Lightest load Bullseye/200gr swc

[wvbuckbuster]

What is the lightest load you have used consisting of Bullseye and a 200gr SWC bullet? In the past I have always used 3.5grs but having hand issues I was wondering how low I could go and still get total function. Quick trip to the range yesterday I started with 3.4 ,3.3 then 3.2grs and all functioned Ronin normally. Pleasant to shoot is an understatement. Shooting was only for function test purposes and not accuracy. I will have to determine that later. Have any of you played around with this type of combos and what were your results?

 

[jimbires]

I'm assuming a 45ACP in a 1911 ? I'm not sure how low you can go with bullseye and have reliable function .you can always change the recoil spring to get lighter loads to function . I bought a set of wolf springs for tuning . must be about 10 different weight springs in the set . when I tried to go way low in powder charge , I felt the slide banging open . it was about like double recoil . it was harder for me to shoot with the double recoil . I had my slide drilled and a red dot mounted on it . making my slide heavier than normal .
I probably purchased the spring kit from Gil Hebard . back when I bought from him he had no website , catalog orders only . not sure if he is still in business . I remember reading of him passing many years ago .

my one pistol shooting buddy shot bullseye and 200 gr SWC's . his load was 4.0 grains . I can remember his load . he uses a Dillon and it was giving him problems feeding , or seating primers . I loaded him a few thousand rounds while he was working on his press .

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Yes, it is a 1911 Springfield Armory Ronin 5in that I mounted a red dot on it and the factory spring still in place. 3.5grs Bullseye is the lowest I had shot before and 5grs the most with a 200gr swc bullet. I was just curious how low it was possible to go. Yeah, I'd replace the spring if a real light load was something I was going to shoot often. The weather was bad; I was bored and didn't need to reload anything else at the time so i was just curious. My range day was cut short as the wind was gusting so hard it blew over a 2x4 target stand with my cardboard-target on it and ripped it off, so no group was shot just banged a plate while checking function.

 

[truck driver]

Look at the Hodgon reloading page It will build loads for you and allow you to pick the powder and bullet you want to use.

 

[Guy Miner]

Look at the Hodgon reloading page It will build loads for you and allow you to pick the powder and bullet you want to use.

Well, Hodgdon doesn't list loads for Alliant powders. Bullseye just isn't there. Hodgdon doesn't have a business agreement with Alliant. However here are the lighter loads they show for a 45 ACP and a 200 gr LSWC bullet:


*My old RCBS Cast Bullet Manual shows a minimum load of 4.2 grains of Bullseye for 732 fps from a 5" 1911.

I've loaded a lot of 45 rounds, thousands, with Bullseye powder. Don't have any interest in dropping below about 700 fps with the 200 gr LSWC bullet. Very mild and accurate. The 1911 runs fine.

Those 700 - 800 fps loads with a 200 gr bullet from the 45 ACP - They're great! that's a velocity where it can perform beautifully on target.

Regards, Guy

 

[jimbires]

I bought my cast bullets from , master cast bullets , Enon valley , PA . the one time I went to pick up bullets , Mike gave me a hand full of ammo he sells to the local LEO's for practice ammo . this was the nicest shooting ammo I ever shot . he gave me the specs , but I've lost track of it . I do know it was loaded with W231 powder .

 

[Ralt71]

What is the lightest load you have used consisting of Bullseye and a 200gr SWC bullet? In the past I have always used 3.5grs but having hand issues I was wondering how low I could go and still get total function. Quick trip to the range yesterday I started with 3.4 ,3.3 then 3.2grs and all functioned Ronin normally. Pleasant to shoot is an understatement. Shooting was only for function test purposes and not accuracy. I will have to determine that later. Have any of you played around with this type of combos and what were your results?

I'm probably not going to help you here, especially since you are after bullseye loads. When i was shooting PPC/IDPA/and Bullseye before we got too busy for me to practice and enter, I exclusively shot with 1911's in 45. Hands down my favorite pistol platform. Obviously, shooting 45 put me at a perceived disadvantage because most were shooting a much more mild pistol. My reloads and my pistol had to be the offset, but I just shoot these so much better and at the time you couldn't even find a single stack in 9mm. My go to was Titegroup for my loads. It was somewhat fast, but the recoil seemed to be more of a snap as opposed to swinging back or muzzle up on me. The other piece that really drove my accuracy home was when I switched to a Cabot Commander. It's a 4' but has the same slide action as a full size which really helped with recoil. My local shoot at the time I won more than I didn't after switching to this set up. The Titegroup was a game changer for me though!

 

[Guy Miner]

Titegroup certainly does work well. I've had great results with it in 38, 45 ACP, 45 Colt and even mild 44 magnum loads. Not sure I used it with any 44 Special.. Maybe?

 

[Ralt71]

I also use it for my 38'sas well! Snub nose revolvers takes a special load to try to add any practicality to it at all haha. The snap and lift is unavoidable haha.

 

[Guy Miner]

I also use it for my 38'sas well! Snub nose revolvers takes a special load to try to add any practicality to it at all haha. The snap and lift is unavoidable haha.

There's a train of thought in recent years that since a snub is unlikely to produce much velocity, therefore unlikely to produce much bullet expansion... To choose standard velocity 38 Special wadcutter ammo instead! Reasons being:

1. It's accurate
2. It produces low recoil - so staying on target in rapid fire is easier
3. The bullet will not expand but it penetrates straight and deep - far beyond what is required by the FBI protocol and farther than typical hollow point 38's. In addition the wadcutter cuts it's way through tissue with a full 38 cal hole, instead of pushing tissue aside like a more gently profiled bullet.

I'm not sure that the wadcutter is the ultimate answer for a 38 snub, but that's what's in my 2" Model 36 right now. I got some 148 grain wadcutter ammo from High Desert Ammunition out of Washington state. Looks like he's using the plated Berry's 148 grain HBWC. Accurate, reliable, and mild to shoot. It's the "bees knees" for accuracy from my 3" and 6" 38 revolvers. Much easier to shoot from the 2" revolver than my 125 grain Federal +P ammo...

Regards, Guy

 

[Hunter26]

Titegroup is an excellent powder and not case sensitive. I have used a lot of it over the years in 9, 38, 40, 44 Special & mag & 45 ACP. If you're worried about recoil because of your hand issues, you could further drop bullet weight to 185 or lighter if you could find it, reducing recoil even more. You're on the right track, keep experimenting with charge weights but pay close attention that you don't stick a bullet in the barrel.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Good responses all. For the record I was very observant and made sure I didn't stick a bullet in the barrel. Reason being using the 200gr swc was I have several and thought it was a good use of available components.

 

[Ralt71]

There's a train of thought in recent years that since a snub is unlikely to produce much velocity, therefore unlikely to produce much bullet expansion... To choose standard velocity 38 Special wadcutter ammo instead! Reasons being:

1. It's accurate
2. It produces low recoil - so staying on target in rapid fire is easier
3. The bullet will not expand but it penetrates straight and deep - far beyond what is required by the FBI protocol and farther than typical hollow point 38's. In addition the wadcutter cuts it's way through tissue with a full 38 cal hole, instead of pushing tissue aside like a more gently profiled bullet.

I'm not sure that the wadcutter is the ultimate answer for a 38 snub, but that's what's in my 2" Model 36 right now. I got some 148 grain wadcutter ammo from High Desert Ammunition out of Washington state. Looks like he's using the plated Berry's 148 grain HBWC. Accurate, reliable, and mild to shoot. It's the "bees knees" for accuracy from my 3" and 6" 38 revolvers. Much easier to shoot from the 2" revolver than my 125 grain Federal +P ammo...

Regards, Guy

I have heard about this but have not tried it. My FIL actually told me to get it for my wife's bodyguard that she sometimes CC's and that I should get it for my K6... He mentioned Buffalo Bore. That was as far as that went though. Maybe I should try this out. Seems there is enough positive behind it that it would be foolish not to try it. I appreciate the ensite!

 

[Guy Miner]

Careful with the Buffalo Bore stuff - they offer their ammo from mild to "Oh good grief that's powerful" levels.

I've got some of their 38 ammo that is just peachy - and some of their 180 grain 357 ammo that does it's best imitation of a 44 magnum in recoil...

Guy

 

[Hunter26]

I used to carry some 38 Spl +P Buffalo Bore 158gr LSWCHP's in my S&W 442. Good gravy they recoiled! They penetrated very well though and would be a good woods carry load.