200 LSW load questions

DialONE911 · September 2, 2000, 01:25 PM

I'm looking to load 200 LSW for plinking in my .45 ACP, but the manuals I have are very contradictory.

Using Unique, Alliant's guide says 5.1 grains max load for 810 fps @ 9600 psi.

Lyman's manual says 7.5 grains of Unique for a max load with 913 fps @17,400 cup and a starting charge of 6.0 grains for 717 fps @ 11,400 cup.

Being new to reloading, I loaded 5 rounds with 4.9 grains of Unique with an oal of 1.235, which I figured would be a safe starting load, going by Alliant's numbers. When I shot them, they shot extremely low, 4 inches at 10 yards. I don't have a chronograph, so I can't say for sure, but I would think they are very slow.

Is a lower POI consistent with 200 LSWs, or is my load to light? I have been loading 230 FMJs with good results, but want to switch to lead for the cost savings.

Thanks.

char923 · September 2, 2000, 01:47 PM

Hi DailONE911 you reloads are to light, My reloads with Unique.
Unique 6.2gr Chrony at 844 fps
Unique 6.5gr Chrony at 895 fps.
OAL. for both 1.250
Bullet: 200gr SWC (cast wheel weight)
Primer: CCI 300
Brass: winchester

Johnny Guest · September 2, 2000, 03:04 PM

DialONE911--

char923's experience is exactly parallel to mine. I used to load 6.5 Unique with 230 gr RN. For light loads and plinking, I would leave everything set up the way it was--powder measure still at 6.5, and not even rouch the seating stem. The 200 gr. Hensley & Gibbs #68 bullet seats to exactly the right place. I used Win WLP primers and, I think, R-P cases.

Oehler 43 Chronograph with check screen--From and old S&W 4506, avg 890 fps. From a Colt Government MK IV, 896 fps. This data is from January 1995, with temp in low 50s.

Best,
Johnny

------------------
---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---

big89foot · September 2, 2000, 04:48 PM

That's typical of the Manuals...The Lyman manual has a START load for my 6.5 Swede with H380 way above the MAX for the Hodgdon manual; while the Lee manual spans them both...go figure? I think the Lyman manual must be reflecting performance shooting while the factory manuals are more on the safe side.

DialONE911 · September 3, 2000, 01:43 PM

Thanks for the advice. I'll load up a test batch with Lyman's suggested starting charge and see how it goes.

alan · September 3, 2000, 11:27 PM

Dialone"

There are many, many good working loads for 45ACP.

One that I have found to be a good one is as follows. There are a great many others, and a whole lot of newer powders. WORK UP STARTING FROM AT LEAST 10% BELOW.

200 grain SWC, hard cast, H&G 68 or "similar"
Winchester large pistol primer
cases are a horrible mixture of military and commercial
oal 1.260", dia at mouth, taper crimped .470"
propellant used 5.2 grains Red Dot
pistols are 5" government models
muzzle velocity with indicated load, slightly over 900 ft/sec

Hutch · September 6, 2000, 02:25 PM

Yeah, it IS kind of sobering to discover your pet load is over max in some new manual, ain't it? I have 3 manuals from the early 80's, when I started reloading. They all agree that for .45ACP, 7.2gr Unique under a 200LSWC is fine. I've shot thousands. When Universal Clays came out, maybe 6 years ago, I bought some since the early ads for it shamelessly claimed to be a replacement for Unique. I chrono'd some midrange loads and was getting <700fps. I called Hodgdon, and told them I thought I could duplicate Unique ballistics. They asked what powder charge of Unique I was using. Then THEY went ballistic, claiming I was damaging my guns. Go figure

Jay Baker · September 6, 2000, 05:50 PM

I loaded and shot 1,000s upon 1,000s of .45ACP rounds, 200 gr. H&G #68 SWC, 6.5 grs of Unique, CCI and WW primers, in my Govt. Models. Then switched to same bullet, 5.8 grs of WW231, same primers, for 1,000s of rounds, IPSC, IDPA, and general plinking, etc. Great loads in my pistols. That's what I use today, and am quite satisfied with it.

FWIW. J.B.

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September 2, 2000, 01:25 PM	#1
DialONE911 Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2000 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 214	I'm looking to load 200 LSW for plinking in my .45 ACP, but the manuals I have are very contradictory. Using Unique, Alliant's guide says 5.1 grains max load for 810 fps @ 9600 psi. Lyman's manual says 7.5 grains of Unique for a max load with 913 fps @17,400 cup and a starting charge of 6.0 grains for 717 fps @ 11,400 cup. Being new to reloading, I loaded 5 rounds with 4.9 grains of Unique with an oal of 1.235, which I figured would be a safe starting load, going by Alliant's numbers. When I shot them, they shot extremely low, 4 inches at 10 yards. I don't have a chronograph, so I can't say for sure, but I would think they are very slow. Is a lower POI consistent with 200 LSWs, or is my load to light? I have been loading 230 FMJs with good results, but want to switch to lead for the cost savings. Thanks.

September 2, 2000, 01:47 PM	#2
char923 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2000 Location: Anchorage AK Posts: 237	Hi DailONE911 you reloads are to light, My reloads with Unique. Unique 6.2gr Chrony at 844 fps Unique 6.5gr Chrony at 895 fps. OAL. for both 1.250 Bullet: 200gr SWC (cast wheel weight) Primer: CCI 300 Brass: winchester

September 2, 2000, 03:04 PM	#3
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	DialONE911-- char923's experience is exactly parallel to mine. I used to load 6.5 Unique with 230 gr RN. For light loads and plinking, I would leave everything set up the way it was--powder measure still at 6.5, and not even rouch the seating stem. The 200 gr. Hensley & Gibbs #68 bullet seats to exactly the right place. I used Win WLP primers and, I think, R-P cases. Oehler 43 Chronograph with check screen--From and old S&W 4506, avg 890 fps. From a Colt Government MK IV, 896 fps. This data is from January 1995, with temp in low 50s. Best, Johnny ------------------ ---The Second Amendment ensures the rest of the Bill of Rights---

September 2, 2000, 04:48 PM	#4
big89foot Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: Pensacola, Fl Posts: 54	That's typical of the Manuals...The Lyman manual has a START load for my 6.5 Swede with H380 way above the MAX for the Hodgdon manual; while the Lee manual spans them both...go figure? I think the Lyman manual must be reflecting performance shooting while the factory manuals are more on the safe side.

September 3, 2000, 01:43 PM	#5
DialONE911 Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2000 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 214	Thanks for the advice. I'll load up a test batch with Lyman's suggested starting charge and see how it goes.

September 3, 2000, 11:27 PM	#6
alan Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 1999 Posts: 3,847	Dialone" There are many, many good working loads for 45ACP. One that I have found to be a good one is as follows. There are a great many others, and a whole lot of newer powders. WORK UP STARTING FROM AT LEAST 10% BELOW. 200 grain SWC, hard cast, H&G 68 or "similar" Winchester large pistol primer cases are a horrible mixture of military and commercial oal 1.260", dia at mouth, taper crimped .470" propellant used 5.2 grains Red Dot pistols are 5" government models muzzle velocity with indicated load, slightly over 900 ft/sec

September 6, 2000, 02:25 PM	#7
Hutch Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2000 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,124	Yeah, it IS kind of sobering to discover your pet load is over max in some new manual, ain't it? I have 3 manuals from the early 80's, when I started reloading. They all agree that for .45ACP, 7.2gr Unique under a 200LSWC is fine. I've shot thousands. When Universal Clays came out, maybe 6 years ago, I bought some since the early ads for it shamelessly claimed to be a replacement for Unique. I chrono'd some midrange loads and was getting <700fps. I called Hodgdon, and told them I thought I could duplicate Unique ballistics. They asked what powder charge of Unique I was using. Then THEY went ballistic, claiming I was damaging my guns. Go figure

September 6, 2000, 05:50 PM	#8
Jay Baker Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2000 Location: S.W. Idaho Posts: 1,294	I loaded and shot 1,000s upon 1,000s of .45ACP rounds, 200 gr. H&G #68 SWC, 6.5 grs of Unique, CCI and WW primers, in my Govt. Models. Then switched to same bullet, 5.8 grs of WW231, same primers, for 1,000s of rounds, IPSC, IDPA, and general plinking, etc. Great loads in my pistols. That's what I use today, and am quite satisfied with it. FWIW. J.B.