Advice needed, reloading .45acp 152gr swc

thecabin

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Hi All,

I'm very new at reloading pistol rounds and would appreciate some help. Reloads are going to be used in a Norinco P10 1911. I have 152 grain swc (found a box of 500 in a bin of stuff I bought with another pistol, so no special reason for choosing the bullet, just have them. ) The powder I have is Blue Dot which as I read about powders may not be my best choice and perhaps I should reconsider. I'm not looking for anything special for results as I'm mainly just a plinker, just so long as the pistol will cycle. I'd appreciate any advice or recipes as information on these components is alluding me.

Thanks.
 
i don't know if a 45 acp will feed that LIGHT- the lightest i've seen is 185, and that sometimes requires special springs and other stuff- remember the AVERAGE 45acp comes set up for 230 grain hardball- you can go as low as 185, but you also have to boost the velocity to MAKE EQUILIVENT- so it will cycle - that bullet that you have is almost the equivilent of the 45 caliber ROUND BALL in weight, AND POSSIBLY USED in black powder revolvers- if they are 45 caliber- you didn't say- if you're not sure, dig out a set of calipers and measure them - that weight sounds more like a 357/9mm/38 diameter
 
Blue Dot is probably to slow burning for this sort of thing. Something fast burning like Bullseye, 231/HP-38, Titegroup, etc. would be a better choice. Hodgdon has some data for 155 grain bullets on their website for Hodgdon, Winchester, and IMR powders. You may have to use a lighter recoil spring.

The weight does seem awfully light for .45 ACP. I would stick to 200 grains and up if you were shopping for bullets, but if you have these ones lying around, You might as well use them up.
 
They are for sure .45 cal, not sure what the origional owner had they for, prehaps black powder. Is there any danger in trying them in a 1911 aside from not cycling that anyone is aware of?
 
Here's some info for ya...

152 gr. lead SWC bullet made by Penn Bullets

It's a 45 ACP originally designed for comp'd guns.

Bullseye is wayfast for that bullet; highly recommend contacting Mr. P at Penn Bullets directly; he can offer data (but maybe not with Bullseye; you'll have to ask......or maybe run a 7lb spring)

Reference "152g sounds quite light for 45acp. More info?" See Penn Bullets offerings at http://www.pennbullets.com/45/45-caliber.html

Saw Penn Bullets table at the latest Dulles Expo Center gun show; bought 500each of both .452 152 gr. SWC and .452 225 gr. BBWC.

:)
 
the only thing might be the frustration factor from not having the slide come back far enough- ie you might have to cycle the slide EVERY time ,and there MIGHT be stovepipes- ie failure to eject- where you have to lock the slide back and manually remove the casing- it's PROBABLY going to misfeed lots- like EVERY ROUND-you're going to have to see how far back the load pushes the slide- it also might go f/a on you as the slide isn't getting pushed back far enough to engage the disconnector, which is behind the mag, if the hammer will even ####- i've had a lot of this happen shooting 185's in mine, with the exception of full auto, because my hammer wouldn't ####- it just followed the slide
 
I had some success loading those 155gr LSWC from The Bullet Barn. They cycled fine without any modification in my S&W 1911; I did get few feeding problems, though not as many as expected.

8.8gr SR4756 got'em flying at a bit over 1000fps; also used Red Dot and Universal but didn't chrony those loads. Blue Dot's definitely too slow-burning.
 
HI, I use the 155's in my ipsc 1911, with Win 231, and have had no problems. As said earlier, they are meant for a compensated gun, but should still work fine in an 1911. While on this topic, who sells these? I am nearly out of my current stash... V:I:

Stacey
 
I used to use the 155 OMAs in my springfield defender. Loaded up with7.7 gn 231. They worked really good on close targets. Fast but hard to hit at distance. We called them flying ashtrays. Gun had 2 port comp and old PDP4 can on top.
 
Oh, just cut 4" off your spring and go for it! *kidding*

To be more serious, just make up for the lower weight by using a faster burning powder in a greater amount if it doesn't cycle your 1911 properly (work up the load). I'd be more concerned about the form factor of a bullet of that size in the 1911 causing problems, but it might be no problem for you. It's not like you're going to cause a kaboom with this experimentation - so go at 'er. Just don't load up too many rounds until you find the sweet spot. Then go nutz!
 
I run 155g SWC's thru various 1911's with 100% function. They scoot along pretty fast but they have to. Really odd looking bullet but makes a nice clean hole. Its crucial to get the proper COAL or you will have feed problems. I get mine from Cactus Plains Bullets in SK.
dB
 
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