.45acp loads with the Lee 230tc boolit

[fastdadio]

Howdy folks, I'm looking for info on loading my first batch of 45acp using the Lee 230gr tc. I just finished coating and sizing about 8lbs of boolits. The first thing I need to know is the c.o.l. How deep should I seat them? Then any loads one might be willing to share using the suitable powders I have on hand which is Longshot, TiteGroup, and BR-5. I have the Lyman cast manual #4 edition, Speer #11, plus a couple other manuals, just curious about anyones favorite load using the TC boolit.

[Beerd]

is that their tumble lube model?
..

[hades]

I don't have any load data or suggestions to share outside what I could pull from a book as I used none of those powders.


But I was having feeding issues in my 1911 until I got down around 1.20 OAL.

Good luck, I really like this bullet and it was my first mold. It has shot really well for me after that initial I don't know what I'm doing learning curve :lol:

[txbirdman]

312759.

Try this

[fastdadio]

is that their tumble lube model?
..

Nope. Has one lube groove and two driving bands fore and after.

[fastdadio]

I don't have any load data or suggestions to share outside what I could pull from a book as I used none of those powders.


But I was having feeding issues in my 1911 until I got down around 1.20 OAL.

Good luck, I really like this bullet and it was my first mold. It has shot really well for me after that initial I don't know what I'm doing learning curve :lol:

Thanks, the oal is really what I need to know. I poked around the net first, but came up with nothing.

[fastdadio]

312759.

Try this

OAL of 1.170. Thanks! what manual is this from?

[Kosh75287]

I've found that loading data which gives good results with 230 gr. LRNs will give similar results with the 230 gr. TCs, though, as mentioned, the cartridge o.a.l. will be different.

[fastdadio]

I've found that loading data which gives good results with 230 gr. LRNs will give similar results with the 230 gr. TCs, though, as mentioned, the cartridge o.a.l. will be different.

Yup, the COL is really what I needed. 230gr load data for the 45acp is well known info. Well, except for the BR-5 and even that has been discussed here. I'm off to the races......
Thanks again folks!
Dave.

[Larry Gibson]

OAL of 1.170. Thanks! what manual is this from?

Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook #4.

I load that bullet over 5 gr of Bullseye. Pressure tested in Contender test barrel at 18,900 psi.

[Beerd]

the data shown in post #4 is for the tumble lube bullet. That's the one I use powder coated. With an OAL of 1.185" it passes the "plunk test" and feeds perfectly in my Colt 1911.
..

[fastdadio]

the data shown in post #4 is for the tumble lube bullet. That's the one I use powder coated. With an OAL of 1.185" it passes the "plunk test" and feeds perfectly in my Colt 1911.
..

Maybe I'll seat a dummy a tad long and start poking it in the barrel. DougGuy did a throat ream on this barrel a while back, so I might be able to stretch it out a bit. Is there a such thing as 'max col'? Or just if it fits in the magazine?

[txbirdman]

the data shown in post #4 is for the tumble lube bullet. That's the one I use powder coated. With an OAL of 1.185" it passes the "plunk test" and feeds perfectly in my Colt 1911.
..

That’s exactly the length I load in my Combat Commander to get perfect feeding with the conventional lube groove version

[hades]

the data shown in post #4 is for the tumble lube bullet. That's the one I use powder coated. With an OAL of 1.185" it passes the "plunk test" and feeds perfectly in my Colt 1911.
..

You'll have issues feeding before it doesn't fit the magazine, most likely.

Otherwise yeah, if it fits and cycles fine, good to go.

[rintinglen]

[QUOTE=fastdadio;5561694]OAL of 1.170. Thanks! what manual is this from?[/QUOTE

Lyman 4th. One thing Lyman has gotten good at is publishing their COAL's.

[DougGuy]

Maybe I'll seat a dummy a tad long and start poking it in the barrel. DougGuy did a throat ream on this barrel a while back, so I might be able to stretch it out a bit. Is there a such thing as 'max col'? Or just if it fits in the magazine?

Make SURE that no part of your boolits exceed .452" before you load them in cases. Your throat will generally plunk any load that will cycle through the magazine as far as COA goes. Then of course you have to amend your load data for any deviation in COA from the COA published in the load data you are using.

If you go shooting your gun over a chrony, you may find that you can adjust your powder upward because there is less resistance in the throat that I send out, resulting in a bit less pressure, and a loss of maybe 25-30 fps from the same load fired in a non throated barrel where the boolit immediately meets resistance in the throat and pressure builds faster and more psi because of the resistance. Read up on some of Jerry Keefer's forums posts and he mentions this, he says it better than I do but it's the same thing, we both throat barrels pretty much the same way.

[45DUDE]

Lyman has the overall length on every page. If you go shorter back off on the powder. I do this for 9mm to run a full magazine. Like the above post--make sure the dummy will plunk. You may have to resize when you powder coat.

[Texas by God]

I also use 5 grs of Bullseye and seat them like this. With PC they may need to be a skoosh deeper.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230410/df824c00c97d8810abd5591592891826.jpg


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[1hole]

The .45 ACP is quite easy to load for, it isn't twitchy like the 9/10 mms are. Seat any appropriate bullet so you can LIGHTLY taper crimp it into the crimp groove of a dummy round; if it will then feed and chamber from the magazine you're home free.

Don't try to hot rod that round. The .45 ACP doesn't need a lot of speed to do its thing and anyone trying to make it go fast will just beat up their gun.

I feel safe shooting any book load for that fine 113 year old round, it has no secrets. Most full power - or near full power - book loads will give good to excellent accuracy ... IF the pistol is good and IF the bullets are properly alloyed/cast/sized/lubed!

Have fun! :)

[wv109323]

Your most reliable feeding will be with about 1/32" of the major diameter protruding out of the case like Texas By Good shows in his pic. Taper crimp to around .470. The .45 ACP works well with a lot of powders.

[Kosh75287]

What WV109323 said!

[fastdadio]

I'm back with a range report. First off, I found a max col listing for a TC design boolit in my Sierra #3 manual @ 1.275" I settled in at 1.223" taper crimped to .471. All plunked in my barrel and my Lymann case gauge.
I loaded up 10 each with 4.6grs TiteGroup, 6.0grs BR-5, and 6.4grs Longshot. I estimate all these to be mid-range loads. Fired off the rest at 50 ft. All cycled just fine. Titegroup was the worst with a 5.5" group. second best was the BR-5 at 4". Longshot got me a 5" group but only because of a couple of fliers outside the main group which could be me flinching. If I subtract the fliers, I get a nice 8 shot raggety hole of 3" Wish I could find better data for the BR-5, it shows promise. Longshot has also done very well for me with 280 grainers in my .44 Bisley. I'll be back out with the Br-5 and longshot.
Thanks folks for all the advice and guidance.