newbie reloading questions.

jhutto · Post by **jhutto** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:09 am

I just ordered my dillon 550b press. I am looking around for materials, powder bullets etc. Currently I am shooting hornady 230Gr TAP FPD ammo in 45ACP +p. (5'' Kimber) I would like to recreate this ammo on my press.
Questions...

What powder should I use that works best with the 550b powder despenser.

What size is the 45ACP, .451, .452..... I see lots of .45x on the Hornady website.

Anyone have any recomendations for me/?
Thanks

jhutto · Post by **jhutto** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:19 am

If you would be willing to either come help me set up my machine, or let me come and look/learn about your machine it would be fantastic.

Post by **Crossfire** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 5:18 pm

Call up Dillon and ask for the video. It will walk you through the setup and getting started process.

Mike1951 · Post by **Mike1951** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 7:15 pm

.45acp uses .451 diameter bullets.

The .452-.454 diameter are typically used in .45 Colt.

The Dillon measure works best with ball (spherical) type powder and worst with extruded powder (tubular). Basically, the more uniform in shape and size, the more accurate your throw will be.

For pistol cartridges, the difference will not be significant.

I typically throw and weigh ten charges each time I make an adjustment and periodically when loading a large volume of ammo.

I question whether you'll need to load large amounts of +P. A standard pressure load will do fine for practice and will be easier on your pistol.

Work up to any +P load carefully, starting below the maximum standard load shown in your manual.

jhutto · Post by **jhutto** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:38 pm

I am going with Winchester 231 and "winchester large pistol primers for standard or magnum pistol loads" and Hornady XTP .451 230grain
With 5.0-5.7 grains and an overall length of 1.230 inches.

Does this sound ok to everyone?
Thanks

Mike1951 · Post by **Mike1951** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:17 pm

I'll make one other suggestion.

Buy a case length guage for .45acp. Dillon #D93-15166

Set your resizing die so that a case drops fully into the case gage.

That should ensure the round will chamber without problem.

The Winchester data I have shows your load to be excessive.

Starting 4.8gr 740fps 18,000psi
Max 5.1gr 785fps 20,000psi

I would consider this a rather inefficient load, as there are powders that will safely provide higher velocities.

What was your source for your date?

DustinB · Post by **DustinB** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 5:43 pm

Load data from the winchester site shows the following:

230 gr. HDY FMJ FP

Starting - 4.2

FPS - 751

Pressure - 13,800 CUP

Max - 5.3

FPS - 832

Pressure - 16,800 CUP

I use this load but with a plated 230gr bullet instead. No sign os excessive pressure, quite an accurate load. I use 231 in all my loads on my 550B, no problems metering. 9mm, 38, 40, 45

nuparadigm · Post by **nuparadigm** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:11 pm

jhutto wrote:an overall length of 1.230 inches.

Does this sound ok to everyone?
Thanks

OAL of 1.274 seems to work well for me.

jhutto · Post by **jhutto** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:17 am

This is the information given to me by hornady over the phone. I will probably get one of their manuals to confirm/

jhutto · Post by **jhutto** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:18 am

Btw I recieved my 550 yesterday, and am working on assembly, and organization.

jhutto · Post by **jhutto** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:09 am

I am trying to save money right now... Dillon 550 is $$$$...
Can I use my micrometer to measure the case instead of the case gauge?

Post by **Charles L. Cotton** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 12:11 pm

jhutto wrote:I am trying to save money right now... Dillon 550 is $$$$...
Can I use my micrometer to measure the case instead of the case gauge?

Use the barrel in your pistol.

Chas.

jhutto · Post by **jhutto** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 9:49 pm

Well i have read you seat the bullet to keep it from being pushed in when ramped up the barrel. I measured some factory ammo, and it pushed in about 20 thousanths give or take 5 or 10 thousanths per round....
The test ammo I have been making while setting up my dies has done the same thing. Do I need more crimp? Perhaps someone has dillon crimp die setting recomendations..

Thanks

Houston1944 · Post by **Houston1944** » Tue Dec 19, 2006 10:31 pm

A good test is to load some dummy rounds. put the bullet on a wood surface and push in with your thumb from the bottom of the case. If the bullet recesses back into the brass without much effort then you have a problem. The 45acp (as do most straight wall pistol calibers) depend on case tension to hold the bullet in place, not the taper crimp. The two most common causes of this is either the die is not set deep enough to fully size the brass or the brass is weak. On very rare occassions (only one that I actually know of) the die could be oversize. I have had factory loads push the bullet in 8 or 10 thousands, never much more, but then again I don't check factory rounds very often.

jhutto · Post by **jhutto** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 1:32 pm

PER HORNADY "With 5.0-5.7 grains and an overall length of 1.230 inches".
I reloaded some new REM brass I paid too much for with 5.0gr win231, and used the HornadyXTP 230gr bullets, at a seating depth of 1.228-1.231 inches. The results? Less recoil than standard target loads, and very very very poor acuracy. I was so scared to pull the trigger on my first round...
So where to go from here? I suppose I should start working up. 10 or so at each .1 gr difference? Would it be normal for a minimum load to be so inacurate?

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