Reloading Basics

What is the correct length for loading a 185 gr SWC 45 ACP?

More important than OAL is making sure the shoulder is slightly above the lip of the case mouth. Something like 1/32-1/16" above lip is about right.

If you're talking about a H&G 130, it will depend on your pistol and whose mold is used to cast them, but seat it so there's about 1/32" of lead proud of the brass. This should be somewhere around 1.150 +/-

It varies, shell should drop into chamber and be just below flush on the hood

The place to start is to load a SWC so that the shoulder of the bullet (bore diameter portion of the bullet) to the base of the cartridge is .910 long.  Crimp to .465 at the mouth to start.

Wobbley wrote:The place to start is to load a SWC so that the shoulder of the bullet (bore diameter portion of the bullet) to the base of the cartridge is .910 long.  Crimp to .465 at the mouth to start.

Using Dillon dies, I never found that a tight crimp worked well in my .45 ACP pistols. I came to the conclusion after machine rest testing at 50 yards. It does seem to work very well for some, though. Leaving just a little shoulder exposed above the mouth of the case is pretty much universal. Of course there are different designs of 185 gr. bullets. If a button nose, they may or may not feed well through your magazines, until they are adjusted. One thing I learned over many decades is nothing is written in stone.

Now THOSE are pretty reloads!

Any recommendations for where to  purchase 185 SWC 45 ACP?

I measure from base of case to top of the shoulder on Brazos 180 and 200 LSWC.  For my guns max is .930. Anything longer and they start having feeding issues, hanging up and jammed at an ugly angle. OAL for my Brzs 180 loads with the .930 is right at 1.245”. I can go shorter but since I don’t sort brass the case lengths vary. .930 ensures that the shoulder is above the case mouth by 1/32 or so.

EDIT- the 1/32 (roughly=0.030) varies a bit depending on case length but seems to be the high end. Longer cases still have some shoulder above the rim tho not as much.

. Screwed up the photo upload.

Andyrub wrote:Any recommendations for where to  purchase 185 SWC 45 ACP?

Brazos Precision
Bayou Bullets
ZERO
Penn Bullets

I have found all above to be excellent lead or coated bullets.

I'll add Summers bullets to your list. Donny makes good stuff

Summers is good stuff and nice guy also.

Allgoodhits wrote:

Andyrub wrote:Any recommendations for where to  purchase 185 SWC 45 ACP?

Brazos Precision
Bayou Bullets
ZERO
Penn Bullets

I have found all above to be excellent lead or coated bullets.

I believe that Penn Bullets is out of business. The owner passed away last year.

Anyone else use Missouri? I shoot their 155gr Hitek coated SWCs over 4.3gr of N310 with a .465" crimp at 25 and they perform quite well for me.

Missouri is ok. The ones I tried shot well.  Brazos has a better reputation and they support Bulkseye shooting.

Has anyone used east coast reloading supplies 185 wadcutter?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/eastcoastreloading.com/amp/proofmark-bullets-45-caliber-185-grain-semi-wadcutter-452-diameter/

Magnus is great. Terry's crew makes good stuff. I also cast my own 180swc HG68 bullets with a Magma die. .920" to the shoulder. Mine look just like bmize's above. Usually .45 loads are very forgiving.