Lee 452 230gr / 45acp

[TjB101]

Purchased the Lee mold and cast about 50 to test.

Created a dummy round and loading to the top rim I’m at 1.256. For a 230 gr that’s a tad shorter than my the FMJ rounds I loaded that had a similar profile. Look ok?

I was going to start at 4.8-4.9 gr of Bullseye for that OAL.

Anyone else cast this projectile? Good OAL, Starting load?

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191029/47dda9d6f9e865ca102957b8469bb19b.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191029/f9d68b4dd3c761dc0a97257ecad3d17f.jpg

[Conditor22]

Your powder charge may be a touch warm to start with 4.7 - 4.8 grns and watch the primers.

You can't compare cast to FMJ for seating depth, the cast are usually fatter and need to be seated deeper.

Every gun is different, load a dummy round and try it in the gun you will be shooting it in.

[TjB101]

You can't compare cast to FMJ for seating depth, the cast are usually fatter and need to be seated deeper.


Yeah... the nose does seem to be shorter than my 230gr and even my 200gr plated bullets.

I’ll give ~4.7 and 4.8 a try and see how it performs. This is for a P220 and P227. The 220 has a stiff spring ... needs a lot of umpff to cycle it.

[Martin Luber]

3.8 BE should be just fine for that load. OAL so it fits the magazine at max length but just a tad of the shoulder is fine at the case rim. Don't worry.

[JBinMN]

Without going & looking , IIRC, my OAL for that boolit in 45ACP is 1.20", or 1.25". I lean towards it being 1.25" & perhaps the 230TC is the 1.20". I would have to go look...

I ladder tested that boolit using 4.5gr - 4.9gr. Red Dot( 5.0 is MAX, IIRC) in .1 gr. steps a couple of years ago & 4.7gr. was the most accurate & had the best SD & ES. I have tested it again with a new bottle of R.Dot & 4.7gr. remains the best so far.

[Bloodman14]

4.5 grs of Red Dot is my go-to for that same boolit. RIA 1911A1.

[MrHarmless]

230TC is the 1.20". I would have to go look...

I would bet on this. I just made some with that mold to nearly that exact length.

[TjB101]

3.8 BE should be just fine for that load. OAL so it fits the magazine at max length but just a tad of the shoulder is fine at the case rim. Don't worry.

When I originally tested BE in my P220 I needed a pretty stout load to cycle that thing ... heavy spring. The P227 was much more forgiving. IIRC, my original test loads with 230gr plated RN, at 4.0gr BE (1.27) wouldn’t cycle ... now these are a little shorter so my gut says 4.5 to start. Not sure, hence the post to gain some knowledge.

[JBinMN]

When I originally tested BE in my P220 I needed a pretty stout load to cycle that thing ... heavy spring. The P227 was much more forgiving. IIRC, my original test loads with 230gr plated RN, at 4.0gr BE (1.27) wouldn’t cycle ... now these are a little shorter so my gut says 4.5 to start. Not sure, hence the post to gain some knowledge.

I think you are better off starting out at 4.5 gr of BE & working up than to start at 4.8- 4.9gr as you said in your OP.

It is safer & you may find that the "sweet spot" of accuracy & performance for your particular handgun is something different.

BTW, earlier I posted and had a longer post than this one describing some things about extrapolating BE data for RD(Red Dot data) since they are very close in behavior as powder in many situations, but thought perhaps it might be a bit "too much info" , so I removed that post & substituted this one which is a bit simpler.

[TjB101]

I think you are better off starting out at 4.5 gr of BE & working up than to start at 4.8- 4.9gr as you said in your OP.

It is safer & you may find that the "sweet spot" of accuracy & performance for your particular handgun is something different.

BTW, earlier I posted and had a longer post than this one describing some things about extrapolating BE data for RD(Red Dot data) since they are very close in behavior as powder in many situations, but thought perhaps it might be a bit "too much info" , so I removed that post & substituted this one which is a bit simpler.

I read that Reddot thread as well. I’ll heed your recommendation and start at ~4.5. Love BE metering ... not so much with RDot ... save that for my slug loads in 12ga. Appreciate the feedback

TJ

[JBinMN]

I read that Reddot thread as well. I’ll heed your recommendation and start at ~4.5. Love BE metering ... not so much with RDot ... save that for my slug loads in 12ga. Appreciate the feedback

TJ

:drinks:

Have fun, Be safe & enjoy!
:)

[RegCom7]

I cast the same bullet for .45 acp. I use an OAL of 1.258 with 5.9 grains of Unique. That gives me a velocity of 806 to 833 fps, which is close to factory hardball. The feeding and function is very reliable with this load in my Auto Ordnance 1911.

[Al_Bundy]

I cast the same bullet for .45 acp. I use an OAL of 1.258 with 5.9 grains of Unique. That gives me a velocity of 806 to 833 fps, which is close to factory hardball. The feeding and function is very reliable with this load in my Auto Ordnance 1911.

im about the same 1.26 and 5.6gr

[TjB101]

I cast the same bullet for .45 acp. I use an OAL of 1.258 with 5.9 grains of Unique. That gives me a velocity of 806 to 833 fps, which is close to factory hardball. The feeding and function is very reliable with this load in my Auto Ordnance 1911.

Perfect ... that’s right in my ballpark for length ... I’ll have to look at Unique since I have 4 lbs sitting in the coffers.

Thanks. TJ

[35remington]

A correctly throated barrel will allow some of the front band to project beyond the case and allow a 1.265” OAL which exactly matches factory ball in length and ogive profile.

Check to see this fits your barrel before loading in quantity. If it does not fit it should be modded by Doug Guy in my opinion. The front band needs to be in the right location to get something to taper crimp into.

4.9-5 of Bullseye will not prove to be excessive and will duplicate standard velocities for this bullet weight which is right where you want to be. The bullet is a good and correct duplication of the FMJ bullet profile when loaded as I have described.

[TjB101]

A correctly throated barrel will allow some of the front band to project beyond the case and allow a 1.265” OAL which exactly matches factory ball in length and ogive profile.

Check to see this fits your barrel before loading in quantity. If it does not fit it should be modded by Doug Guy in my opinion. The front band needs to be in the right location to get something to taper crimp into.

4.9-5 of Bullseye will not prove to be excessive and will duplicate standard velocities for this bullet weight which is right where you want to be. The bullet is a good and correct duplication of the FMJ bullet profile when loaded as I have described.

I’ll have to create a few more dummy rounds, exposing that band a tad, and see how it fits the 220 and 227.

Appreciate the insight.

TJ