[Arnold Kuhl]

Do any of you hand-loaders have a suggestion for reloading 200gr. hard cast SWC's, using Win231 powder?

Since factory ammo is so expensive, and jacketed bullets for reloading are impossible to find now, I've decided to make use of what I already have: 200 gr. and 255 gr. hard cast SWC's. I want to work on a load for my Glock 21SF, with LWD bbl., using the 200 grain lead bullet and Win231 powder. Naturally, I'd like something that will feed reliably, and hopefully be accurate as well. I'm still waiting for the Lone Wolf bbl., as it's still on back-order. I've heard that the LWD bbls. work well with lead.

Any suggestions appreciated.

AK

[NewportNewsMike]

A number of previously published 45 ACP / 200 gr SWC / W-231 loads are in the range of 5.5 grains for about 850 fps in a 5-inch barrel. These are OAL = 1.250 and a crimp diameter of O.470 - 0.471.

This would be a good place to start.

[Arnold Kuhl]

It just occurred to me that I failed to mention the CALIBER. The G21SF is, of course, a .45ACP pistol. (This gun can be converted to other calibers; it is quite versatile). All I intend to do with it, other than shooting jacketed factory and reloaded rounds, is to try the hard cast lead bullets with the LWD bbl.

Thanks for the info.

AK

[Jim Watson]

Don't run off a zillion to Mike's recipe. It is pretty well standard for 1911s, but Euro-matics can be touchy about SWCs. You may have to fool with the OAL and crimp to make it run.

[F106 Fan]

Originally Posted by Arnold Kuhl

I'm still waiting for the Lone Wolf bbl., as it's still on back-order. I've heard that the LWD bbls. work well with lead.

Any suggestions appreciated.

AK

Uh, there are differing opinions on lead reloads with LWD barrels.

Here's a 500+ message rant from last year:
http://www.glocktalk.com/forums/show...ght=lwd+barrel

When people talk about 'match' chambers and you're thinking about lead bullets, be very careful. The standard minimum chamber is only 0.001" larger than the standard jacketed round. Now, by definition, a lead round is 0.001" larger than a jacketed round and all of the clearance is gone. Add a little contamination, a little tolerance error on the reload and the things don't chamber.

You can read about chamber and cartridge sizes here:
http://www.saami.org/specifications_...wnload/205.pdf

I load for a G21SF with an S & S Casting 200 gr LSWC at 1.250" OAL. It works well. Still, I replaced the factory barrel with a KKM. I want about 0.030" of lead exposed beyond the casemouth. I think it helps with feeding. Of course, that's just an opinion. Well, except for the part where they work flawlessly.

Richard

[NewportNewsMike]

Originally Posted by Jim Watson

Don't run off a zillion to Mike's recipe.

That's some pretty good advice I would definitely agree with.

I have been guilty in the past with getting "enthusiastic" in my quantities before really determining if something is actually going to work in the intended pistol.

If it does not work out well, you need to find something in the "stable" that will eat it, or break out the old bullet puller.

[Highspeedlane]

A couple of weeks ago I ran 5.2 grains W231 under a Lyman 200 gr SWC for 745 fps from a 4.25" Ruger SR1911. COL for this bullet in my gun was 1.225"

A commercial cast 225 grain FP with the same charge ran 751 fps with a COL 1.200"

Winchester case, CCI LPP. No issues. Both were very accurate and the cases were extremely clean.

[PCJim]

Originally Posted by F106 Fan

When people talk about 'match' chambers and you're thinking about lead bullets, be very careful. The standard minimum chamber is only 0.001" larger than the standard jacketed round. Now, by definition, a lead round is 0.001" larger than a jacketed round and all of the clearance is gone. Add a little contamination, a little tolerance error on the reload and the things don't chamber.
Richard

But Richard, we all know from Squeeker's studies that the FCD will insure those oversized lead rounds will be sized back down so that they fit in those match chambers.....

[Fire_Medic]

Originally Posted by PCJim

But Richard, we all know from Squeeker's studies that the FCD will insure those oversized lead rounds will be sized back down so that they fit in those match chambers.....

[Arnold Kuhl]

I loaded up just 50 rounds of 200gr. SWC's with 5.5 grains of W231 last night. Won't load any more until LWD bbl. arrives at my house (if I live long enough). Those LWD barrels must be in great demand. Of course, I did wait 5-6 weeks for my G31 bbl. to get here from Glockmeisters.

If they don't work well in my G21SF, I can always shoot them in my S&W 625. It eats everything without complaint.

AK

[F106 Fan]

Originally Posted by PCJim

But Richard, we all know from Squeeker's studies that the FCD will insure those oversized lead rounds will be sized back down so that they fit in those match chambers.....

Now why didn't I think of that!

Richard

[F106 Fan]

Originally Posted by Arnold Kuhl

I loaded up just 50 rounds of 200gr. SWC's with 5.5 grains of W231 last night. Won't load any more until LWD bbl. arrives at my house (if I live long enough). Those LWD barrels must be in great demand. Of course, I did wait 5-6 weeks for my G31 bbl. to get here from Glockmeisters.

If they don't work well in my G21SF, I can always shoot them in my S&W 625. It eats everything without complaint.

AK

Why don't you just take them out and shoot them? I shot lead from my stock G21SF and it worked out just fine. I only changed to the KKM barrel for giggles, there was certainly no compelling need.

Watch the barrel as you shoot and if it stays clean, keep shooting. The vast majority of shooters find that the Glock barrel works fine with lead bullets and this seems to be especially true for the .45 ACP. This is probably because it is a low pressure, low velocity round.

As a practical matter, I prefer to use the Lewis Lead Remover to check for leading. The silver flakes show up well against the brass screen.

It is in stock at Brownells:
http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleanin...prod21587.aspx

Richard

[FLSlim]

As you usually see on GT reloading, the suggestions here are on target. For my G30 (not sure about the 21), I had to stay in the midrange with lead & 231 loads or the slide wouldn't cycle reliably. At the previously recommended 5.5 gr, you should be okay, but realize you may have to adjust that charge and the OAL to get your pistol to run like it should. BTW, I've only used the factory barrel for all reloads in 45 acp Glocks (not to say you should, but they work great for me).

[OrGlocker]

Load those 200 grain LSWC over 3.8 grains of "Clays" for my Sig P220 works great