Started Reloading .45acp

[mjoplin]

Thanks to several on this forum for guidance when I first got started a few months ago. I bought the Lee Anniversary single stage press to start reloading .30-06 for my M1 Garand. Have loaded quite a few rounds for it, got over the initial jitters about shooting my own reloads, and really enjoy the new hobby (knew better than trying to cost justify, so it is a hobby from the get go...)

Just moved to .45acp and having good luck with my first batch of 100. Using Hornady XTP 230 grain JHP rounds, my own once-fired brass, CCI large pistol primers, and 3.5 grains of Clays powder. Very happy with the results so far at the range with my new 1911!

[DocV]

I am impressed! I just ordered a Rock Chucker, some 45 ACP dies, a bunch of reloading books and am now looking at all of the other stuff that I need to get. I am beginning to wonder if airplanes and race cars would be a cheaper hobby.

[mjoplin]

You'll enjoy it DocV! While I can never cost justify (saving money vs. buying commercial), it can be done on a budget. I absconded with my kid's rock tumbler and bought some lizard litter at the pet store for media (ground walnut shells). Took over an old homework desk for my bench. I've got a less expensive press than the Rock Chucker, but with dies, etc. for .30-06 and .45 acp I've got about $240 in hardware for everything.

I save the plastic trays out of old commercial ammo boxes for trays and they work fine for what I'm doing to keep things organized.

Here are some pics of my setup

[DocV]

That is a good setup. I have a project bench from Home Depot that I plan to use. I have been keeping the ammo boxes and spent brass for quite some time. I bought some lizard bedding and have a cheap tumbler. So far I have tumbled 500 cases - all large primer, once fired brass. I still need a scale, powder measure, bullet puller, etc. I plan to buy a Lee taper & crimp die and a Wilson, or Dillon, case gauge. The list goes on and on... :)

[threoh8]

Welcome to the club!
.45 ACP was the first handgun cartridge my father let me handload, after learning the basics with .30-'06. Those fat cases and bullets are pretty easy to handle, and the cartridge is generally pretty forgiving and rewarding.
Be safe, practice good quality control, and have fun!

[Jumping Frog]

Using Hornady XTP 230 grain JHP rounds, . . . and 3.5 grains of Clays powder.

Congratulations!! I love seeing a new handloader come onboard. In general, .45 ACP is an easy load to newcomers.

One common tendency for new handloaders is to be very cautious about powder charge, and to tend towards starting too light instead of too heavy. In general, it is good to be cautious.

In this instance however, Hodgdon's published loads for a 230 GR. HDY FMJ FP range from 3.7 gr MIN (670 fps) to 4.0 gr MAX (732 fps). Note there are only 0.3 grains between min and max load, and you are 0.2 grains below min. Since the min load is only 670 fps, I would be concerned that you are running the risk of sticking a bullet in the barrel The 3.7 gr MIN load is already getting low for a jacketed round (which is far easier to stick than a lead bullet), and you are substantially below that.

I would suggest that you increase your load to at least 3.7 grains. I think it is OK to go ahead and shoot the ammo you've built, but simply be sensitized to the possibility of a bullet stuck in your barrel. No double-taps. If you shoot and do not see a hole appear in the target, then check your barrel.

It won't hurt a gun to stick a bullet in the barrel. What hurts the gun is shooting a second bullet into the stuck bullet.

[G.A. Heath]

In your picture you have an impact bullet puller that is very similar to the ones I use. A little trick I use is that I will pull my shell holder off the press and use it to hold the cartridge in the puller rather than fight with making those stupid collets work.

[Jumping Frog]

A little trick I use is that I will pull my shell holder off the press and use it to hold the cartridge in the puller rather than fight with making those stupid collets work.

Alright, I am not trying to turn into nervous nellie in this thread, but we are dealing with loading ammunition which is -- by definition -- a serious topic.

I have no idea whether this is truth or internet, but I have read numerous warnings over the years about using a shellholder instead of the collet supplied with a kinetic impact bullet puller. Here is just one case where someone had the round go off:

http://www.shootersforum.com/handloadin ... rning.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And I have read of others over the years. If you go to a large reloading forum like thehighroad.org and search, there are literally dozens of thread discussing this.

The two most credible scenarios are a cartridge with either a high primer or a loose primer pocket. The shellholder has a hole, but nothing to guarantee the case stays centered under it... Collets leave the primer exposed, thus they cannot transfer any kinetic energy against the primer and cause explosion. Shell holders do not have that level of safety.

Apparently the pressure can't escape through the flash hole fast enough to prevent the hammer from turning into a plastic pipe bomb. Or so I'm told. . . I am skeptical about this part of the claim.

Another advantage of the collet is getting tighter around the whole rim on impact and the grip on the rim gets greater & can't slip in the direction it is going. A shell holder has a lot of up & down slop and is only gripping 1/2 the rim.

[Don2]

A little trick I use is that I will pull my shell holder off the press and use it to hold the cartridge in the puller rather than fight with making those stupid collets work.

Alright, I am not trying to turn into nervous nellie in this thread, but we are dealing with loading ammunition which is -- by definition -- a serious topic.

I have no idea whether this is truth or internet, but I have read numerous warnings over the years about using a shellholder instead of the collet supplied with a kinetic impact bullet puller. Here is just one case where someone had the round go off:

http://www.shootersforum.com/handloadin ... rning.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And I have read of others over the years. If you go to a large reloading forum like thehighroad.org and search, there are literally dozens of thread discussing this.

The two most credible scenarios are a cartridge with either a high primer or a loose primer pocket. The shellholder has a hole, but nothing to guarantee the case stays centered under it... Collets leave the primer exposed, thus they cannot transfer any kinetic energy against the primer and cause explosion. Shell holders do not have that level of safety.

Apparently the pressure can't escape through the flash hole fast enough to prevent the hammer from turning into a plastic pipe bomb. Or so I'm told. . . I am skeptical about this part of the claim.

Another advantage of the collet is getting tighter around the whole rim on impact and the grip on the rim gets greater & can't slip in the direction it is going. A shell holder has a lot of up & down slop and is only gripping 1/2 the rim.

Good question or thought.
I have both, an impact type puller ( RCBS ) and a Hornady press mounted bullet puller.
ITS JUST ME...but, I really have a small issue using the inertia type puller over the press mount one.

I will use the inertia puller to pull pistol bullets, but rifle rounds go into my press mount.
I also have used shell holders in place of the inertia puller Collet ...I'm NOT saying its safe, I just did not have the correct one handy..!!

The best thing is to NOT make misssteakess when loading bullets

I have made a mistake or two in my lifetime

Don2

[DocV]

My Rock Chucker press was delivered today. Sadly, the RCBS 45 ACP die set is delayed until the end of next month.
I know that other manufacturer's die sets are alleged to work on the rock chucker and am eyeballing a Lee 4 die set that seems to have the Lee factory crimp die that I want. Does anyone have feedback about the Lee or other die sets that I might consider?

BTW, that Rock Chucker is one heavy beast! Looks like it will last me and any future grandkids a life time.

[Gyrogearhead]

BTW, that Rock Chucker is one heavy beast! Looks like it will last me and any future grandkids a life time.

And, if way way in the future you get the urge to buy a progressive press, don't give up the Rock Chucker. I did and had to go out and buy a Lee single stage press less than a year after I bought my progressive. There are always situations where you need a single stage press.

Just my 2c.

Gerry

P.S. I still get mad at myself when I think about how I sold my trusty Rock Chucker!!! Dang, I hate it when that happens!

[mr surveyor]

I'm using the Lee Carbide dies (also the Lee Factory Crimp Die) for loading .357 mag and have had absolutely NO complaints.

[mjoplin]

DocV, I am using the Lee 4 die carbide set for .45 acp and am very pleased with it in my setup. I've done around 100 rounds so far. They were easy to set up, including the factory crimp die, rounds feed well into my Kimber, and have no issues with the first 50 I've fired (did take note of the comments above about 3.5 vs. 3.7 grains of minimum charge).

If you happen to be in the Houston area there is a good reloading store, 10ring.com, near 1960 and 249. I purchased my die set there a couple of weeks ago for about $40. They keep them in stock.

[DocV]

Thanks! I ordered the Lee set. I expect Mrs. DocV will tell me it is time for us to head down to see her family fairly soon. A trip to 10Ring will give nephew-in-law and me a chance to do some shopping of our own;)