Finally my first loads

Tormentor

Tormentor

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Well, I finally have my Dillon 550 set up and have loaded my first 10 rounds!
I have had all I need for about 2 months, just havnt had time to set it up, well, other than bolt it down to the bench I built in June.

Kinda nervous, never reloaded before, I think it went alright, I noticed that I gained .2 grains of powder somewhere over the last 6 rounds or so. My initial charge is 3.6 grains, was the same after 4 cartriges, but the 10th was 3.8grains. Is that common, or is the powder messurer just catching up to the last adjustment I made?

How much do I have to worry about over crimping? I think I am within about 2/1000 of what the lyman book I am using says the dimention should be where the case meets bullet.

By the way I am loading .45ACP, win cases, cci primers, 700x powder, 230gr FMJ RN.

Tor
 
You might want to consult your manual ! I show that IMR's MAX for that combo is 5.0 gr which would make the starting load 4.5gr. Looks like you're waaay under.
 
Hi again Tormentor. I don't know what you mean by "crimp" and 2 thou, but it is important to maintain the proper COL or Cartridge Overall Length. If this is what you're within 2/1000 of then you're fine. In a 45 ACP internal pressures increase quite sharply when you shorten up the cartridge length, especially when you use hot powders like 700-X. I'd also suggest you increase your load to 4.5 gr or so and set aside the 3.6 & 3.8 rds until you can pull em and top em up to 4.5gr.

This advice may sound contradictory for now but when you're starting out its better to follow your manuals religiously until you get a chrony and a sense of how changing parameters will affect your results. Do this and you'll be fine. The 45 ACP is a nice cartridge to start out on. If you aren't crumpling your brass all to hell, you've got the right amount of powder inside, and the dimensions are right, you pretty well have it nailed.Case trimming and s**t like that generally won't be an issue.

Now, having done the above, if your pistol isn't cycling well with your reloads you can try adding powder by increments (1 or 2 gr at a time) or shorten your COL a hundredth or so until you're happy. Just don't go nuts with big adjustments or go over the manual's recommended max. Same holds true if you need more velocity to make IPSC major or something. This fiddling might seem like a nuisance at first especially when you don't have the time but do it before the snow flies and record your results, then you can just crank em out all winter like you planned and be up to your arse in ammo come spring.
 
Well, I am using Lymans 48th edition reloading handbook, and for 230 grain tmj rnd nose, using 700X powder and cci primers the starting load is 3.6 grains, and max load is 4.8 grains. I shot my 3.6 today and they cycled well, but a little lighter than I care for. I plan a consistant load of 3.8 for my next load and will try 4.0 after that. I like it a little hotter than the 3.6 provided, but my gun cycled well with that load.

Tor
 
I see that Hogdons reloading data centre does list it as 4.4-4.9 grains, but oh well, I will stick with my Lyman handbook for now, 3.6 worked ok and I will only be going up from there anyway.

Tor
 
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