Rainier Ballistics 45ACP Bullets

[Original Ken]

Have any of you had any experience with loading Rainier Ballastics bullets?  I have loaded some of the 200 gn round nose for my Springfield 45 V-12 with ported barrel.  My initial load was 5.5 grains of Bullseye as recommended by Rainier and they functioned fine and the accuracy was pretty good.  This was at my club on an indoor 50 foot range.  I downloaded from Rainier's site their loading data and was reviewing their stats for Unique.  Their recommended load was between 6.0 and 8.6 grains of Unique.  Again this was with their 200 grain FMJ.  I loaded 50 rounds with 7.0 gns of Unique and they were manageable but they were a bit on the "warm" side.  Do any of you think this is an undesirable load for a 1911A1 that is recommended by Springfield as a hardball gun.  I didn't have any problems with any of the rounds but on the other hand I don't want to tear up the gun either.  Most of Rainier's load info is pretty much in line with the Speer's Manual.  Any info you can post back would be appreciated.  Thanks for reading!!


 

[Mikey]

Hay Ken:  How ya be?? Ummmm, about that 8.6 gns of Unique - I'm not so sure.  I think that sounds just a bit 'hot' - as in 'hot', not just warm.  I can remember busting primers with 8.5 gns of Unique, so I would be a bit careful were I you, ol buddy.

About the highest I've ever gone with Unique and anything over 200 gn in the 45 acp was to 7.2 gns.  Although I like Unique, I have found the VihtaVourhyOy powders to give me higher velocites and lower pressures.  I've been using them for a while now.  But, 7.0 gns of Unique behind a 200 gn 45 acp slug should be an easy shooting load from a full length Gov't Model but might be a bit snappy from a shorter version, like yours.

Typically, 6.5 gn of Unique behind a 230 gn ball is supposed to get you the mil-surp velocity of 877'/sec, as per the old Lyman manuals, but from a 5" Gov't Model.  I think your Springer has a shorter bbl, but under a 200 gn bullet that load should give you no problems and be fairly comfy to shoot.

Anyhow, I do not think your load of 7 gns of Unique over the 200 gn ball is too hot for a hardball gun.  But again, I always stuff all my 45s with 22 lb recoil spring kits from Wolff - they work wonders and you need not worry about frame battering with heavy loads.

My friend, I would like to suggest a Lymna manual, one of the older ones if you can locate a 43rd or 45th edition, and one of the newer VihtaVourhyOy manuals and some of their powder - you just might like the change and the way they treat your 45.  Hasta Buddy.  Mikey.

[Original Ken]

Thanks for the info Mikey.  Me be fine these days.  Sun is out and snow is about melted for now anyway.  The 7.0 grains of Unique was not hard to handle at all even one handed (which Bullseye shooting is supposed to be!!).  Where do you get your Wolff springs and what is in the entire kit?  Recoil spring, firing pin spring, etc.??  I will look for an older Lyman manual or one of the VVO (abbreviated) to see what I can come up with.  Thanks for the info Mikey and hope your snow melts so you can keep your butt off the back end of a snowblower!!!!  Later Master Chief!!