br1

I am new to Ruger forum. And I am new to reloading (very new). I decided to start reloading several months ago,because of cost. Which I know one is surprised! A month ago I finally got up the money to purchase my very first press. Dillon square deal B in 45acp. One reason for this choice, was my lost of movemnet in my hands and that a single stage press would take 4 to 5 steps to make one bullet.So that being said. Here is my question

I am loading 45acp berry bullets and I have read that they should be loaded on the lower end of FMJ rn.(berry web page)

Berry bullet=230gr.
priemer = CCI LPP 300
speer= brass (range brass)
Powder= Bull eyes
OVL 1.26
Gun= colt 1911 Goverment ,Ruger p345 and SR1911 (testing guns)

I have made up a batches of bullets one at 4.8gr. and another 5.2gr (45each)
Does anyone see any problems with these 2 different load< I like my hands and wouldn't want to loose them just yet.(well never) I plan on going to range to test them Monday.


Thank for any help

scattershot

I've used 5 grains of Bullseye in the .45 ACP forever. It's a good load, and pretty standard. No worries.

bwinters

i still use unique in my 45 acp but they are loaded for ruger revolvers or semi auto carbines and I use 6.5 grains of unique and it is an accurate load.

Lost Sheep

I have always felt berries make better eating than shooting.

However, I have always read that plated bullets (of which Berry's is one of the major manufacturers) should be used with cast lead loading data. I understood that it has to do with the malleability of lead coated with a thin copper plating as opposed to the lesser malleability of the thicker copper jackets. However, I have only what others have told me and no actual lab test data and such.

What does Berry's say on the matter?
Lost Sheep

Lost Sheep

Welcome to the forum and thanks for asking our advice.

Shoot the 4.8s only one at a time, then inspect your gun (bore is clear?) look for signs of overpressure. Do this for a magazine full. If all is well, shoot the rest of the 4.8s. Wait on the 5.2s, or pull them. Load a few at 4.9, then 5.0 and check them as before for pressure signs. If you get signs, pull the rest.

Here is data from Alliant's Web site

Alliant Powder: Print Recipe

45 Auto 230 gr Speer TJM RN Speer 1.26" OAL CCI 300 Bullseye 5.7 840 fps
45 Auto 230 gr Speer GDHP Speer 1.2"OAL CCI 300 Bullseye 5.0 812 fps

My Lee Manual says 4.0 grains for 230 gr lead and 5.0 for jacketed as maximums.

Personally, I would set the 5.2 grain cartridges aside for a while. I would shoot one of the 4.8 and examine the case for signs of overpressure. (Case mouth splitting, condition of the primer-on several criteria, expansion of the case head-use a micrometer if you have one, your guns' chambers if nothing else, etc.)

If no signs of overpressure, I would load 4.9, then 5.0 and work up slowly to 5.2. But then, I would be shooting these out of my 45 ACP Blackhawk which is much stronger than my 1911s.

Caution is the watchword of the day.

Be safe, always, all ways.

Lost Sheep

Nick0410

Powder= Bull eyes

Thats funny

br1

Thanks for your input's> I am going to go slow while, I find the right load for me. I have read most of the data, (books,Internet) I just was looking for more input and advice from people with experience in reloading.



Thank you again:


I will let you know how these loads work for me

br1

I thought this was interesting, Jay R. Phillips from Berry got back to me, after i had ask him the same question i posted on Ruger Forum: There was a attached flie with powder reciept (I dont know how to get them from my email to this post, Sorry) But they are all for:
230gr. Bull-X fn 4.8 Bullseye (fps) 828



The profile of the bullet does not matter when it comes to powder charge, but we suggest using a hard cast lead bullet powder charge when loading for our plated bullets since they have the same pressure curve and produce roughly the same velocities. Here is some hard cast lead data you can use with a COL of 1.260”



Sincerely,

Jay R. Phillips

Berry's MFG

jay@berrysmfg.com

800-269-7373


I thought the profile does matter when figuring the powder charge??


Going to range tomorrow

Thanks again

Nick0410

Profile has to do with OAL, Bullet weight determines powder charge.


When it comes to Berry's, lead is a good indicator of velocity, but I load as hot as I want as long as I keep under their 1200 fps rule. In theory at that velocity, the standard plating can start to break apart. With .45, I'm sure you can load as hot as you want within load data. I load my .357s with Alliants formula for Unique, which is fairly hot, 7.7 where my older Lyman manual says 8.3 is max but my gun is a 2in SP101 so I'm sure it doesn't get near 1200fps.

br1

went to range with my 2 batches of bullets 4.8 & 5.2 45acp. berry plated &bullseye,

4.8 = a little to much punch, it was slaming the slide back (sr1911,p345), so going to reduce the load to 4.3 and work up.

5.2 = to high.

NVcaster

I use 6.5 grains of unique with the 200 grain RS. I have used 5 grains of bullseye with a 230g full metal jacket, it seemed OK but wouldnt go past that. I would use a chronograph to check velocity too just to see if you are in the ball park with published velcocity.

DontWakeTheBear

ive found better results if you load them as a lead bullet. Hodgdon recommend they be loaded as a lead bullet. If you do a hardness test the hardness characteristic of a plated bullet is much closer to a hard alloy lead rather than a jacketed bullet.

kungfustyle

I e-mail Alliant for a recipe for 9mm and they got back to me within a day.

br1

I want to thank everyone for there imput, After several visit to the range i have work out the kinks, I have learn much and need to learn a hole lot more. Lost sheep your recipte has been about the best advise and thank you, 4.0 b.e. I started at 4.0 b.e. and worked up to 4.2, which seems to best for what I am looking for (putting holes in paper and hitting the black dot) I just want say Thank's.


The dillon square deal (isn't the best choice for a new bee) but I am stuck with it. If I had do to it again I would have purchase a single stage. I still may get one to load other cal.( die's for the dillon square deal, cost to much)

elrondo

Use Bullseye for years . then swithched to Clays 4 gr or 231 5.2 GR alot cleaner burning powder. Bullseye has been around for years and is a good power it's just one so darn dirty. I shoot a lot of 230gr but my favorite is 200gr swc.