loading .45auto ??

THORN74 · November 1, 2011, 03:22 PM

so i have loading info from 3 diff sources and i am very confused ...

for example: 230 LRN

hornady 8th edition win231 5.0gr -5.8gr
lee 2nd edition win231 4.5gr - 5.1gr
hodgdon website win231 4.3gr - 5.3gr

so, which is it?? im not to concerned about the low end, but the high end is unsetteling to a noob like me. help?

Chaz88 · November 1, 2011, 03:46 PM

If looking to go with a max load I would start in the middle and work my way up. I personally rarely load near max, unless it is for a hunting round. I do a lot of target shooting and do not enjoy using hot loads all day. I save the hot loads for specific purposes.

maggys drawers · November 1, 2011, 04:12 PM

Since it's the powder you are getting different ranges on, I'd go with the powder manufacturer's recommendation...in this case, the Hodgdon website.

William T. Watts · November 1, 2011, 04:20 PM

+ 1 for maggys drawers, I'd go with the powder manufacture's recommendation also! William

**Unclenick** · November 1, 2011, 04:21 PM

The differences you see depend on the gun, brass, primer and bullet used as well as the exact seating depth of the bullet design. Some component combinations will handle more powder than others. In general, seating deeper raises pressure and doesn't let you use as much powder. So you have to copy loads in every particular to get really close.

That said, .45 Auto is a well-known quantity. With any 230 grain round nose bullet that's either jacketed, plated or hard case, you can shoot 5 grains of 231 with a standard large pistol primer and roughly imitate commercial hardball. Unless you have a real need to push maximum, why waste the powder. With a 230 grain bullet 231 will run most any gun fine on about 4.5 grains and up.

THORN74 · November 1, 2011, 04:41 PM

like i said im a noob, and while i am not looking to push the high end of the loading spectrum, it concerned me that out of 3 sources there was that much diff in "NEVER EXCEED MAXIMUM" loads.

the diff between the max from lee and hornady is almost 1 full grain that sounds like an aweful lot to a novice like me. espceially given what can happen with over pressure!!?!?

the thing that scares me most is the hornady load data for the 185gr xtp

the book says 6.4-7.2 gr win231 .... i have 600 free xtp bullets from hornady and these will be my first relaods. Hodgdons site doesnt list this bullet, but instead lists a "hdy jswc" of the same weight with loads of 5.0 - 5.9gr

that jswc is listed on the same page in the hornady book with the same 6.4-7.2gr data .... that seems like an even scarrier differance to me?!?

Charlie98 · November 1, 2011, 05:53 PM

There may be some differences with cast loads, too, with the charge designed not to overdrive them and lead the bore up.

You will most always find load differences in the same powder, same bullet weight... but cast or jacketed because the jacketed bullet needs to be driven harder than the cast. There may be load differences in cast and 'hard cast' as well, but I doubt you will find that in LRN bullets, I'm thinking more like SWC vs HBWC's (.38SPC for example.)

November 1, 2011, 03:22 PM	#1
THORN74 Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2010 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Posts: 543	loading .45auto ?? so i have loading info from 3 diff sources and i am very confused ... for example: 230 LRN hornady 8th edition win231 5.0gr -5.8gr lee 2nd edition win231 4.5gr - 5.1gr hodgdon website win231 4.3gr - 5.3gr so, which is it?? im not to concerned about the low end, but the high end is unsetteling to a noob like me. help? __________________ Sig P226 .40s&w/9mm -- Kimber Pro CDP .45ACP -- Radom P64 9X18mm Makarov -- Dan Wesson RZ-45 Heritage .45ACP -- Ruger SR22 .22LR -- M&P9c 9mm Springfield Armory Inc. M1A Scout 7.62X51mm NATO -- Kar 98AZ (1917 Erfurt) 8mm Mauser -- Marlin Model 60 Glenfield .22LR -- Marlin 795 .22LR -- Marlin 915y .22LR -- AR15 5.56x45mm NATO -- Springfield Armory M1 Garand 30-06

November 1, 2011, 03:46 PM	#2
Chaz88 Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2010 Posts: 1,243	If looking to go with a max load I would start in the middle and work my way up. I personally rarely load near max, unless it is for a hunting round. I do a lot of target shooting and do not enjoy using hot loads all day. I save the hot loads for specific purposes. __________________ Seams like once we the people give what, at the time, seams like a reasonable inch and "they" take the unreasonable mile we can only get that mile back one inch at a time. No spelun and grammar is not my specialty. So please don't hurt my sensitive little feelings by teasing me about it.

November 1, 2011, 04:21 PM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	The differences you see depend on the gun, brass, primer and bullet used as well as the exact seating depth of the bullet design. Some component combinations will handle more powder than others. In general, seating deeper raises pressure and doesn't let you use as much powder. So you have to copy loads in every particular to get really close. That said, .45 Auto is a well-known quantity. With any 230 grain round nose bullet that's either jacketed, plated or hard case, you can shoot 5 grains of 231 with a standard large pistol primer and roughly imitate commercial hardball. Unless you have a real need to push maximum, why waste the powder. With a 230 grain bullet 231 will run most any gun fine on about 4.5 grains and up. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 1, 2011, 04:41 PM	#6
THORN74 Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2010 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Posts: 543	like i said im a noob, and while i am not looking to push the high end of the loading spectrum, it concerned me that out of 3 sources there was that much diff in "NEVER EXCEED MAXIMUM" loads. the diff between the max from lee and hornady is almost 1 full grain that sounds like an aweful lot to a novice like me. espceially given what can happen with over pressure!!?!? the thing that scares me most is the hornady load data for the 185gr xtp the book says 6.4-7.2 gr win231 .... i have 600 free xtp bullets from hornady and these will be my first relaods. Hodgdons site doesnt list this bullet, but instead lists a "hdy jswc" of the same weight with loads of 5.0 - 5.9gr that jswc is listed on the same page in the hornady book with the same 6.4-7.2gr data .... that seems like an even scarrier differance to me?!? __________________ Sig P226 .40s&w/9mm -- Kimber Pro CDP .45ACP -- Radom P64 9X18mm Makarov -- Dan Wesson RZ-45 Heritage .45ACP -- Ruger SR22 .22LR -- M&P9c 9mm Springfield Armory Inc. M1A Scout 7.62X51mm NATO -- Kar 98AZ (1917 Erfurt) 8mm Mauser -- Marlin Model 60 Glenfield .22LR -- Marlin 795 .22LR -- Marlin 915y .22LR -- AR15 5.56x45mm NATO -- Springfield Armory M1 Garand 30-06 Last edited by THORN74; November 1, 2011 at 04:47 PM.

November 1, 2011, 04:12 PM	#3
maggys drawers Senior Member Join Date: March 4, 2006 Posts: 178	Since it's the powder you are getting different ranges on, I'd go with the powder manufacturer's recommendation...in this case, the Hodgdon website.

November 1, 2011, 04:20 PM	#4
William T. Watts Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2010 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 1,074	+ 1 for maggys drawers, I'd go with the powder manufacture's recommendation also! William

November 1, 2011, 05:53 PM	#7
Charlie98 Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2006 Location: Great state of Texas Posts: 1,077	There may be some differences with cast loads, too, with the charge designed not to overdrive them and lead the bore up. You will most always find load differences in the same powder, same bullet weight... but cast or jacketed because the jacketed bullet needs to be driven harder than the cast. There may be load differences in cast and 'hard cast' as well, but I doubt you will find that in LRN bullets, I'm thinking more like SWC vs HBWC's (.38SPC for example.)