Anyone load .45ACP

[rawiron1]

I reload many calibers including 7.62x25 Tok.  I heard .45 is way easier than Tok.  What do yall think?

I plan on loading 230gr. FMJ and plated bullets with a standard primer and a light to medium load of Win. 231.  I like lots of flash and bang.   

Jason

[freeflying]

Loaded it for a long time. I use IMR 700X for the powder as I could care less about flash and bang, I want a clean burning powder, 231 is dirty. I will use Hodgen Clays for powder if 700X is not available as it is just as good. These powders are also bulky which helps assure you don't do a double charge as it will not all fit.

[rawiron1]

Dirty is a matter of opinion.  Sooty to me is not dirty.  Jamming is dirty.  I have this 2400 load for .44Spl. that causes the gun to jam something terrible.  I have to brush the star wheel out every 5 - 10 shots with this load in my Smith 696.  However, my Clays and 231 load for .44Spl. cause no malfunctions.  I use H-110 in my .44Mag. rifle.  Sooty?  Yes?  Jamming?  No.

OK, update.  Just shot a low and mid-range load.  Low end load functioned the gun just fine so no need for a mid-range or a heavy load.  Very accurate, some flash and bang, no bullet set-back problems.  Using 5.0gr. of 231 with a Berry 230gr. plated round nose. 

This load costs me $9.50/box of 50.  And when I switch to Precision Delta 230gr., FMJ, round noses it will drop to price to $8.45/box of 50.  Yes, Precision Delta sells FMJs for less than Berry sells plated.  What do you think of these apples?

Jason

[freeflying]

To each their own on reloading. I have been loading for many years and just offer my view on things when someone asks. My needs for loading are probably different than yours and I like it when I hear there was little smoke or muzzle flash as I have actually taken the time to learn what I am doing and not just what my shooting buddies tell me what to load.

I laugh when I read "I like a lot of flash and bang" which makes me think of the clowns I laugh at down on the range. Some of them are feds too.

As for bullets I don't and wont use either one of those except for use in a Mac 10 or sub machine gun that I just want to spray bullets down range at a shoot.

[Southern Patriot]

Stick with the tok...45 is too slow.

[rawiron1]

Free flying.  I have two types of loads.  Sissy target loads and man loads.  My sissy load for my Smith 696 .44Spl. is a 180gr. Berry, lead flat point backed up with 3.6 grains of clays (min. load).  Little flash or bang.  Book lists the FPS at about 650 out of a 4".  My barrel is 2 1/2.  So probably slower.

But in my Ruger 77/44 .44mag. I have a man load.  29gr. of H-110, Sierra 180gr. JHP, with a mag primer.  Load lists 1850FPS out of a 14" Contender and my barrel is 20".  So probably faster.  Primers come out flat as pancakes.  And this is MINIMUM load!  OK, actual min. load in my book is 28.7.  Max is listed at 32.3 compressed.  Both loads list a standard primer.  I started using mag to see if it cut down on muzzle flash.  It did so it must be burning more efficient.  Also caused the gun to shoot an 1" lower at 25 yards (flatter shooting).

But I won't hold it against you if you shoot old geezer loads.   

Jason

[freeflying]

Free flying.  I have two types of loads.  Sissy target loads and man loads.  My sissy load for my Smith 696 .44Spl. is a 180gr. Berry, lead flat point backed up with 3.6 grains of clays (min. load).  Little flash or bang.  Book lists the FPS at about 650 out of a 4".  My barrel is 2 1/2.  So probably slower.

But in my Ruger 77/44 .44mag. I have a man load.  29gr. of H-110, Sierra 180gr. JHP, with a mag primer.  Load lists 1850FPS out of a 14" Contender and my barrel is 20".  So probably faster.  Primers come out flat as pancakes.  And this is MINIMUM load!  OK, actual min. load in my book is 28.7.  Max is listed at 32.3 compressed.  Both loads list a standard primer.  I started using mag to see if it cut down on muzzle flash.  It did so it must be burning more efficient.  Also caused the gun to shoot an 1" lower at 25 yards (flatter shooting).

But I won't hold it against you if you shoot old geezer loads.   

Jason

I usually load for a year or two at a time and I load on Camdex machines so I load a shitload of one load for 45 and all my guns fire it fine. Rifle I have several loads for each caliber so I do shorter runs of some of that but also do big runs of 5.56 and 7.62 blasting ammo on the Camdex machines as well. If you ever loaded on a Camdex you learn it is a pain to change things and mine are set for one 1 load that never changes . I have a dedicated machine for 9mm, .45, 5.56, 7.62 and one for .50bmg .  The rest goes on the Dillons. My friends build their guns to shoot my ammo and they come and use my machines and bring their components that the machines are set for that they bought. This is the machines I use and it is interesting to look at what they build. A day at the range for me can easily go well over the 5K mark and I shoot a couple days a week so I load big numbers. I cant afford to buy rifle brass any other way than DOD auctions and I sell what I don't need to a couple companies that resell it but I am not selling much now. Take a look at the loaders and what they put out and you will get the idea of way I am the way I am about reloading. What I load may not be the best for every situation but it is the best for my shooting needs. Most of the powders I use are canister powders and I recommend what worked well for me when I loaded on a smaller scale as some of the powders will not flow fast enough on my loaders as they fly.

http://www.camdexloader.com/

[rawiron1]

Holy crap you shoot allot!

And you load 50?!?

I'M NOT WORTHY!  I'M NOT WORTHY!  I'M NOT WORTHY!

OK Old Wise One.  What's a good short barrel load for a 10 1/2" .223 AR?  I am going to use a 50gr. SP, xxgr. of IMR-4227 (using Contender data for 10 - 14" barrels), and a small rifle mag primer (load calls for it in the book).  But you might have a better load.  Thoughts?

Jason

[Unintelligable Name]

I load 8 grains of power pistol with 230 gr FMJ and it works just fine and dandy.

[freeflying]

Camdex will set you back $25,000.00. I think I will have to stick with the turret press and the Classic for the .50 . Out of my price range by far.....

Plenty of companies going belly up so I pick them off as they go under. Here's one for 5K http://www.gunsamerica.com/976855223/Non-Guns/Reloading/Equipment/Camdex_2100.htm in .45acp.
I bought the .50bmg machine new but all the rest I got used. Also having a room full of Camdex machines convinces the component manufacturers you are serious and you get the OEM primers and excellent pricing on quality jacketed bullets. I have a lot of friends in the business that I gave contracts to over the years that let me know who is selling what. I plan on having a Camdex for every bullet weight I load at some point if this all hold together.

[freeflying]

Holy crap you shoot allot!

And you load 50?!?

I'M NOT WORTHY!  I'M NOT WORTHY!  I'M NOT WORTHY!

OK Old Wise One.  What's a good short barrel load for a 10 1/2" .223 AR?  I am going to use a 50gr. SP, xxgr. of IMR-4227 (using Contender data for 10 - 14" barrels), and a small rifle mag primer (load calls for it in the book).  But you might have a better load.  Thoughts?

Jason

Really isn't that many good loads for short barrels as they don't burn it all before the bullet is gone. Look on the powder burn charts and go with a little faster burning powder that will keep you at or around 50,000 psi or less. I will call my friend as I think he still has a 10" test barrel and see if he has any data I can send your way as I know he was working on this at one time. Most of my stuff is for 14.5" barrels and up.

If you own .50 belt feds you have no option but to reload or have piles of cash as surplus is still $3-5 a round for decent stuff. There are tons of surplus components laying around though. Other option is to just look at the gun but that is no fun.