Loading 45 ACP 200gr RF cast and 185 plated FP

[snaggdit]

I just loaded a bunch of my cast 452-200 RF Boolits. My Lee mold actually dropped WW at 215gr. In my Lee load book, it calls for 7.8 to 8.7 for 200gr lead with Accurate #5. I loaded at 8.1 and some at 8.4 to chrono soon. Then I wanted to load some Rainier leadsafe plated 185 gr FP. My Lee load book calls for 9.4 to 10.4 for 185 plated with Accurate #5. That seems like a big jump. I use a Lee auto measure and even with a double disk have to skip by .2gr or more. Don't want to start too high. I loaded some at 10gr. Anyone have any experience with these 2 rounds?

[Willbird]

My Lee Modern Reloading agrees with your numbers for a 200 grain lead bullet with aa5, it says start 8.1gr never exceed 8.7gr for 1025fps and 19,400 psi

Lyman 49 has two different 200gr lead bullets, one says 7.0=697fps at 10,500cup 8.5=927fps at 16,800cup The other says 6.4=686fps at 10,000 and 8.0=970fps at 17,000cup.

I have no data for plated bullets, I seem to remember people saying to use cast data for them ?? I think I would start with the lower cast data and see what the crono says. On some of those the plating is very thin and they may well behave more like a cast bullet than a jacketed one.

Bill

[putteral]

My friend uses 7.0 grs of AA#5 with a 200 gr LSWC. I have shot this load in his Kimber and it makes a nice target round, not to stout and very accruate.

[snaggdit]

Thanks guys. I loaded a few of the plated at 9.9gr (what my Lee auto measure says should drop 10.2...) and will try them with a chrono. Does AA#5 just meter poorly, or do the auto measure disks just not quite work well? I have tried tapping the hopper on the down and upstroke and it gets a hair more consistant, but still not where the load info says it should be. Now I have got to the point that when I want a 7gr load, for example, I will look for the disk that drops 7.4. Annoying to have to weigh every load when using a progressive press. Do the green/red dot or Unique pistol powders meter better? Maybe I should repost this question as a new post...

[sniper7369]

I use the micro charge bar in my Lee auto disks. A lot more accurate and easier to adjust the charge without taking the hopper off.

[snaggdit]

Hmm. They make such a thing? I guess that's why we post! Thanks, I'll look into it!

[whisler]

I just loaded some 44 Special loads using the Lee Auto-disk .82 hole which Lee says is supposed to throw 7.5 grains of Unique. By my RCBS scale it threw 6.5 grains. The measue was very consistent (checked quite a few at random intervals), but it was consistently 6.5 grains. Could be my old Unique or a case of CYA by Lee but they were at least consistent.

[Mdmoberg]

I just loaded some 44 Special loads using the Lee Auto-disk .82 hole which Lee says is supposed to throw 7.5 grains of Unique. By my RCBS scale it threw 6.5 grains. The measue was very consistent (checked quite a few at random intervals), but it was consistently 6.5 grains. Could be my old Unique or a case of CYA by Lee but they were at least consistent.

Try the next bigger measure .85 lee auto disk are very conservative in their measurements...I always have to go up 1 bigger CC measurement!

[Wayne Smith]

Careful and use a powder check die with Unique. I've had it bridge in all 6 of my powder measures. I now use it in the B&M only.

[tazman]

You do realize you are responding to an 8+ year old thread?