45 ACP cases discolored

silverfoxdj

silverfoxdj

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Started to load my first 45 ACP rounds with Bullseye 4.6 grns and a Campro 230 plated bullet.

The OAL is set to approx 1.266 with a light crimp after seating.

I assume that this load is on the light side and the pressure is not building in the case to fully seal the chamber.

My question is would it be advisable to :

1) not crimp the bullet
2) set the bullet deeper in the case to build pressure
3) Increase the load from 4.6 grns to say 4.8 or higher.

I believe this is not a safety issue and only effects appearance but would like some of the more experienced "Target" shooters to chime in . (The primers CCI large looked fine not showing any issues as far as I can see.)

It cycles okayand the accuracy seems fine other than the guy on the end.. (ME) !!
 
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Those cases are about as clean as they will get with bullseye, it's not the cleanest powder out there, still a good powder choice though.

Nothing unusual here. Looking good.

Load on
:dancingbanana:
 
Haven't ever used jacketed bullets for target shooting, but 4.5 is a great cast bullet target load. Alliant says 5 is max for a jacketed bullet. 4.5 is the starter load. Taper crimp only and work up the load from the 4.5.
 
silverfoxdj

The Speer #14 manual list the following using the Speer 230 grain TMJ RB (swaged plated Bullet)

Bullseye powder
Start 5.2 grains, 779 fps, max 5.7 grains, 840 fps
SAFETY NOTICE: Do not use these loads with Gold Dot HP #4483

The Speer #14 manual list the following using the Speer 230 grain GDHP #4483 (copper jacketed)

Bullseye powder
Start 4.5 Grains, 742 fps, max 5.0 grains, 812 fps.

It would appear plated bullets develop less chamber pressure due to the thin plating and soft lead core.
 
.Ben said:
Those cases are about as clean as they will get with bullseye, it's not the cleanest powder out there, still a good powder choice though.

Nothing unusual here. Looking good.

Load on
:dancingbanana:
Click to expand...

Agreed. The load is on the low side, but within specs. If it were too light, the gun wouldn't cycle.
 
When trying a new powder/bullet I load a pistol in increments of 0.3 gr from START to MAX (10 of each) and try them to see what the gun likes the best. Usually one load will do better than the others. Most of my guns prefer the mild to medium loads.
 
I'm still trying to figure out if my COL setting is accurate enough .. more work there to be done, may have a method that will give me a confirmed OAL for my gun.
 
silverfoxdj

Below is a good post about pistol bullet seating and OAL, the link was posted at the Brian Enos pistol forums. The competitive shooters like seating their bullets long, it aids accuracy and lowers chamber pressure by increasing case volume. The top shooters with money seem to like the CZ pistols for competition.

How to determine Max OAL for a CZ Pistol
http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=34225.msg189131#msg189131

General Reloading, Brian Enos forums
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showforum=4
 
bigedp51 said:
silverfoxdj

Below is a good post about pistol bullet seating and OAL, the link was posted at the Brian Enos pistol forums. The competitive shooters like seating their bullets long, it aids accuracy and lowers chamber pressure by increasing case volume. The top shooters with money seem to like the CZ pistols for competition.

How to determine Max OAL for a CZ Pistol
http://www.czfirearms.us/index.php?topic=34225.msg189131#msg189131

General Reloading, Brian Enos forums
http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showforum=4
Click to expand...

Thanks Ed that post by MR Wobbly was exactly what I was going to do for mine..

Thanks again very useful post..
 
When looking for my COAL it seems it fits nicely into the barrel drop test even when set at 1.25" the maximum length. I made a few dummy rounds with no primer and cycled them fine from the mag and they ejected properly.

In the process I pulled the trigger let the hammer fall and checked the rounds after the test and it seems that the hammer dropping actually sets the bullet back a few thousands deeper in the cartridge to 1.68 etc.. is this normal? I assumed the bullet would stay at the set depth.

I even crimped harder to see if it would maintain the seating depth but it did not..

Puzzled ...what am I missing
 
silverfoxdj

Before you taper crimp the case give your bullet the "push test" and see if you can push it into the case. You might have thin brass, a over size expander, etc and do not have enough case tension to hold the bullet properly. If you over crimp a plated bullet it can cause problems with a exposed lead core.
 
bigedp51 said:
silverfoxdj

Before you taper crimp the case give your bullet the "push test" and see if you can push it into the case. You might have thin brass, a over size expander, etc and do not have enough case tension to hold the bullet properly. If you over crimp a plated bullet it can cause problems with a exposed lead core.
Click to expand...

Ed. I think you may be right I switched out several to find a case that allowed the bullet to more or less move freely but with some tension and found it seated up to 1.335 to the rifling. After that I was able to set my dies to 1.275 cycle the rounds and not have it change length even without a crimp.

I also noticed a wide variance in my cases themselves with length in excess of the trim .888 spec.. I can see why some guys buy expensive brass for accuracy. But the drawing in my Lyman shows .898 so I guess I'm good

So my new test loads will now be 4.8 Bullseye and 1.275 COAL and hopefully I can get 50 cases to be close to .888 and take it from there.

Thanks for this .. I went back to the link you gave me and noticed they used a modified case and the lights went off :)
 
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john92awd said:
All this talk of COAL, what are the advantages of a longer bullet oal? Lower pressure but would velocity suffer?
Click to expand...

The idea is the closer the bullet is to the lands the better the accuracy.. the pressure drops so you have to taillor your load to make up for the pressure & speed drop.

Velocity is less of an issue with the heavier bullet at 20 yd target distances.
 
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