Martys

I use 4.5 gr of Titegroup in both a Govt model Colt and also my Defender. Very accurate and the felt recoil is very manageable.

OperatorX

The 4.7s should be snappy with Titegroup as 4.8 is recommended top end. I'm interrestied in hearing how you make out with regard to felt recoil.

TOF

FWIW: You are probably OK but may want to verify adequate free bore for the OAL indicated. Not all bullets have the same ogive and some have required a shorter OAL in my 45's.

Pull the barrel out of the gun and place one round in the cylinder then see if it will spin freely. If it is touching the rifling it will not want to spin.

Whenever I use a bullet brand/style for the first time, I purposly load a dummy long by .100" or so then slowly work it down a bit at a time till it will spin. Whatever it measures at first spin is absolute max OAL I will use. Typicaly I reduce it another .01 to .02 ". My full size will accomodate longer loads than my compact by around .030".

G56

Note that I have found recommendations to use jacketed bullet data with the Powerbond bullets, mainly due to their thicker plating, just something to keep in mind.

The loads listed above are fine for jacketed bullets when I looked at them on Hodgdon's online data site.

Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com

XRacer

Thanks, good Idea. I actually did that but then increased the OAL a bit and didn't do it again, off to the basement now to check...

XRacer

Ok, I'm good, the rounds fit in the chamber and do not engage the rifling.

XRacer

I've seen that same recommendation about using the jacketed data. Do you normally load plated lighter than jacketed?
Do any of you know a good starting point for 9mm? I'll be using 124gr powerbond with titegroup and winchester small pistol primers. with 115gr FMJ winchester bullets I had to load to 4.4-4.5gr of titegroup (I've been reloading with my cousin on his press for some time now just never got my own stuff till now.) just to cycle the action on my PX4 Compact. 4.3 wouldn't cycle the action reliably and 4.6 left small bulges in the case. I'm planning on installing the replacement recoil spring Beretta sent me and trying 4.3 or 4.4, Would be nice if I could use the same charge for the 9 and the 45. I have heard of someone doing that.

G56

The normal recommendation for plated bullets is to use lead bullet data, Berry's and Rainier are both fairly thin skinned and soft, more like lead, but from what I've read, the thicker plating of the Powerbonds allows them to be pushed to higher velocities than Rainier or Berrys, and they recommended jacketed bullet data.

I've been using Berrys, and been pretty happy with them, I have several thousand on hand, so I won't be trying anything different in the near future.

JeffWard

TOF... Your revolver past is poking it's head out, old-timer... LOL

Drop check the rounds in the CHAMBER... Hahaha

If you're dropping them in the cylinder, you've got the wrong gun out for a chamber check!



Jeff

TOF

You caught me partner.

They tell me brain fart's are acceptable just not to exceed one per day.

XRacer

4.7 was a little snappy but they didn't dent the cases like the Corbon +P's did so they really weren't that bad. The Corbon +P's were really snappy and dented the side of the case on the back of the ejection port when they came out. It may have just been me but I shot the 4.0gr and 4.2 gr loads pretty well, around 2" at 25'. The 4.4 and 4.7 loads, not so much, they were all over a 4 or 6 inch area. I'll try the 4.4's and 4.7's again some other time but I think I'll load the bulk of the powerbonds to 4.2gr. If the 4.2 shoots well what's the point of using more powder...Guess I do like a bigger bang every now and then. The 4.7's did flatten the primer just a little, the other rounds showed no signs of overpressure at all.

palmettostate

Stay with the 4.2 if you are happy with it. I load to 4.3 but I also shoot them in my 1911's.

Bongo Boy

I've had some experience loading to below published minimum charges, and in some cases I found irregular performance. With Universal, I've even experienced irregular performance (perceived recoil, mostly) at published minimum loads. So...you might be prepared for less than the best with your 4.0 gr loads, should you load a larger number of them.

As for the 4.7 gr load, since Hornady gives 4.8 gr as the max but that max shows a pressure of 16,700 CUP, my opinion is that you have a very large safety margin even loading to 4.8 gr, especially with plated bullets. I doubt there is any good reason to load up in that range, however, but 25 rds each at 4.2, 4.4, 4.6 and 4.8 might begin to provide some idea of where that powder and bullet seem to do the best. If I had to put money on one of them and only had a hunch to go on, I'd go to the lower end.

Congrats on answering the call to load more 45 ACP! It is a cartridge of great splendor and magnificence.



BTW, the recommendations you received over on the Enos forum to use Clays are great recommendations, and I certainly suggest you pick up a family-size carboy of Clays next time you're in the market, too. But, blanket recommendations for Clays may not take into consideration that it isn't the only propellant you need for all applications. Clays is absolutely wonderful for target loads with heavier bullets, and I've probably shot 15,000 rds of 255 gr RNFP lead in 45 ACP using Clays with great success and much fun. It operates in a narrow range--in some cases, Hodgdon's conservative load data shows a total range from min to max of just 0.3 gr! It soon gets to whopping pressures as you try to get velocity out of it, and you will be better served with Universal, 4756 or other choices if looking for loads to simulate full-power SD rounds, etc. I second those recommendations, but for light target and action shooting loads. Also, I don't find Clays the best-metering powder around, and I don't think it would be any fun at all in 9mm.

XRacer

Well, I loaded some at 4.7gr and shot a just under 2" group at 20'-25' with quite a few just over 2". I don't think the recoil is even as bad as the Winchester white box stuff, close but not quite as bad. Then I loaded up another 900 rounds. Now I have to figure out what load to use with the 1000 124gr powerbond bullets I have.

Bongo Boy

Good, congrats. For the 124s I'd definitely start with Solo 1000 or No 2 if I had to have published data.