Rainier 200gr. SWC .45 loads?

AustinMike · May 17, 2005, 08:06 AM

I just ordered some Rainier 200gr. SWC .45's to try. I've shot their 230gr. RN for years and like them a lot, but wanted to give the clean hole punchers a try. Anybody got any loads to share? I want loads that are around 850fps for IPSC use. I've got Clays on hand and I can get HP-38 and Titegroup real cheap here.

Jim Watson · May 17, 2005, 08:32 AM

Pardon me for not getting up and looking up specific "recipes" for you, but I just loaded them like 200 grain cast. The powders you list are fine. It will take a maximum load of plain Clays to make Major, you have more margin of safety with HP38 or Titegroup.

Be sure your sizing die is tight and your expander is small, I had trouble with them setting back against the feed ramp where cast and jacketed bullets did not. I also had trouble getting them to feed in guns set up for the No 68 cast SWC. So I don't load plated bullets any more. Good luck.

BigDog(RE) · May 18, 2005, 07:14 AM

There is some good load data here: http://www.rainierballistics.com/loaddataMW.htm

I use them with 5.5gr of W231, and I like the end result.

Johnny Guest · May 18, 2005, 10:21 AM

Sorry I can't help you with the powders you mention.

With that or similar bullets, I have variously used - - -

Unique, 6.2 to 6.5 gr. ~830 to 860
H. Universal, 6.5 gr. ~ 850
W-231, 5.6 gr. a bit less - - perhaps 775 or so, but quite accurate in my pistols.

The original H&G #68 bullet was designed to have the shoulder and the edge of the meplat as points of congruency with the 230 FMJ bullet. If you have the nose stem in your seating die set to duplicate factory hard ball, you should be good right there. Speer manual says COL should be 1.275".

Best of luck
Johnny

Mark whiz · May 19, 2005, 01:23 AM

By far, my best load with that bullet (for my SA 1911-A1 Mil-Spec) is 9.6gr of AA#5 loaded to an OAL of 1.258". These will cut the same hole all day long at 15yds - they run 903fps,with very little deviation.

My next best loads are:
4.7gr of Win Super Target (WST)
5.3gr of Win 231

each of those loads group an inch larger than the previous one.

Win231 is said to be the same powder as HP-38 (although some disagree), but you might want to try the HP-38 starting at 5.0gr & working up toward 5.5 & see what you get

May 17, 2005, 08:06 AM	#1
AustinMike Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 171	Rainier 200gr. SWC .45 loads? I just ordered some Rainier 200gr. SWC .45's to try. I've shot their 230gr. RN for years and like them a lot, but wanted to give the clean hole punchers a try. Anybody got any loads to share? I want loads that are around 850fps for IPSC use. I've got Clays on hand and I can get HP-38 and Titegroup real cheap here.

May 18, 2005, 10:21 AM	#4
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	My favorites - - Sorry I can't help you with the powders you mention. With that or similar bullets, I have variously used - - - Unique, 6.2 to 6.5 gr. ~830 to 860 H. Universal, 6.5 gr. ~ 850 W-231, 5.6 gr. a bit less - - perhaps 775 or so, but quite accurate in my pistols. The original H&G #68 bullet was designed to have the shoulder and the edge of the meplat as points of congruency with the 230 FMJ bullet. If you have the nose stem in your seating die set to duplicate factory hard ball, you should be good right there. Speer manual says COL should be 1.275". Best of luck Johnny

May 17, 2005, 08:32 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Pardon me for not getting up and looking up specific "recipes" for you, but I just loaded them like 200 grain cast. The powders you list are fine. It will take a maximum load of plain Clays to make Major, you have more margin of safety with HP38 or Titegroup. Be sure your sizing die is tight and your expander is small, I had trouble with them setting back against the feed ramp where cast and jacketed bullets did not. I also had trouble getting them to feed in guns set up for the No 68 cast SWC. So I don't load plated bullets any more. Good luck.

May 18, 2005, 07:14 AM	#3
BigDog(RE) Member Join Date: January 16, 2005 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 41	There is some good load data here: http://www.rainierballistics.com/loaddataMW.htm I use them with 5.5gr of W231, and I like the end result.

May 19, 2005, 01:23 AM	#5
Mark whiz Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: Wabash, IN Posts: 227	By far, my best load with that bullet (for my SA 1911-A1 Mil-Spec) is 9.6gr of AA#5 loaded to an OAL of 1.258". These will cut the same hole all day long at 15yds - they run 903fps,with very little deviation. My next best loads are: 4.7gr of Win Super Target (WST) 5.3gr of Win 231 each of those loads group an inch larger than the previous one. Win231 is said to be the same powder as HP-38 (although some disagree), but you might want to try the HP-38 starting at 5.0gr & working up toward 5.5 & see what you get __________________ "Every moving thing that liveth, I give unto you as meat" (Gen 9:3) Aim small.........miss small. Trust God..........but keep your powder dry!