SWC (Semi wadcutter) 45 ACP

ECNC

ECNC

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@vaskeet was kind enough to give me some SWC 200gr to try out. I used my Lyman Cast book and Hornady manual for load data. I am using Win 231 powder. Starting loads in both books are 5.4 . I loaded up 25 rounds yesterday. (using 5.5gr win231) Last night I was talking with @vaskeet and told him what I loaded. He let me know that he loads his at about 4.4gr and where he got the info from. When I was checking the on-line load sights 4.4 seemed to be the starting loads.

My question -- What in the world is going on? That is a big difference. I am somewhat nervous on this one because of the big difference.
 
I don't load .45 so have no experience with which manuals are conservative and which are not. I have found some that are too conservative in my opinion, but then that only results in a longer load development and higher cost. At least no one gets hurt.

Not the first time I have seen this. Unfortunately the Hodgdon Manual (on line) does not give pressures, which is what I usually look to in order to determine what may be happening in cases like this. Case in point, I actually load my 9mm, 147gr. Blue Bullets below the Hodgdon starting point and make power factor. The only place I have encountered the issue I was looking to load light, not near max. If I were looking to be near max., I would drop down and work up. I may not go all the way to 4.4 gr, maybe 5.0 gr. (-10% rule of thumb), but I would not start at 5.5gr. as that is very close to the upper end of Hodgdon Manual's max. of 5.6 gr.

May want to check more manuals and compare pressures to see if you can sort it out. Otherwise, safer is better.
 
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With cast bullets, IMO worst thing that can happen when you are close to book max is you'll lead your barrel. And that's usually with undersized projectiles:

I found some old Midway load manuals from the 90s that had actual measured pressure in various barrels with the caliber at hand and various bullets.
The data in that manual was much higher than the load manuals of the last 5-10 years. Methinks the corporate lawyers from Ruger just migrated to the reloading companies.

I used Unique with loads that were 20% higher than the book max with some cast loads, and the worst thing I experienced was heavy recoil and leading in my 1911. If you're not over book max, then you're fine.

Of course reloading for pistol for me is all about trigger time and less so about accuracy and power. Case life is greatly extended at lower charges IF you can get the chamber seal. I try for that point now and not much else.
 
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I think you will be just fine with that load but it may not be the best load. Here is some load data from several different sources:

This is from the Hodgen 2017 Annual load magazine:

IMG_3834.JPG

This one is from the 2017 Hornady Load manual:

IMG_3835.JPG


This one is from the Speer #41 Load manual:


IMG_3836.JPG

And the last two are from the Lyman load manual (I don't remember the date but that shouldn't matter):

IMG_3837.JPG


IMG_3838.JPG
 
The OP's load sounds reasonable, everybody in my neck of the woods run 6.0 grns of 231 and no problems.
 
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The other thing you need to think about is cartridge overall length. Shorter COALs will result in more pressure generated as opposed to longer COALs.
 
There's dozens of varieties of 200 LSWC in 45, each would have slightly different data most data is based in the H&G 68 I believe, most copies aren't identical with some, Lee, being very different.

I tend to agree with @Ikarus1 , the max for cast is usually more about leading than blowing up guns.

Not sure I buy the detonation stuff about too light a load. I usually start under min with lead, to have more options for accuracy/pf.

I had the opposite problem of @Charlie R , I had to go over Lyman data to get that Blue to minor.
 
ncav8tor said:
The other thing you need to think about is cartridge overall length. Shorter COALs will result in more pressure generated as opposed to longer COALs.
Click to expand...
yeah not as important in .45 or .38 as you think. I get to the point of eyeballing my COAL on pistol vs a factory round, or just to the crimp groove and calling it good. I guess I'm just a bit reckless or I choose strong guns :D

Lots of airspace in a .45 left with 5gr of 231, even more so in .38spl
 
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Ikarus1 said:
yeah not as important in .45 or .38 as you think. I get to the point of eyeballing my COAL on pistol vs a factory round, or just to the crimp groove and calling it good. I guess I'm just a bit reckless or I choose strong guns :D
Click to expand...

I agree with you in most instances with the one exception of loading really hot loads like 9 major or 38 Super But, that is definitely not the case here.


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ECNC said:
@vaskeet was kind enough to give me some SWC 200gr to try out. I used my Lyman Cast book and Hornady manual for load data. I am using Win 231 powder. Starting loads in both books are 5.4 . I loaded up 25 rounds yesterday. (using 5.5gr win231) Last night I was talking with @vaskeet and told him what I loaded. He let me know that he loads his at about 4.4gr and where he got the info from. When I was checking the on-line load sights 4.4 seemed to be the starting loads.

My question -- What in the world is going on? That is a big difference. I am somewhat nervous on this one because of the big difference.
Click to expand...

So I loaded up some using Win 231 5.5gr and 4.9gr. They both grouped nicely at 10 yards. (Did not go further out because I was cold.) I did notice that the 4.9gr did drop a little. Adjusted for that and they were fine.

5.5gr excuse fist two shots ------------- 4.9gr note the two low shots
IMG_0875.JPG IMG_0879.JPG
 
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With SWC in an auto I like to find an OAL that my gun likes first and then browse the manuals for one that used an OAL close to what I chose. The shape of the bullets can forceyou to go short for some guns.
 
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