Think I Over Loaded Some .45ACP

[Robk]

So there I was, just doing some simple reloading, had checked and set up my equipment a week or so earlier for this round. I had also checked the load data when I had set everything up and I was good to go. Now after about 70 rounds I decide to check my load data, ahh,well, where did I get this info from??? Loaded them with this:

W231 5.5grains
230grain plated RN from extreme bullets
oal 1.200
assorted cases
cci primers

Now when I looked at the data for this round I would swear I saw a max of 5.8 grains and now I look and max is 5.1 grains.

I have looked and looked and have not yet come to a conclusion, but I have seen it reported that some were going as high as 5.9 grains of W231 in a 230grain bullet. So what would you do? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Oh, right now they are separated from the rest in my red box with proper labeling on them to make sure they do not get used for now.

 

[Loader9]

Plated bullets are generally good on data thru 1200'ps with jacketed data. I looked at the Rainier manual and they show a max load at 6.3 grs 231powder, 230 gr RN COL@1.275. Speed was still below 900'ps. They show a max pressure at 19,900PSI with 21,000 considered a max average which is also the SAAMI pressure limit. I checked in the current Speer for jacketed data and it comes back a lot more than your load using 231. The call is yours to make.

Where did you find the 5.1 max data?

 

[TATER]

removed

 

[Eazmo]

Lee second shows 230 jacketed 4.8 to 5.1max w231

speer 14 shows 230tmj 5.6 to 6.2max w231 / 230gdhp are 5.0-5.6max w231

Lyman 49 shows 230 tmj 5.2 to 5.8max w231

I'd say there a little hot to start with, but others with more experience I'm sure will chime in.

 

[g.willikers]

The Hodgdon web site, the folks who sell this powder, say a max of 5.3 for both jacketed and lead 230 grain bullets will give 830 f/s at 17,000 psi.
Check their web site to be sure, but your loads don't seem all that high.

 

[William T. Watts]

Hodgdon #27 data manual shows 5.1gr of 231 as a max load, I shoot that load in my Springfield, I think it's a stiff load with my lot of powder. I did see several sources that list higher loadings, I think lot to lot variance of 231 is what we are seeing. My particular lot is more than 15 years old, the old addage is start low and work up if pressure signs permit. Always use more than one source for reference before load developement. William

 

[carsinc]

230 gr loads

Below are a list of various loads for 230 gr, including RN plated bullets. Not sure of the source of this data, could have been handloads.com.

230 grain LSWC or LRN (Semi-Wad Cutter or Round Nose)
(these loads work for the RN Plated bullet,too-don't use max)
Bullseye 4.0 gr. 810 FPS (target accuracy load)
Bullseye 4.8 gr. 884 hot load/Maximum.
Clays 3.5 gr. 716 start
Clays 4.0 gr. 793 MAX with LRN
ZIP 5.2 gr. 828
ZIP 5.5 gr. 873
ZIP 5.8 gr. 915 max
Unique 5.5 gr. 795 (I got 738 fps in my gun)
Unique 5.5 gr. 913 (in Marlin auto carbine)
Unique 6.0 gr. 840* (I got 777 fps in my gun)
Unique 6.0 gr. 924* (in Marlin auto carbine)
* Alliant shows this a Maximum load
Universal 4.5 gr. 703 start
Universal 4.8 gr. 782
Universal 5.4 gr. 857 max
Red Dot 4.0 gr. 808
Red Dot 4.4 gr. 807 max
Green Dot 4.3 gr. 810
Blue Dot 10.0 gr. 855
Titegroup 4.0 gr. 751 start
Titegroup 4.3 gr. 788
Titegroup 4.8 gr. 855 (MAX)
No. 2 5.6 gr. 870
No. 5 8.5 gr. 968
540 7.6 gr. 860
Trail Boss 3.5 gr. 658 start
Trail Boss 4.4 gr. 748 (using Carolina Cast bullet)
Trail Boss 4.5 gr. 761
Trail Boss 4.6 gr. 756 max (Hi=769, Lo=741, ES=28) Carolina Cast RN
WST 4.5 gr. 805
HS-6 8.0 gr. 858 MAX
WAP 7.3 gr. 915
HP-38/W231 4.3 gr. 699 start
HP-38 5.1 gr. 785 (Near Max)
HP-38/W231 5.3 gr. 834 Maximum
231 5.1 gr. 850 (I got 734 in my S&W)
True Blue 6.7 gr. 820
True Blue 7.4 gr. 913 max
Silhouette 7.0 gr. 882 max
Competition 3.6 gr. 725
Competition 4.0 gr. 805 max

 

[mikld]

Are you saying you set up your press/equipment and came back a week later and loaded 70 rounds before you checked anything? You wanted to load with 5.5 gr. W231 but your loads weigh in at 5.8 - 5.9? Now you want a 5.1 gr. load? Sounds to me like you need a reloading manual, hard copy, so you can take it to your bench when loading. Printed load data rarely changes in the span of one week. No offence intended, but, you need to re-evaluate your reloading methods. Pick out a load, in your manual, highlite it, take the book to your loading bench and leave it there, open to the page for your chosen load. Then set your powder measure with a scale. Then proceed to load. If you leave the bench for any period of time (like for dinner,etc) double check everything again before you resume loading (meaning check it twice before restarting). "Gee, I coulda swore it said..." resulted in more than one Kaboom.

FWIW; I pay very little attention to any load data from any "Forum Expert" or "Gun Shop Guru". 95% of my load data comes from printed, hard copy, published reloading manuals, nothing from my computer screen. "Not sure the source of this data..." is enough for me to ignore the whole post...

 

[Robk]

No, I saw the load data with a max of 5.8. I set up my equipment to throw 5.5grains which it did. Double checked each load on my RCBS scale. Perfectly loaded to 5.5grains. I was using LEE reloading data. Have it hard bound by my bench. What I believe what happened was I intended to load 200 grain plated that does have a max of 5.8grain. Now the max on the LEE data shows a max of 5.1grains. So why is a 200 grain max at 5.8 and 230 at 5.1. Have noted other sources with max for the 230 gr bullet at 5.8gr. So why such a difference between manuals.

Anyhow, I know that this is a hot load, but is within safe limits according to some manuals. Will probably try a few and see what happens.

 

[mjm]

I not a fan of max loads and according to the site, I am over max at 5.4. Speer #14 has a start charge at 5.6 and max at 6.2. Lyman #49 starts at 5.2 and max at 5.8. Hodgdon (most similar bullet) starts at 4.2 and max at 5.3.

For my Kimber, I worked up from 4.2 to 6.0. All brass was recovered with no signs of over pressure. For my pistol, 5.4 gave me the most consistent velocity.

 

[Mike Irwin]

That's not an overload.

THIS is an overload...

Wasn't paying attention and I got a double charge of 231 into a case -- nearly 10 grains of 231 behind a 230-gr. lead bullet.

Pretty spectacular. Trashed the magazine, but didn't hurt the gun.

 

[Eazmo]

That's not an overload.

THIS is an overload...




Wasn't paying attention and I got a double charge of 231 into a case -- nearly 10 grains of 231 behind a 230-gr. lead bullet.

Pretty spectacular. Trashed the magazine, but didn't hurt the gun.
Today 06:57 PM

Holy crap!!!!

 

[sidewindr]

I'd load several lower and step up to see how they are going ,then ,if the lesser charges are all ok ,THEN try the 5,5's if it is questionable.

 

[Don P]

If your gun is a modern day firearm shoot them. the 45 acp is a low pressure load to start with. Sounds like you are in the + p range.

 

[edward5759]

There a little hot but they will shoot OK.
I have run them that hot before and with a heavy recoil spring.
With a lighter spring you may get a little premature ejection of the cartridge.

Ed 5759

 

[AlaskaMike]

I may have missed it if someone else addressed this, but the short OAL makes me a little nervous. 230 grain RN bullets are generally seated to 1.260 - 1.270" with 1.275" being SAAMI max OAL. With your short 1.200" OAL, pressure will be raised significantly.

I have no idea if it's enough to cause problems in your case, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.

 

[rduckwor]

I may have missed it if someone else addressed this, but the short OAL makes me a little nervous. 230 grain RN bullets are generally seated to 1.260 - 1.270" with 1.275" being SAAMI max OAL. With your short 1.200" OAL, pressure will be raised significantly.

I have no idea if it's enough to cause problems in your case, but it's definitely something to keep in mind.

I was just about to bring this up as well. 1.200 is awfully short for a 230 GR LRN. This fact plus a max or near max load of 231 may produce some excitement and soiling of certain clothing at best. By my estimation, you are a minimum of 0.05" too short and maybe 0.06-0.07" depending upon the manual you choose to read.

I say pull them and chalk it up to learning.