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**Unclenick** · June 19, 2011, 10:51 AM

But he's shooting a load that should be running in the 850 fps range from a full length .45. See Hodgdon's load data for it online.

Don,

If you have bad powder, you most likely have cycling problems, but not necessarily. A chronograph will settle this question for sure. Should be in the mid-800's of fps somewhere.

Shooting low: The muzzle not rising as much before the bullet exits. I'd expect maybe an inch at 15 yards from that, but not what you're seeing.

When you shoot factory ammo, are you sure the action is locking up properly? If it failed to close 100% on factory rounds, it would leave the muzzle tilted slightly up, raising their POI. That's actually possible with a short chamber throat letting jacketed factory rounds stop on the throat, whereas lead is pushed right into it. The way to check is simple. Just look at the back edge of the frame and slide with the slide in battery and see how close to flush they are. If that relationship is different with factory rounds and yours, lockup is the problem.

If the bullet is too small for the bore, you'd get a lot of leading. Are you seeing that? Are you seeing unburned powder residue, for that matter?

June 19, 2011, 10:51 AM	#19
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,057	But he's shooting a load that should be running in the 850 fps range from a full length .45. See Hodgdon's load data for it online. Don, If you have bad powder, you most likely have cycling problems, but not necessarily. A chronograph will settle this question for sure. Should be in the mid-800's of fps somewhere. Shooting low: The muzzle not rising as much before the bullet exits. I'd expect maybe an inch at 15 yards from that, but not what you're seeing. When you shoot factory ammo, are you sure the action is locking up properly? If it failed to close 100% on factory rounds, it would leave the muzzle tilted slightly up, raising their POI. That's actually possible with a short chamber throat letting jacketed factory rounds stop on the throat, whereas lead is pushed right into it. The way to check is simple. Just look at the back edge of the frame and slide with the slide in battery and see how close to flush they are. If that relationship is different with factory rounds and yours, lockup is the problem. If the bullet is too small for the bore, you'd get a lot of leading. Are you seeing that? Are you seeing unburned powder residue, for that matter? __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle Last edited by Unclenick; June 19, 2011 at 04:19 PM.