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Old October 23, 2013, 11:41 PM   #1
Kittum
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Need a starting load for .452 160gr bullet in 45 ACP

I was given a popcorn can 1/2 full of .452 160gr bullets.

I want to load them for practice ammo for a 1911 with a 4.25" barrel.

Right now I have a supply of HP-38 powder and Federal large pistol primers. I have had excellent results with 4.8gr of HP-38 under a 200gr LSW in 45ACP. For that reason I am leaning towards using that for powder the powder.

So far I have about 1000 of them resized to .452 and lubed with Alox.

My problem is that my 2013 Hodgdon reloading manual does not have a load worked up for these bullets. All I need is a reasonable starting load and I can I can take off from there.

This is a link to the bullet description.
http://leeprecision.com/mold-dc-452-160-rf.html

Thanks in advance.
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Old October 23, 2013, 11:54 PM   #2
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http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Looks like 6.0 grains is the closest starting load. That a for 155grn lead slug.
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Old October 24, 2013, 12:18 AM   #3
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5.4gr of hp-38 serves me well with a 152gr lswc from Penn bullet. Mixed brass, federal large primer, 1.250 oal
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Old October 24, 2013, 11:30 AM   #4
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Or just use 185gr load data.
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Old October 24, 2013, 02:17 PM   #5
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Try a few to see if they are agreeable in your 1911, before loading very many.
Not all 1911s like those short ones.
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Old October 24, 2013, 08:03 PM   #6
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Thanks to all for the input. This gives me a reasonable starting point .

I will start a 5.4 and see how that does.

I cross posted this over at 1911forum and NickA and herd48 noted that the top groove was a crimping groove for 45 Colt. That means I will need to seat the bullet in below that crimp groove.

Last edited by Kittum; October 24, 2013 at 08:05 PM. Reason: above/below - I don't know up from down
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Old November 6, 2013, 03:36 PM   #7
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Just for the record, I settled in on 5.5gr of HP-38.

This is rather light but very reliable in a 4.25 inch barrel with a standard recoil spring. Accuracy is good enough for the Steel Challenge. This may need to be upped to accommodate a heavier recoil spring.
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Old November 6, 2013, 08:05 PM   #8
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Wow, I must have woke up in the wrong space/time continuum because for once, I'm not going to recommend a faster powder lol

I'm not a big fan of 160g (or weights thereabouts) bullets for 45. But hey, you got a bunch of them and want to shoot them - can't fault you for that.

Probably redundant at this point, but your W231 (HP-38 - they're the same powder) will work just fine. If it were me, I'd start somewhere over 5.0g's. I know that only because that's my recipe for 200g LSWC's. So I know it's going to be a little more than that. And it would seem others feel the same.

Enjoy shooting them.
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Old November 6, 2013, 08:24 PM   #9
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I have chambering issues with the Lee 160gr bullet in my CZ. The ogive is just too abrupt.
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Old November 7, 2013, 12:01 AM   #10
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Quote:
I have chambering issues with the Lee 160gr bullet in my CZ. The ogive is just too abrupt.
There are few threads on the problem of CZ 97's not feeding hollow points at http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?board=16.0

Several of the issues were resolved by tweaking the feed lips on the magazines I suspect your problem may be similar, at least worth checking out.

I did have to seat these bullets deeper into the case than I expected. My first rounds were seated where the top groove was visible. I had to nudge the slide forward with my thumb a little bit on both the 1911 and the CZ 97B. After seating the bullet to where the top grove was not visible I had no problems with either gun.

Quote:
Wow, I must have woke up in the wrong space/time continuum because for once, I'm not going to recommend a faster powder lol
LOL There is no way I can leave a guy hanging like that. This seems like an emergency! So - to help fix your disorientation I will ask what should I burn behind some 200gr LSWC since we are going to cast some of them.
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Old November 7, 2013, 12:11 AM   #11
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With 45 ACP, 200g LSWC, I use 5.0g W231 (HP-38). <-- I load more of these than any other round. It's my "pet load." Been loading them for decades. They're so accurate, I can shoot the eyebrow off a gnat at 15 yards with them.
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Old November 7, 2013, 12:30 AM   #12
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They're so accurate, I can shoot the eyebrow off a gnat at 15 yards with them.
Now that is finer than frog hair. OK, I'll load them like that then!
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Old November 7, 2013, 09:31 AM   #13
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Re: Need a starting load for .452 160gr bullet in 45 ACP

I've found hp38/win231 to be a great accurate powder in 45. My steel match round was a Penn bullet 152gr swc with 5.4gr hp38 and a 14# recoil spring. It was also accurate as a laser but I've changed up to a Penn bullet 200gr truncated cone with 4.8gr hp38. Showing signs of promising accuracy.

For a real wimp/wuss load, try a Rainier 135gr bullet, 5.6gr hp38 in a 40s&w. Really good accuracy, low recoil and only 990fps out of my m&p compact.
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Old November 7, 2013, 10:09 AM   #14
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For a real wimp/wuss load, try a Rainier 135gr bullet, 5.6gr hp38 in a 40s&w. Really good accuracy, low recoil and only 990fps out of my m&p compact.
That sounds like a Steel Challenge load deluxe.

Our local steel match is this Saturday and I don't have enough mags for either .45 so I am stuck using my 9mm compact EDC.
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Old November 7, 2013, 10:51 AM   #15
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Re: Need a starting load for .452 160gr bullet in 45 ACP

Lol Actually a guy I work with uses that load for steel challenge matches in his Glock. When he started going to the matches with us he was shooting factory winchester 165 and 180 gr loads. He was complaining after so long it was to much recoil, so I donated a few hundred of those loads to him to try out. Say the least now he loves them, asked for the load data and rest is history.
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Old November 7, 2013, 10:55 AM   #16
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Re: Need a starting load for .452 160gr bullet in 45 ACP

Kittum, I've been in a close situation before except I was out of 45acps well not totally out but not enough that I could use it. So my only other gun I had magazines and ammo for? A Glock 20 10mm with full power 180gr fmj loads. Yeah that turned heads when I started shooting, but hey I still got third place with it, so I guess not to bad. Good luck!
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Old November 7, 2013, 06:52 PM   #17
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Now that is finer than frog hair. OK, I'll load them like that then!
1.230 COL for my Colt 1911; and 1.240 COL for my Springfield 1911.
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Old November 7, 2013, 08:24 PM   #18
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Yeah that turned heads when I started shooting
I bet it did! And still got 3rd, wow!

Quote:
1.230 COL for my Colt 1911; and 1.240 COL for my Springfield 1911.
10-4 Nick.
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Old November 7, 2013, 11:22 PM   #19
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Re: Need a starting load for .452 160gr bullet in 45 ACP

I've got a full glockworx trigger system in the 10mm, so it helps a lot, it is the only Glock I'll probably ever own, it shoots accurate with the factory barrel and the KKM 6" barrel. Trust me I was surprised I took third, now if I only could beat the guy who trained me I'd be happy lol
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