Dillon/winchester 231 .45 colt help

[Pecos Clyde]

Heyya Ya'll

                   OK, so settin up my new press was not as difficult as I had expected.  I loaded 50 rounds of .45 colt with a 200 grain RNFP lead bullet, winchester primers, and 7.1 grains of winchester 231.    

                   I fired them this morning at the indoor range.  Did not chronograph cuz I don't have one.  The felt recoil was more than what I am looking for.  It is by no means bad, or magnum, I just want something less than this for CAS shooting. These rounds shot very well at 12 yards in my pistol, and 20 yards in my rifle   :-)  :-)  :-) .

                  Someone told me, I think, or maybe I dreamed it  :shock:  :shock:   (old age is creepin up on me).... that they had used 5.8 grains of 231 with a 200 round bullet.  The new speer book shows 7.3 grains as the lowest charge for the 200 grain lead bullet.

                  So, I am new to reloading, and don't want to screw anything up, or be the cause of someone getting hurt, myself included.  Can I load 231 down to the 5.8, 6.0 range with a 200 grain lead bullet??

[southern utah]

I use 5.5 231 in 45 acp. The brass is ALOT shorter and the 230 RNL fills alot of the case. If you took a 45lc and used just 5.8 grains it would cover just the bototm of the brass in the shooting position. This could cause a side detination that could cause some damage.  There are articles about this but don't have one at hand.  Some shooter use a filler ( something like polyester filler ) to take up space and hold powder in primmer area.

Have you tried the SASS forum for load data?

http://www.sassnet.com/

[Pecos Clyde]

Heyya Southern

               That is exactly why I am being cautious about this loadin less than the book says stuff.  I did try to SASS wire, and thats where I got the 5.8 load...I think.  Thanks for the reply.

[Cheyenne Ranger]

For what it's worth.  I'm loading 5.0 grains of Bullseye.  Now before the pards jump on me cause this isn't your powder I just wanted to make the comparison.  Getting about 650 fps with a 200 gr RNFP.  This in my RV's.

My only problem is that it shoots where I point it :grin: and sometimes that's not at the target.  

Using the same bullet/powder combo I was hitting a 4 ft sq target at 165 yds today using my Marlin 24" lever action.  Had to hold just over and a bit to the left.  Hit it 6 for 6; should be noted this was after the match as we were just having fun.

[Burt Blade]

According to the Winchester Reloder's manual. 15th edition, page 44:

Cowboy Action Loads
45 Colt, 250 grains lead, 5.5 grains of 231 powder, 750 fps, 10000psi, from a 5-1/2" barrel.

I used this particular load for about two years. It works quite well for Cowboy matches.

Currently I will load from 6.0 gr to 7.0 gr of Win231 under a .452 250gr LRNFP in my Ruger Vaquero, depending on what I am shooting. My guns seem to group better with loads above 6.0grains of 231.

[Pecos Clyde]

Heyya Burt Blade

              Thanks for that reply.  I finally decided on 6.2 grains of 231 with a 200 grain lead bullet.  The 7.2 grain 231 loads with the same bullet were quite accurate.  I hope that the 6.2 will work well also.  Probably will test fire the 6.2 load tomorrow.  I do not have a chronograph, so I will not know the fps......thanks again!

[Old Cane]

This guy has some great info as well as being one of the North AL guys. Looks like he uses a bit more 231 than you guys. He may have some updated info if you email him. He chronos a lot of loads so he may be able to help you there too.

http://www.reloadammo.com/45cload.htm

[Pecos Clyde]

Heyya Ya'll

                      I test fired the new .45 colt reloads today.  The 6.2 grs of 231 with the 200 grn lead rnfp bullet and the federal primers.  Yippee skippy....very accurate load in both the ruger blackhawk and the marlin cowboy.  Recoil is just a bit over the tex X ammo I had been using, but thats ok.  I was also interested to see that there seemed to be less unburnt powder evidence, and that the empty cases and the guns were not as dirty either.  I am starting to understand the enjoyment of reloading centerfire cartridges.  Hopefully I will test these rounds in the real world, at a SASS match on Sunday.

                       I did shoot my shotgun reloads last Sunday at the Coto Cowboys match.  Almost all shotgun targets were knock-downs, (the others were top and bottom swingers) and they all did go down.  Stage 1 was 12 rifle, and 10 shotgun...an interesting stage

                       Thanks again to all who offered suggestions and help.

[DB Leath]

your hooked now.....I think there should be more shotgun in some stages myself.  
DB

[joeshmo55@cs.com]