Help on Lee 425-200-RFN Seat Depth 45ACP

[Daryl]

I just started working on a 45 ACP load for my Glock 30 (compact). Just to be on the cautious side, I did pick up the Lone Wolf barrel for it given all the discussion about whether or not to shoot cast in the Glock barrel.

So, I'm casting the Lee 452-200-RFN. Barrel slugs at about .4513. I sized the boolits to .452 with a Lyman sizer and use the 50/50 lube and using Win 231.

I ran into problems in the boolit not dropping fully into the chamber because it engagel the rifling of the barrel. A little tap with a plastic hammer seats it and you can clearly see that to be the issue on the imprint of the rifling on the boolit. Most loads publish a COL of over 1.20. I did find in the Lee manual for just a generic "200 grain lead bullet" for the Win 231 had 1.19 but that just would not drop into the chamber.

I finally seated so the case mouth was just to the very front edge of the crimp groove - that came to 1.157 COL. Went to range. Fires great, no missfeeds - but a few times it did not get fully to battery. Had to bump it with my palm.

Back to the shop. So, now I'm to 1.14" and it seems to be the right COL to drop into the chamber. The boolit barely, barely just touches the rifling. And, it seems to drop all the way in. I have to take it to the range to test it yet - but I did back down the charge to the start of 4.8 grains.

I shot 4.8, 5.0, and 5.2 in the 1.157 and had absolutely no signs of over pressure. It was a mild recoil (for a small, light gun) and not even the beginning of a flattened primer.

Another thing I did was measure the Lee 230 TL boolit. It is .650". This Lee 200 RFN is .525 - a .125 difference. Interestingly, Lee shows a Min COL of 1.19" for both a 200 and 230 grain lead bullet.

As a sidenote, the original Glock barrel is much looser than the Lone Wolf. I think the 1.19 would not have this issue.

So, I guess I'm looking for input on my approach to this. How significant is this .05" less than the published minimum COL for pressure purposes at this starting load? I have yet to be sure that it functions correctly, of course. But, just looking for some feedback or any similar experiences before another trip to the range (it's about 20 degrees here - so it's a quick trip).

[j20owner]

I seat mine 1.115" for my DW 1911 with stock barrel.

[Dale53]

My .45 Autos are all 1911's. I remove the barrel and use it for a seating gauge. I headspace on the bullet (not on the case). I let my 1911 tell me the seating depth. The case head should be flush with the hood of a 1911 when the depth is correct. Any slight irregularities will be taken care of by slightly engraving the bullet.

However, if you are talking a jacketed bullet, you need to give a few thosandths more clearance (seat the bullet slightly deeper) as the jacket will not give and could keep the slide from going into battery.

You should not have any problems with the load at your seating depth.

What it comes down to is that is must work in YOUR pistol.

FWIW
Dale53

[SciFiJim]

Like Dale said, "it must work in YOUR pistol". I seat to the crimp grove for a COL of 1.175 for my Kimber. I also use the barrel for a seating gauge. I found that I had to not just seat deeper but crimp as well when testing for COL. I use 4.5gr of BE. Nice easy recoil. My kids love to shoot that load.

[OBXPilgrim]

So, I'm casting the Lee 452-200-RFN. Barrel slugs at about .4513. I sized the boolits to .452 with a Lyman sizer and use the 50/50 lube and using Win 231.

...

Back to the shop. So, now I'm to 1.14" and it seems to be the right COL to drop into the chamber. The boolit barely, barely just touches the rifling. And, it seems to drop all the way in. I have to take it to the range to test it yet - but I did back down the charge to the start of 4.8 grains.



I know how you feel. I went through the same thing with the Lee 452-200-RFN.

I'm seating it at 1.135" for 3 different 45 Autos, but I can't help you with your Win231 loads - I use Bullseye.

[Groo]

Groo here
Using the bullet to control headspace is an old and time proven method...
I sometimes think we should take all our fancy equipment and pack them away.
dig out the old manuals and articals and let the gun tell US what it likes ,not try to make it
run what WE want.....................

[RobS]

All good advise.............
Seat and crimp to what fits your gun and work from the minimum or starting loads while looking for pressure signs. If you have a chronograph or can borrow one this will help you ballpark where the pressures are. A 200 grain bullet moving at 900-950 fps with Winchester 231 will put the load in the upper end regarding pressure (16,500-18,000 cup).

My lyman manual has the starting loads for:
200g SWC with 4.0 grains = 694fps @ 9,200 cup COAL: 1.161"
200g TC bullet with 5.4 grains = 769fps @ 12,700 cup COAL: 1.235

I have the service model springfield XD and it will not feed to full battery with this bullet unless the COAL is 1.18 or less I believe.