol/Bullseye--are 3.5 of Clays for timed and rapid fire; 3.8 Clays for the long line (50 yard).

I also like 4.5 of HP38/W231 for general practice, as well as 5.5 of Unique--however, Unique burns kind of dirty in a reduced load. These two loads, however, will reliably cycle a 1911 with an 18 lb. spring installed.

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Wed Jul 04, 2018 6:29 pm
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Have a spare .45ACP barrel on the reloading bench.
Check every 10th rd,if it passes the Kerplink test, you're good to go.:)
OAL means very little in pistols. That is, until you don't seat the bullet deep enough...meanin until the bullets rests on the lands.
1.6"OAL comes to mind without my notes in front of me.

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Fri Jul 13, 2018 7:03 pm
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sportsdad60 wrote:
1.6"OAL comes to mind without my notes in front of me.


Thanks for the example of why we use notes. :bigsmile:

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Fri Jul 13, 2018 8:54 pm
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Personally, I load to an OAL that is determined by the "plunk" test as this is the best way to ensure that you get the best load for YOUR specific gun(s) with the bullet that you are using...especially if you are looking for the best accuracy out of your load.

If I have multiple firearms that will use the same cartridge then I load to the OAL that will pass the plunk test in all of them.

Even the same bullet profile (i.e. RN) from different manufacturers and/or of different weights will require different OAL's.

Lots of info on how to perform this test available on the net so I won't repeat them here.


Sat Jul 14, 2018 6:35 am
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I'm going to tag along on this thread.

I just bought xtreme SWC .451 200gr bullets. Can't find any info on them.

In order to make them look "normal" I seated them to 1.224" COL. Case size around the bullet was .471", so I did a taper crimp to .470".

Hodgdon titegroup states starting loads of 4.7grs. Max 5.2grs. Does this sound reasonable? Should I start even lower? I'm not looking for high-velocities, just so they shoot decent enough. I don't have a chrono so I won't be able to tell how fast they are.
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Mon Aug 20, 2018 6:59 pm
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snozzberries wrote:
In order to make them look "normal" I seated them to 1.224" COL.

Hodgdon titegroup states starting loads of 4.7grs. Max 5.2grs. Does this sound reasonable?


What does the book data show for OAL?

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Mon Aug 20, 2018 9:18 pm
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MadPick wrote:
snozzberries wrote:
In order to make them look "normal" I seated them to 1.224" COL.

Hodgdon titegroup states starting loads of 4.7grs. Max 5.2grs. Does this sound reasonable?


What does the book data show for OAL?

200gr copper:
HAP - 1.230"
FMJ-C/T - 1.245"
XTP - 1.230"

Lead:
C/T - 1.225"
SWC - 1.200"


Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:37 am
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Is the case mouth crimping down properly on the bullet? Is the case mouth in the 0.470” range?

It seems like you have a good OAL for the bullet. I’d start at the minimum powder charge shown in the book, and see how it goes.

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Tue Aug 21, 2018 6:42 am
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Yes the crimp appears to be good. I actually went too far to .469 and had to back it off a bit.

Sounds good. I can always make them longer, but not shorter.

Does anybody's book have info for 200gr copper SWC's? Disappointing that Hornady's doesn't just because they don't make a bullet in that style.

Do you normally follow the Bullet manufacturers recommendations, or the powder makers, or a random reloading manual?


Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:33 am
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45 acp is very forgiving fortunately. With Some practice you will get them dialed in and rarely have a failure to feed. Some great tips here. Good luck!

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Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:59 am
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I load 5.2 gr VV 320
xtreme 230 gr RN
1.25 OAL

This is around 800 FPS.


Tue Aug 21, 2018 8:12 am
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snozzberries wrote:
Do you normally follow the Bullet manufacturers recommendations, or the powder makers, or a random reloading manual?


I look at all of the available data and then try to make an educated guess.

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Tue Aug 21, 2018 4:01 pm
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