Load needed - 45acp and 150 gr LSWC

[ShrinkMD]

Dardas cast bullets has 150 gr lswc for the 45acp. I thought these would be fun (and economical) for target and lighter loads. But I can't find any load data anywhere for them, yet. Does anyone have any?

I am interested in Bullseye or Power Pistol for powders.

Thanks!

[sagacious]

LEE manual, 45ACP 155LSWC OAL 1.270"

Bullseye
start 6.1grs
max 6.9grs vel 1175fps 19,400psi

No relevant data listed for PowerPistol in that manual. I own the LEE 452-155-SWC mold. It is fun to shoot, but in my experience does not feed as reliably in some pistols as the 200SWC.

Hope this helps, good luck.

[ShrinkMD]

Thanks! Luckily I have a 625 revolver, so if they don't feed well in my pistol they can always get eaten by the sixgun.

[sagacious]

Sounds good! Best of luck.

[ShrinkMD]

I finally ordered the bullets, so I'll be changing the press over soon to make up the loads. I will try out that Bullseye load, maybe start 6.1 and make 0.1 gr increments going to 6.5 or so. I'll post a report when I get them done and I measure the results.

[ShrinkMD]

I shot them and measured them over the new infrared CED M2:

These were in WCC Match 98 cases once fired, Federal LP primer, and Bullseye powder. These are all 20 shot groups, and the number next to the Average is the average of the highest three (a feature of the M2) I combined the Lyman load data for a 160 gr (start 5.8) and the Lee manual, which lists a 155 gr starting at 6.6 (which it said should run 1120, mine were not running that fast)

5.8 gr
High: 944.4
Low: 889.7
E.S.: 54.7
Ave.: 916.9 939.4
S.D.: 15.5
95%: 7.6

6.0 gr
High: 967.4
Low: 922
E.S.: 45.4
Ave.: 949.6 966.6
S.D.: 13.2
95%: 6.5

6.2 gr
High: 1021
Low: 965.4
E.S.: 55.6
Ave.: 989.1 1013
S.D.: 14.8
95%: 7.3

6.4 gr
High: 1051
Low: 991.5
E.S.: 59.5
Ave.: 1024.7 1043
S.D.: 15.7
95%: 7.7

6.6 gr
High: 1077
Low: 1019
E.S.: 58
Ave.: 1050.6 1075
S.D.: 16.3
95%: 8

They were all accurate and shot to the same POA as my 200 and 230 gr loads at 15 yds. Maybe they would have gone elsewhere at 25 or 50, but for close in they were fine. I had a few FTF jams, so I was wondering if seating the bullet a drop longer would help. It seems like such an odd shape, but I was happy that they almost all fed no problem. I'd like to get them to 100% I was also thinking that these would run great in a 625 with auto rim brass. Cheaper bullets than the 158 LSWC, and more fun (although a bit more powder than the 38 special)

I think I might get more!

[ShrinkMD]

I don't remember (and can't seem to find) what OAL I used, and I recently picked up this project again.

So I made up batches of 25 with OAL of 1.255, 1.260, 1.265, and 1.275 (and remembered to write down the value on the Redding seater, so I can reproduce them) The good news is, they all fed fine in my 1911, without any stoppages. I was using mixed fired 45 brass with Wolf LP primers (left over from the last Great Primer Shortage, when it was all I could get) and Bullseye 6.5 gr.

I was shooting more for function that accuracy today, and it was cold and hard to concentrate, so I don't have any strong sense that one load shot better than the other.

What is my next best move to optimize this load? Should I make up 100 at each OAL to make sure they all feed properly? Should a longer OAL in theory be more accurate? Would I want to confirm perfect feeding at a given OAL before I start varying the powder charge, looking for optimal accuracy?

Thanks for any advice.