Help me get into reloading

[ageingstudent]

Yeah I have mine second hand and it was well worked by the first owner. I have probably around 10-15K through mine and still using the same turret head for each caliber. The steel surround won't wear, the aluminum head will.

@ageingstudent, do you lube your heads where they contact the steel too? I've found a couple drops of (no lanolin) bicycle chain oil (Tri-something) works well. Reduces chatter when it spins around and makes for really smooth cycling. I use that lube because it comes in a really tiny bottle that has a nice small straw to put a few drops out of.

Okay Dyg you're outing my OCD tinker tendencies...

Once a year I use flitz on the turrets and the steel turret head. This keeps oxidation away from the aluminum and rust off the steel. Then I spritz a little g96 around the turret head every time I change turrets.

 

[Mikej]

What recipe are you using? Powder/weight/projectile I've never had a failure to cycle on anything I've done using starting loads. This is assuming you have a properly lubed gun. Stock recoil spring and are familiar enough with the SR1911 to not be limp-wristing.

Several of my standard loads are below what some sources show as minimum.

 

[Josh89]

Universal powder 4.8 charge and 230 gr plated rn

 

[Member 5605]

Okay Dyg you're outing my OCD tinker tendencies...

Once a year I use flitz on the turrets and the steel turret head. This keeps oxidation away from the aluminum and rust off the steel. Then I spritz a little g96 around the turret head every time I change turrets.

You sir... are EXPOSED.

 

[Josh89]

I'm only using the Lee safety scales that came with the kit,not sure how
Much I like those,I also have a set of hornaday digital scales. It I couldn't get them to stop bouncing around.probably just going to send those back

 

[ageingstudent]

You sir... are EXPOSED.

I am ashamed

 

[Crohnos01]

You sir... are EXPOSED.

Lol.....

 

[ageingstudent]

Universal powder 4.8 charge and 230 gr plated rn

My experience with universal is that it likes higher pressures. I've got it working well in .357 and .40 s&w, not so much in .38 and .45. I had some inconsistent ignition at starting charges. It might work better for you at the upper end of the recepie.

 

[jordanka16]

I used the Lee scale for a long time, it's perfectly accurate, just a little slow is all.

That's not a weak load, by all rights it should work just fine. If you only used one mag for the test get another because 1911s can be mag sensitive. I like the Kimber tac mags and chip McCormick power mags.

It could also be it doesn't like the recoil impulse from universal, if you have titegroup try that, mine likes it a lot.

 

[Josh89]

I used the Lee scale for a long time, it's perfectly accurate, just a little slow is all.

That's not a weak load, by all rights it should work just fine. If you only used one mag for the test get another because 1911s can be mag sensitive. I like the Kimber tac mags and chip McCormick power mags.

It could also be it doesn't like the recoil impulse from universal, if you have titegroup try that, mine likes it a lot.

I have titegroup and 231.gonna play around with them when I get a chance

 

[jordanka16]

I have titegroup and 231.gonna play around with them when I get a chance

If you have 231 use that first, it is the premier .45 ACP powder.

 

[ageingstudent]

If you have 231 use that first, it is the premier .45 ACP powder.

+1 yes. Also makes a nice .38 special powder.

 

[ageingstudent]

I'm only using the Lee safety scales that came with the kit,not sure how
Much I like those,I also have a set of hornaday digital scales. It I couldn't get them to stop bouncing around.probably just going to send those back

Before you send them back try fresh batteries. I have a hornady digital and sometimes it acts up because of batteries, even supposedly new batteries. I use my safety scale to verify the digital one is working. Also fluctuating temperatures and slight drafts can make your digital scale sketchy. They are very sensitive instruments.

 

[bbbass]

This is what the Hogdon manual says:

230 GR. HDY FMJ FP COL: 1.200"
Longshot 6.8 908 17,200 CUP
800-X 7.0 900 16,900 CUP
SR 4756 7.0 867 16,500 CUP
HS-6 8.2 825 15,400 CUP
AutoComp 6.6 871 17,100 CUP
Universal 5.6 844 16,800 CUP
WSF 6.4 851 15,700 CUP
231 5.3 832 16,800 CUP
HP-38 5.3 832 16,800 CUP
SR 7625 6.0 848 16,600 CUP
PB 5.0 807 16,500 CUP
Titegroup 4.8 818 16,700 CUP
700-X 4.9 842 16,600 CUP
Clays 4.0 732 17,000 CUP

 

[Josh89]

This is what the Hogdon manual says:

230 GR. HDY FMJ FP COL: 1.200"
Longshot 6.8 908 17,200 CUP
800-X 7.0 900 16,900 CUP
SR 4756 7.0 867 16,500 CUP
HS-6 8.2 825 15,400 CUP
AutoComp 6.6 871 17,100 CUP
Universal 5.6 844 16,800 CUP
WSF 6.4 851 15,700 CUP
231 5.3 832 16,800 CUP
HP-38 5.3 832 16,800 CUP
SR 7625 6.0 848 16,600 CUP
PB 5.0 807 16,500 CUP
Titegroup 4.8 818 16,700 CUP
700-X 4.9 842 16,600 CUP
Clays 4.0 732 17,000 CUP

I was using the Lee manual and copper plated bullets,the max it recommended was 5.4

 

[Mikej]

Universal powder 4.8 charge and 230 gr plated rn

Here's this....
Hodgdon Clays v.s. Hodgdon Universal Clays - 1911Forum

The discussion of Universal, International and just plain Clays. Or something like that. I never bothered with those because of the possible confusion. As mentioned above. W231/HP-38 (Same Data), are excellent in .38 special. Also works in 9mm and .40.

Burn rate charts are a must. They give you more insight into what is going on in the cartridge/barrel of your gun.
http://www.reloadersnest.com/burnrates.asp

 

[Member 5605]

Before you send them back try fresh batteries. I have a hornady digital and sometimes it acts up because of batteries, even supposedly new batteries. I use my safety scale to verify the digital one is working. Also fluctuating temperatures and slight drafts can make your digital scale sketchy. They are very sensitive instruments.

And overhead fans.

My reloading rooms gets warm when I have the light on, door closed and waiting for scale to level out.

Speaking of...
Night before last I reassured myself why it's important to let a scale warm up before use. MINIMUM 30 minutes for mine. On a cold start I weighed the powder drop at 28.0gr (supposed to be 27.2 on the money). I kept loading knowing it wasn't going to do any harm. Left the scale on for a day. Came back and weighed some more charges as I was doing a batch of .223--- 27.2 on the money every.single.time. Nothing changed but the time the scale was on. Same powder in hopper.

Hornady electronic powder drop but used only for weighing powder out of the Lee auto disc pro.

 

[Tilos]

Load data

 

[Member 5605]

I was using the Lee manual and copper plated bullets,the max it recommended was 5.4

I read different manuals a lot.
If: (these are MADE UP NUMBERS)
Hornady says 3.5-6.7
Sierra says 4.3-6.2
Lyman says 4.0-7.1
Hodgdon says 4.1-6.9

I will find the lowest low and lowest high and use those as my 'baseline'. Most of the time their OAL's are the same. If not I'll pick the longest one and check figment.

Different Mfgs have different barrels to test PSI and such. Once you are established and know what doing down the road you will end up with more loads that are suited to your pistol not just "on the book".

 

[Member 5605]

BTW:

Speer #14:


Hornady #10:


Notice the OAL differences?
Speer puts 1.260" while Hornady runs 1.210"

Meanwhile your book says 1.200" and runs less powder than all of them. There is a correlation. Deeper seated bullet = less powder used because there is less volume in the case.

As another note:
Don't be afraid to ask for load data from books if people have them, almost everyone will drop a screen shot of them.