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A bit too snappy...

1K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  dbcooper 
#1 ·
Took my Ruger SR-1911 and went to the range over lunch hour (46 degrees and very windy) to try some of my handloads from last winter (14 months ago or so).

According to my load label...

4.9 gr of IMR PB
Berry's plated 230 gr RN bullets
1.2" OAL
Winchester primers
Brass of all sorts

I was a bit shocked at how 'snappy' they seemed (I don't have a chronograph... so my 'snappy' is subjective.) I put a few in my CCW gun... the M&P Shield .45 and it too seemed like it was all the gun could handle.

So I checked the load data again and it seems I loaded these almost at max... what was I thinking?!!! I never do that... I prefer 'middle of the road' loads that give me some wiggle room when I'm using dippers to charge the cases. (That's how I charge all my cases since I'm a "plinker" only.) I usually make my own dippers when necessary... depending on powder I'm using and charge I'm looking for.



I've got another 100 of these and don't look forward to shooting them.
 
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#5 ·
So long as you don't go over max load, they are safe to shoot. You are going to find that good SD loads are at max. They are snappy. When I shoot my home brew, I try to get them up there close to max, because that's what it will be like shooting out of the box SD loads. Loads like Black Hills, and Cor Bon, are speedy little devils, and are snappy to shoot in any pistol. Plinking loads are one thing, but realistic SD loads are another!
 
#6 ·
Took my Ruger SR-1911 and went to the range over lunch hour (46 degrees and very windy) to try some of my handloads from last winter (14 months ago or so).

According to my load label...

4.9 gr of IMR PB
Berry's plated 230 gr RN bullets
1.2" OAL
Winchester primers
Brass of all sorts

I was a bit shocked at how 'snappy' they seemed (I don't have a chronograph... so my 'snappy' is subjective.) I put a few in my CCW gun... the M&P Shield .45 and it too seemed like it was all the gun could handle.

So I checked the load data again and it seems I loaded these almost at max... what was I thinking?!!! I never do that... I prefer 'middle of the road' loads that give me some wiggle room when I'm using dippers to charge the cases. (That's how I charge all my cases since I'm a "plinker" only.) I usually make my own dippers when necessary... depending on powder I'm using and charge I'm looking for.



I've got another 100 of these and don't look forward to shooting them.
If you're not looking forward to shooting them, pull the bullets and reload with a lesser charge. I just pulled several .44 Specials to reduce the charges in a batch I was load testing. It's a pain in the posterior, but sometimes you gotta' do it, we've probably all done it at one time or another.
 
#7 ·
I reloaded, successfully and safely, for mebbe 30 years before I got a chronograph. I had a bit of SS money left over at the end of the month so I bought one, for less than $100.00. What a hoot! Some of my loads were fairly accurate but varied quite a but velocity wise, and some were higher than I figgered (especially my Garand loads as I want to keep them at a specific velocity range). My new toy added a whole new outlook on my reloading and a bunch more fun. A chrony would be a good tool to see if your loads are too hot...
 
#8 ·
A chronograph is a good tool to have for reloaders, and they don't cost a lot of money. They will tell you what speed your reloads are traveling at. This is important when reloading pistol ammo, because pistol bullets for hunting, or SD, have to have enough speed to make them expand. Rifle bullets usually have enough speed that they will expand well.
 
#9 ·
A chronograph is your friend, especially when trying a new powder, new bullet, new gun, well, really a new anything.:)
having a chrono took my rifle reloading to a new level
without one , you are relying on the book for MV numbers, which should be close but your conditions can be different bringing different results
 
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