Your bullet is an hg 130 clone. The 180 swc from the data is a laser cast 180gr, which is probably from the same magma mold that Missouri bullet company uses. That Missouri bullet is the bullseye #2 and is .61 long.
Could you post a pic of the base of the bullet showing the sprue cut and one of your caliper showing the diameter, please?
The question I have is seating depth. How far past the lube ring should this bullet be seated?
I noticed that the geometry of Berry’s 185 SWC bullet and my Space Coast bullets are close (they have the same size nose). The Western Powder pdf recommends a COL=1.195” for the Berry’s 185 gr SWC. Does that apply for my hard cast Space Coast bullet?
Last edited by jski45; 03-25-2024 at 02:30 AM.
I have loaded that bullet in the past. I load it and about all lead bullets in auto loaders so 1/16th or 1/32nd of an inch of the driving band is exposed to take the brunt of being banged against the feed ramp or hood going in the chamber. Ultimately seating depth is controlled by how the round passes the plunk test in the chamber with the bullet seated out to my previous dimensions or shorter.
Last edited by jsizemore; 03-25-2024 at 01:42 PM.
Of course that’s not an issue for me because I’m using a S&W model 25-14 wheelgun.
Once you get away from a published load with the exact bullet any OAL is little more than a suggestion. Every different bullets nose shape / ogive is different and so is the OAL.
For pistols my feeling is that the amount of the bullet is seated in the case (potentially reducing case capacity) is the most important pressure factor followed by how hard the bullet is jammed into the rifling (assuming it will chamber). For an unknown bullet like this with little data on the powder you are using I would find a mid powered target load and be happy. Unless you want to use these for more than punching paper why do you need a max +P load? Start with the the 230 grain loads and maybe work it up a bit. Then shoot them up.
I plan to use mid range non +P loads. In addition, all S&W wheelguns and autoloaders chambered for 45 ACP since 1996 are manufactured for +P loads. My S&W wheelgun was manufactured in 2007.
Last edited by jski45; 03-26-2024 at 01:20 PM.
I plan to use:
185 gr SWC, COL=1.2” with 8 gr of TB
230 gr RN, COL=1.267” with 7.3 gr of TB
Those seem moderate for non +P loads.
My son-in-law has had good results with 7.3 gr of TB with the 230 gr RN bullets in his Ruger 1911.
Last edited by jski45; 03-26-2024 at 01:10 PM.
BTW, this is the Hodgdon description for TB:
Seems ideal for 45 ACP loads.TRUE BLUE is the perfect powder for classic calibers such as the 38 Special, 44 Special, and 45 Long Colt. Its a double-base, spherical powder with great metering properties that make it an ideal choice for consistent results using high volume, progressive reloading equipment. It works well with cast bullets and is also an excellent choice for 9mm law enforcement rounds. Made in Belgium.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |