Okay I have learned a TON by letting my reach exceed my grasp a little as far as making accurate 45 ACP ammo with cast boolits.
I have not yet actually made accurate ammo, but now I know alot more than I did a few weeks ago about what the ingredients are.
Before I proceed with my next batch of 100 or so, I want to step back a second and make would should, in theory, definitely be reasonably accurate ammo, using factory made boolits.
I could use some advice on what I could do to make this batch as accurate as possible. b
Heres the ingredients I have:
-1911 5" barrel
-bullseye, HP38, IMR RED, CFE pistol
-large pistol primers
-small pistol primers (hey maybe I should use the federal spp brass since its probably once fired?)
-load master press
-APP press
-NOE .451 and .452 expander plugs
-random range pickup brass
-ss pins/citric acid with tumbler
-separate taper crimp and seating dies
-Berrys 230gn FMJ plated bullets
-I spent quite awhile cleaning my barrel of all leading I could. I think its as clean as could possibly be. I dont see anymore lead.
Stepping back now, what should I do to make the most accurate ammo I can with the above?
-Target COAL? Should I go as long as possible that will still headspace on the case mouth?
-Taper crimp just to remove flare?
-Best powder and load with what I got?
-Which brass type and headstamp should I use?
-Should I go as far as inspecting the boolits or is that literally pointless?
-What about measuring the brass?
I know good handgun ammo is routinely made with factory bullets without paying so much attention to these things, but I am using this as an opportunity to improve my art. I am well past the point of getting anything out of "just shooting it" since I do that almost every day anyway. I want to get better at making ammo.