starting load for 240 grain truncated cone in .45 ACP?

[nightrain5]

I just started casting bullets and cast some out of my 230 grain lee mold that just happen to weigh anywhere from 238 grains to 242 grains with Lee liquid Alox on them. Does anyone know a good starting load to use with these bullets in .45 ACP?

I've got HP38 and Unique. I have used HP38 with 230gr jacketed truncated cone bullets in the past, but was thinking about using the Unique.

Any ideas? 5.0 grains of Unique to start maybe?

Thanks,

Randall

[GabbyM]

Don't know what pistol you're shooting. But I wouldn't be surprised if 5gr of unique fell short of cycling the slide with a stock spring. 5gr would be around 600fps. The Lyman book list under their 225gr bullet a range of 5.5gr for 695fps to 7.3 for 905fps for Unique powder. So 5.5 to 6.0gr would seem a better place to start. 6gr should give you around 750fps. But you wont know until you try.
Your HP38 would be the more popular reduced power load powder.

[454PB]

I believe HP38 is the same as WW 231 with a different name. Using Unique, 5.5 to 6 grains should be a good starting load. I've used more in my .45's with good results.

[trickyasafox]

I've gone over 6.0 with my TC and they do drop a bit heavy like yours. if your using a stock 1911 with a 16lb spring it probably will not cycle under 5.2 grains of unique. I tried to get some real powder puff loads for an old gf to shoot and that was the point that I had drama.

It also burned so dirty with so much powder left over it wasn't even fun. keep the unique above 5.5, and I'd say closer to 5.7

alliant lists 5.9 as the max unique charge for a 240 gr JHP off their website, and 6.4 gr as a max for a 230gr HP.

[Ricochet]

Mine fall out of the mould right at 240 grains, but I'm using nearly pure lead.

[nightrain5]

Thanks for the ideas folks!:-D I'm not opposed to starting out with 5.5 grains of Unique, I was just guessing on the side of caution cause my reloading book didn't have any info. on that type and weight of bullet in lead(Modern Reloading 2).

This pistol I'm wanting to use it in is a .45 EAA Witness(full size).

Anyone have some ideas on how much HP38 I should use if i stay with that?

Randall

[quasi]

I use 5.7 231 with the Lee 230 TC.

[35remington]

6.5 Unique should be around the top end. 7.3 Unique is excessive and should not be used. More recent handloading sources use less Unique in their top charges and rightly so.

7.3 grains will give far more velocity than 905 fps. I exceed that somewhat with 6.4 grains of Unique.