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Adamantium · November 3, 2011, 07:47 PM

I reload 45acp as well as other calibers. My first bit of advice is to relax and don't worry yourself too much. When I started reloading I was overwhelmed by information and squinting and turning my head away from my gun the first time I worked up to a very "dangerous" max load. I did it all again the first time I shot my own cast bullets for the first time. Don't get me wrong safety needs to always be taken seriously, but make sure to enjoy yourself as well.

What other equipment did you inherit along with the press? At a minimum you will need the press, dies for the 45acp, a powder scale and a round of factory ammunition (to make your bullets the correct over all length, or OAL for short). Other stuff helps speed things up, but is not required.

Secondly, is there a local store where you can buy primers and powder? If you buy online you will have to pay a $25 hazmat fee, which is fine if you are going to be ordering $200+ of stuff, but most powders suitable for 45acp will give you over 1000 rounds per pound.

Any standard, non-magnum, large pistol primer will work for 45acp. I like Winchester and Wolf. CCI works just as well but costs a bit more. For powder if you are buying locally you probably won't have infinite choices you only need one. Alliant Bullseye, Green dot and Hodgdon Universal is what I use.

For Bullets you can buy locally, but you'll save yourself some decent money if you buy online. http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/ has very good prices and ships quick so that is what I go for. I recommend buying Berry's Plated bullets, either 200 grain RS (round shoulder) or 230 grain RN (round nose) will feed in almost everything. They are cheaper than true FMJ's from the big names like Remington and Winchester.

Here are links for load data...

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...rs/index.aspx&
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-con...d_data_3.5.pdf
http://www.reloadammo.com/

For 200 grain plated bullets I will use 5.7 grains of Bullseye or 6 grains of Universal. For 230 grain I use 5 grains of Bullseye or 5.4 grains of Universal. You will want to start from the reduced load (90% of max) and work up though, it is a safety rule that is always worth following.

Everyone can tell you their favorite pet load but they shoot slightly differently in every gun. I shoot almost entirely cast lead these days but recommend that people start out with jacketed/plated because they are less messy, have little exposed lead and are more tolerant of oversize bore diameters which are common. That being said the difference between an average and a great load is going to be measured in inches at 25 meters, so unless you shoot from a rest you will probably not know the difference either.

November 3, 2011, 07:47 PM	#3
Adamantium Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 1999 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 1,021	I reload 45acp as well as other calibers. My first bit of advice is to relax and don't worry yourself too much. When I started reloading I was overwhelmed by information and squinting and turning my head away from my gun the first time I worked up to a very "dangerous" max load. I did it all again the first time I shot my own cast bullets for the first time. Don't get me wrong safety needs to always be taken seriously, but make sure to enjoy yourself as well. What other equipment did you inherit along with the press? At a minimum you will need the press, dies for the 45acp, a powder scale and a round of factory ammunition (to make your bullets the correct over all length, or OAL for short). Other stuff helps speed things up, but is not required. Secondly, is there a local store where you can buy primers and powder? If you buy online you will have to pay a $25 hazmat fee, which is fine if you are going to be ordering $200+ of stuff, but most powders suitable for 45acp will give you over 1000 rounds per pound. Any standard, non-magnum, large pistol primer will work for 45acp. I like Winchester and Wolf. CCI works just as well but costs a bit more. For powder if you are buying locally you probably won't have infinite choices you only need one. Alliant Bullseye, Green dot and Hodgdon Universal is what I use. For Bullets you can buy locally, but you'll save yourself some decent money if you buy online. http://www.powdervalleyinc.com/ has very good prices and ships quick so that is what I go for. I recommend buying Berry's Plated bullets, either 200 grain RS (round shoulder) or 230 grain RN (round nose) will feed in almost everything. They are cheaper than true FMJ's from the big names like Remington and Winchester. Here are links for load data... http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...rs/index.aspx& http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-con...d_data_3.5.pdf http://www.reloadammo.com/ For 200 grain plated bullets I will use 5.7 grains of Bullseye or 6 grains of Universal. For 230 grain I use 5 grains of Bullseye or 5.4 grains of Universal. You will want to start from the reduced load (90% of max) and work up though, it is a safety rule that is always worth following. Everyone can tell you their favorite pet load but they shoot slightly differently in every gun. I shoot almost entirely cast lead these days but recommend that people start out with jacketed/plated because they are less messy, have little exposed lead and are more tolerant of oversize bore diameters which are common. That being said the difference between an average and a great load is going to be measured in inches at 25 meters, so unless you shoot from a rest you will probably not know the difference either. __________________ New gun, same ol' shot.