New to reloading. Looking for a recipe

S

saneboy

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Hi. I'm new to reloading, but since I shoot quite a bit of 45acp, I've decided I'm going to start reloading. Aside from my tumbler (that should be here any day), I've got everything I need. While I'm waiting, I've been searching for a recipe for the following:

Campro 230gn JHP projectiles
Hp-38 powder

I'm going to be using this with CCI large pistol primers and Blazer once fired brass.

The Campro JHP's are causing me to scratch my head a bit. Since they have a hollow point, I believe the case length will be shorter, but I'm not sure by how much. For powder I've been reading the HP-38 and W231 are interchangeable, and I should start at about 4.8gn.

Can anyone give me some insight on the OAL I should be aiming for? If it matters, I'm planning to use these rounds in both a 1911 and an M&P.

Thanks,
S
 
unless your brass is blackened and covered in dirt(use a towel and clean it with soap and water or ketchup for the acid in it), size a couple pieces while you wait for your tumbler to show up. once you have them size, expand the case necks and seat the bullet your planning on using. because there is so many different shapes and sizes of bullets, not ever bullet will be tested so go by bullet weight and closest shape you can.

i've looked up the hp campro bullet and the closest match is the 230gr FP from hornady. using hp38/w231 (same powder) hodgdon's website says 4.2gr start and 5.3gr max.

once you have a resized and expanded case (no primer or powder) seat a bullet at 1.300" and with your crimp die barely put and crimp on it. basically you just want to remove the belling (expanding) of the case mouth. from there see if it will chamber in your gun, removing the barrel is the easiest. it should drop in and out freely. if it doesn't seat the bullet deeper and deeper until it drops in and out freely. that's the OAL for your gun, it may be different for the 1911 and M&P. you can use the shorter OAL so it will work in both guns or have different OAL's, i would just use one that works in both guns.

i would load 10-20 rounds for each powder charge starting at 4.2gr up to 5.3gr in .2 increments, so 4.2gr, 4.4gr, 4.6gr, 4.8gr etc. see which groups best for each gun and use it again each gun might be different.
 
Most blazer almost all of it is small pistol primers! Just a heads up. It's good brass however. Don't forget a primer flip tray.
And a really good scale. For the future jhp bullets are easier to find reloading recipes for.
 
Once you have a dummy round that you know will chamber, I would make up a couple more to make sure they feed properly. I would be extremely ticked off if I made a batch of ammo that wouldn't feed properly or fit in the mag.

Also, once you have the dummy rounds made up, you will be able to use them to check the set up of your seating die for the next batch, presuming you're using a single stage press.

I am in the habit of making up a few (2 - 5 each) for each load (caliber / bullet combination) that I load up, and mark the bullet type on the case with an engraving pencil.

Stan
 
Start by reading your manual. You load for the bullet weight. Who made it or its construction doesn't matter. So the OAL for a jhp will be the same as any other 230. The case length will be too.
You will have to work up the load, beginning with the Starter load given in your manual, for each pistol too. No two firearms will shoot the same ammo the same way.
 
Max length is 1.275. I load same bullet to 1.225 without any problem. Most of my manuals list from 1.200-1.275 for various 230 gr bullets . The OAL will effect the load data for max loads. May list a bigger charge with longer OAL. Get a few manuals and compare data. May be a good idea to get a chronograph to help with developing load.
 
like many other said, start with reading a reloading manual...
you can also check the bullet manufacturers website for some basic load data, as well as the powder manufacturers website.

For me I use 240 gr cast bullets (I think) with 4.2gr of win 231.

one note is that my brass is all large pistol primer (it is what MOST of the 45 ACP brass will be)

been about half a year or so since I did a load of 45 ACP (I usually do em by the 1000) so I will need to recheck the bullet weight I have left over from the last load.

And my load data is what works in MY guns, what your loading for may need different powder amounts ect. the bullets I use are cast, so they will be a little different from the jacketed that you are using...

I think I started with a charge of 4.0gr or 3.6gr and worked my way up
 
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