Post by: andersonjk4 on February 18, 2013, 04:39:46 PM
Post by: C-Money on February 18, 2013, 04:45:05 PM
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 18, 2013, 04:46:04 PM
Post by: wildmanoutdoors on February 18, 2013, 04:46:47 PM
Post by: C-Money on February 18, 2013, 04:48:03 PM
Whatever you do, load your gun with Factory Ammo for self defense. This is strictly a liability issue, just in case you ever have to use the gun in a self defense situation.... Target shoot with reloads, but carry with factory stuff! :twocents:
Good advise!
Post by: Heredoggydoggy on February 18, 2013, 04:57:05 PM
I was given a pound of Bullseye, so I used it to load my 45 ACP rounds. Finally used it all up, thank god! After shooting my 45 with Bullseye loads, I felt like my gun had just come out of a bag of charcoal! It's got to be the dirtiest powder ever made. I'll go to one of the Ramshot powders if I ever load any more 45 ACP. :twocents:
Post by: Blacklab on February 18, 2013, 05:06:40 PM
Post by: waterdoctor on February 18, 2013, 05:32:16 PM
Post by: thinkingman on February 19, 2013, 08:18:52 AM
Titegroup is hot and does not meter well.
Post by: whacker1 on February 19, 2013, 08:26:04 AM
Post by: andersonjk4 on February 19, 2013, 08:59:03 AM
Post by: whacker1 on February 19, 2013, 09:05:55 AM
Lots of good info here. Thanks guys. I can see where it is a good idea to use factory ammo for defense purposes. But are handloads really less reliable than factory ammo? Like I said before I have been reloading rifle ammo for over half my life and would way rather have my handloads in any of my rifles over factroy ammo anyday in a hunting situation or defense situation. I have NEVER had a failure to fire from any of my handloads. I won't be using a progressive machine to pump out thousands of rounds. I only have a single stage press and will probably be weighing every charge I load. Is there anything I need to make sure I do /don't do when reloading pistol shells compared to rifle shells?
The handloads or factory ammunition for self-defense comment is about how you appear before a court and/or jury, after discharging your weapon. The perception of someone that hand loads particularly lethal rounds vs. buying them over the counter is the perception you have to appease to a jury. The person purchasing over the counter is seen in a different light over those with technical ability. I don't believe the comment has to do with reliability, but rather providing a legal defense if you are ever put in the position to actually have to use the firearm for self-defense.
I personally think that if you are handloading any round (rifle, pistol, or otherwise), that same perception will apply in court whether you handloaded the self defense rounds used or not. Just my two cents
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on February 19, 2013, 09:16:09 AM
Bullseye, Clays, Titegroup for plinking/target shooting. Buy/pour lead for target shooting. (unless in a Glock) No reason to waste your mondy on FMJ. Cheap Barry's, plated Rainier or Montana Gold could be cost effective. Unique works great but is dirty to shoot. 231 doesn't meter well with light loads and builds some higher pressure spikes where other pouders are just better choices. I don't buy into the 'factory ammo' for self defense thing. If I meant to point the gun at a human, it meant that I felt that my life was in danger. At that point I'm shooting center mass anyway. Likely to kill. Factory or handload doesn't matter. If I do have a factory load in the pipe, it'll be a Black Talon.
-Steve
Post by: JLS on February 19, 2013, 09:24:32 AM
I've yet to see case law that ruled for excessive use of force because someone was shot with a hollow point vs. ball ammo. Honestly, that argument makes about as much sense as telling someone they should shoot an intruder with a .380 instead of a .45 because it doesn't look as intrusive (pun intended).
Post by: andersonjk4 on February 19, 2013, 09:49:14 AM
Post by: 300rum on February 19, 2013, 12:36:50 PM
Post by: 300rum on February 19, 2013, 12:54:40 PM
Clays works well in .45, lots of guys like it, I don't. It seemed snappier then Titegroup at the same power factor, is dirty and doesn't meter as well.
231 is dirtier then the other two and but works well in .45. It is just too dirty for me and smokes a bit too much.
WST is a very nice powder, soft shooting and for a plinker is probably the best. It is reverse temp sensitive so when the temperature gets hotter it slows down, when the temperature goes down, it speeds up. Temperature sensitivity doesn't matter if you aren't shooting competitions or leaving your rounds out in the sun on a 90+ degree day. Even on hot days I never had a failure, even when I left them out in the sun. They were noticeably softer but no failures. WST can be harder to find though and usually is about the same price as 231 or slightly more expensive.
Use your barrel to chamber check your loads and don't go over 900 FPS or so with lead bullets.
Post by: h20hunter on February 19, 2013, 01:03:52 PM
Post by: high country on February 19, 2013, 06:38:22 PM
Post by: KelseyH on February 20, 2013, 12:15:35 PM
Good Luck!
Kelsey
High Mountain Hunting Supply, LLC
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on February 20, 2013, 12:47:50 PM
The best thing I can suggest is a case gauge and precheck every round you load prior to heading to the range. Nothing more frustrating that a case jam due to a bulged or improper case size.
Good Luck!
Kelsey
High Mountain Hunting Supply, LLC
Oh good gosh.... I've fired/reloaded a hundred thousand 45acp in the last 20 years, some 30,000 through my current Kimber SS Custom II, and never once put my shells through a case guage. I measure my 'Target/competition slow fire' brass with a dial caliper since I want the light taper crimp to be abosolutely consistent, but I don't for the other thousands of rounds I reload/fire. 45acp brass actually shrinks over time, (reloaded/fired brass), unlike bottle neck rifle cases that stretch when fired.
That said, your best case guage is your barrel/chamber.
Remember that 45acp head spaces on the neck so don' t roll crimp, and only a .462" taper crimp for cast bullets. Maybe a tad less crimp for jacketed bullets.
-Steve
Post by: sirmissalot on February 20, 2013, 02:00:11 PM
I've been loading with power pistol for some time now for the 45 and the 40
Post by: crazysccrmd on February 21, 2013, 12:02:31 AM
A tip, for mass producing on a single stage press try using the Lee powder dippers. I can get a consistent scoop within +/- .1gr which is more than enough for your mid-level power target ammo. For my 10mm hunting loads that are max power I hand measure, but I'm loading a lot less of those in a single sitting.
Post by: andersonjk4 on February 21, 2013, 10:18:49 AM
I've used Power Pistol and AA5 for 45ACP with 185gr plated FN bullets. It's great for cheap target ammo and practice, I stick with Corbon/Hornady 165/185gr factory loads for carry.
A tip, for mass producing on a single stage press try using the Lee powder dippers. I can get a consistent scoop within +/- .1gr which is more than enough for your mid-level power target ammo. For my 10mm hunting loads that are max power I hand measure, but I'm loading a lot less of those in a single sitting.
I've been thinking about the dippers. I will have to give them a try. I figured that at that small of charge and when accuracy isn't critical loading by volume instead of weight might be way quicker. Thanks for the recommendation.
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on February 21, 2013, 07:53:02 PM
-Steve
Post by: high country on February 22, 2013, 03:44:34 AM
Post by: crazysccrmd on February 23, 2013, 01:51:42 AM
Trust your pouder measure to throw consistent charges. Weigh every 5 or 10th one. You can make more mistakes with dippers.
-Steve
I took the time and measured what the dipper holds for the powder type I'm loading and have never had more than a .1gr variation when using the same method of scooping the powder. Like I typed, they are never used for anything approaching a max load, just target loads when there is plenty of room for a .1gr variation in charge.
Post by: high country on February 23, 2013, 05:06:57 AM
Post by: Wacenturion on February 23, 2013, 09:37:51 AM