Reloading w\ 200 gr bullets in .45

[Guest sling]

SO... my package from midway came today with a few of these...Rainier 200 gr plated FMJ's... normally i dont buy plated but the price was right so what the hell. I set my stuff to create a dummy round like i always do with a new bullet weight. The Lee manual says to seat at a minimum of 1.175 (!!!!). I thought it sounded really... deep. Sure enough. I've thus far seated this 200 gr bullet at 1.200 and it almost looks like its running out of gripping space. I normally load 230's. The dummy round chambers fine in my 1911.

Has anyone ever reloaded this weight in a .45 ACP before?

If so... do they really need to be seated THAT deep? Holy crap.

[Guest Mugster]

Yeah, I've done some ranier swc's in 200gr. I used a depth of 1.190 or as close as I could get. I don't see any OAL suggestions for the roundnose bullet in 2 minutes of looking. On mine, I noticed the side of the case was right at or maybe a little above the shoulder of the bullet where the wadcutting part sticks up.

If it looks too deep to you, hit a couple of other forums. These 200gr bullets are getting more popular. The ones I've loaded were very accurate and fed well, FWIW.

[SpacemanSpiff]

Sorry, I'm new to reloading and I've only used 230gr FMJ for .45s.

[Guest Grout]

200 GR SWC getting more popular?.Hell they have been popular for decades.I have shot a gazillion 200 gr lead swcs in my lifetime.Sling,seat them 1.250 and you will be fine.

[Guest sling]

Thanks for the input guys. I've reloaded .45 for a while but this is my first time with 200 gr bullets. I just thought that the seating depth listed was a tad bit... low. Especially since the case is rising over the shoulder. I've reloaded heavies for too long.

[Guest Mugster]

200 GR SWC getting more popular?.Hell they have been popular for decades.I have shot a gazillion 200 gr lead swcs in my lifetime.Sling,seat them 1.250 and you will be fine.

Plated bullets in 200gr. I know lead was always popular with competitive shooters shooting greatly reduced loads, but some of us won't shoot lead, especially full power loads. It's getting more popular because there's 30gr less lead in each one. That adds up to 4.3 pounds less lead per 1K rounds shipped. Quite a cost savings over FMJ 230's.

[Guest sling]

Plated bullets in 200gr. I know lead was always popular with competitive shooters shooting greatly reduced loads, but some of us won't shoot lead, especially full power loads. It's getting more popular because there's 30gr less lead in each one. That adds up to 4.3 pounds less lead per 1K rounds shipped. Quite a cost savings over FMJ 230's.

Ditto.

[Guest Grout]

I shot IPSC,there were no reduced loads.To make 175 power factor you needed at least 900 fps with a 200gr swc to safely make it.I always have used a good quality lead bullet and have never had a problem.

[Guest Mugster]

I shot IPSC,there were no reduced loads.To make 175 power factor you needed at least 900 fps with a 200gr swc to safely make it.I always have used a good quality lead bullet and have never had a problem.

My midrange load in 200gr was running 975 and at max it was cooking off about 1075 measured at the muzzle, with accurate #5. 900 is going to be a minimum powder charge or maybe .1 or .2 over minimum with accurate #5, FYI. There was still room to grow too when I stopped based on the brass condition. In my opinion, 900 FPS is underloaded in a .45acp at the 200gr weight.

I'm not saying that lead is bad or unsafe even if you pump up the velocity. I'm saying that I don't personally use it in a self-loading pistol. If prices keep going up, I might reconsider...and drop to 185gr or less.

[latisimusd]

I remember a fella who shot 1000's of of rounds of 175 & 200 SWC and his basic OAL rule of thumb was a thumbnail width of bullet above the case. He also checked them with a case gauge for extra insurance. I think a 45acp case gauge is "very" cheap insurance and you can buy them from most reloading stores - in fact I'll bet the Reloader's Bench in Mt. Juliet has a selection of em.

[Guest sling]

I think a 45acp case gauge is "very" cheap insurance and you can buy them from most reloading stores - in fact I'll bet the Reloader's Bench in Mt. Juliet has a selection of em.

I think i'll stick to my micrometer.

As for the people at the Reloaders Bench... i'd rather not deal with those swindlers any more than i have to.

[Guest Mugster]

I think i'll stick to my micrometer.

As for the people at the Reloaders Bench... i'd rather not deal with those swindlers any more than i have to.

Haha. The owner is a pretty good guy, imo.

[latisimusd]

I think i'll stick to my micrometer.

As for the people at the Reloaders Bench... i'd rather not deal with those swindlers any more than i have to.

Good thing there's plenty of places to purchase reloading items - kinda like radio or TV you can change the channel or turn it off if you don't like it.

[RASHGUNNER]

I am curious what is considered a good price for 200 gr. SWC these days?

[Guest sling]

The only suck thing is their the only ones local that i can buy primers and powder minus bass pro. *yuck*

Bass pro charges 4.00 for 100 primers...

Anyone know anywhere else that sells powder\primer in Nashville?

Its a pain in the rear to order online because of the hazmat charge.

Jim's ok... its just a few of the others who have the big egos. Plus their gun prices stink...

$589 for a new glock?!

Edited August 17, 2008 by sling

[Guest Mugster]

I am curious what is considered a good price for 200 gr. SWC these days?

Well, 110 here + shipping:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=359884

As far as a good price, I'm not sure. If you find 1000 plated bullets of any shape under say $100, that's probably a pretty good deal in today's market.

[Guest Mugster]

The only suck thing is their the only ones local that i can buy primers and powder minus bass pro. *yuck*

Bass pro charges 4.00 for 100 primers...

Anyone know anywhere else that sells powderprimer in Nashville?

Its a pain in the rear to order online because of the hazmat charge.

Jim's ok... its just a few of the others who have the big egos. Plus their gun prices stink...

$589 for a new glock?!

I've got the same problem. For me its them or the gunshow for powder and primer. I've been tossing around the idea of ordering 32 pounds of mil surp powder for the .223 from pat's reloading when this jug of 2230 runs out. I just dunno...32 pounds, geebus. If the fire marshal saw it he might drop his upper plate.

[SpacemanSpiff]

I am curious what is considered a good price for 200 gr. SWC these days?

$101.26 including shipping http://www.berrysmfg.com/103.php

$102.64 including shipping http://www.rozedist.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=RZD&Product_Code=R117-A&Category_Code=ZSB-45ACP

Edited August 17, 2008 by SpacemanSpiff

[Guest sling]

+1 on Zero bullets

[latisimusd]

Take a trip up to Clarksville to Midsouth; http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/

they have great prices on most items - just have to pay TN tax.

[et45]

I load all .45 ACP at a length of 1.250.Works for me.

[davej48]

I load all my round nose bullets ( 200gr,230gr,250gr ) jacketed or not to 1.250" and have not had any feeding problems.

[Guest sling]

I loaded these to 1.250 just to try out and they worked fine. My initial run through my 1911 produced some failure to feeds issues though. My fault..forgot to crimp\post size:doh: