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View Full Version : NOOB Question on 45ACP loads



Ranger353
03-11-2014, 13:33
I am new to reloading, so please don't decapitate me for asking the question.

I have reloaded approximately 500 rds of 45ACP with good results using a Lee Pro1000, 6.3g of Hodgdon Longshot, CCI #300 LPP primers, and Berry's 230g FMJ RN bullets. I try to buy in bulk whenever I can, this is key to saving money and keeping the price per round down. I recently purchased 1000 LPP primers but they turned out to be magnum primers (CCI #350) and not regular LPP primers. The place that I bought them from won't take them back because they have a policy of not accepting reloading supplies back on returns, so I am stuck with them.

Here's the question: Can I use these instead of regular primers if I drop the powder load a half grain? Longshot is a medium burning powder, meaning it is not slow nor fast, but in the middle of the scale as powders go. For 45ACP firing a 230g FMJ round, will it make much of a difference?

Comments? Thoughts?

Great-Kazoo
03-11-2014, 13:42
Load at the low end of data, if not a .grain or so less than low end, work up 5 loads and go from there. I use SPM for my 38 and use bottom of load data, for plinking.

Ranger353
03-11-2014, 13:56
Load at the low end of data, if not a .grain or so less than low end, work up 5 loads and go from there. I use SPM for my 38 and use bottom of load data, for plinking.

The starting load is either 6.0 - 6.3 depending on which book you look at. The Hodgdon online data states 6.3 for a 230G FMJ, so that is what I went with. So if I dropped down to 6.0 for a test load and all is well, then maybe raising it to 6.3 and I am good to go?

Great-Kazoo
03-11-2014, 18:32
The starting load is either 6.0 - 6.3 depending on which book you look at. The Hodgdon online data states 6.3 for a 230G FMJ, so that is what I went with. So if I dropped down to 6.0 for a test load and all is well, then maybe raising it to 6.3 and I am good to go?

That's on you. I'd stick with low end, it is range ammo why push the envelope ? Caveat Emptor

J
03-11-2014, 18:43
I'd cut down to 5.5gr and work up from there. ~10% under starting load. That is just me. I'm sure some others would cut down to 5.0.

The magnum primers don't change a whole lot in the load, but they need to be accounted for. I load my 308 with LRP Magnum primers. Then I only have to stock one type of primer for all of my LRP rifles (mostly magnums). My accuracy node is about 1grs under what others are getting, and that could just be my gun. I'm at 41.5grs instead of 42.6 that many people are finding work well.

4gunfun
03-11-2014, 19:34
I would buy some regular lpp and put the magnum ones away. Or put the magnum ones up for trade.

<MADDOG>
03-11-2014, 21:39
To mimic what GK and J stated, start low and work your way up.

Magnum primers, from my understanding, have a longer "spark", so they may increase pressures for the same powder/powder weight vs a standard primer in a standard round.

And to second what J stated, I'm in the same boat. I use 215M's on .308 as 210M's are scarce, and I have an abundance of 215M's [LOL]. SD's are great, but I seem to drop a .5-1 grain from the "magical" load with Varget/4064/4320.

My $.02.

Zombie Steve
03-12-2014, 10:21
It's enough of a monkey wrench thrown in the mix where I'd just start over with load development. I've had mag primers do almost nothing to the load, or make a huge difference when I switched. The closer you are to max, the more it will have an impact.

Loudshot is pretty slow for a service cartridge, so if I had to use a mag primer in .45 auto, this wouldn't be a terrible choice. It's just very tough for us to tell you to back off X amount of powder.