N320 for 45?

Hey guys, I've got a Les Baer Wadcutter on its way to me and I want to start making up some loads for it. I've reloaded for 9mm before but never the 45. I'll be using N320 powder as that's what I have on hand from my 9mm loads and I've got my Dillon all set up and ready for 45 now, but I've got a few questions if you guys wouldn't mind. Does anybody have any accurate recipes for bullseye shooting with VV N320 and a 200gr LSWC? Bullet wil be a 200gr LSWC from Missouri Bullet Co, their Bullseye #1 (#68 profile) Brass will be fc brass with CCI primers. Also from what I'm seeing, 1.25" oal with a .469-.470 crimp seems to be the norm with this bullet profile, does that sound about right? VV website recommends 4.7 grains as the minimum with a 200gr LSWC but their quoted 888 fps for that load seems a little hot for bullseye shooting. I apologize if this has been covered elsewhere, but if it is, I couldn't find it. Thanks in advance for your time.

N310 is the powder for 45. Seating depth for a SWC is literally the shoulder being a thumbnail above the case lip. I've never known anyone to use N320 for 45 but 3.8gr of N310 works pretty well behind a 200gr SWC.

Try here for data.  http://www.vihtavuori.com/en/reloading-data/handgun-reloading/-45-acp.html 

You'll need to keep the velocities about 750 to 850 fps.  So start at the minimums.

Trying to develop accurate loads with a powder very few use in .45 bullseye because it happens to be what you have is going to lead to some frustration.  If it's not popular in .45 it isn't because these guys haven't tried it and moved on.  Try to pick up a pound of Bullseye, WST, or N310 and spend your time on loads that have some adherents on the forum.  All three of these produce accurate loads at the velocities we shoot in bullseye.

I tried N320 several years back when Bullseye, WST and N310 were difficult to get.  Could never get a load accurate enough for bullseye.

Ok thanks guys, I'll pick up some N310 and see how that does then.

On the same note, does anybody have any recommendations on starting loads for N310 or does everybody just start at the minimum listed on their site?

Recurvist22 wrote:On the same note, does anybody have any recommendations on starting loads for N310 or does everybody just start at the minimum listed on their site?

For 200 gr LSWC, try 3.8 gr N310.

Awesome, thank you very much

I have tried N310 and I just want to say--lots of luck.
For me, I didn't get decent accuracy with any 200gn L-SWC and N310 and I did get velocity/pressure variations.
N310 was also a failure with my S&W M52s.
For me, 231/HP38, Red Dot, and Bullseye have been the powders to compete with (in that order). N320 is in the burn range of 231/HP38 and, if I ever see any and feel like spending the money, I'll try it.

I have had very good luck with 4.9 N320 and a 200g LSWC at the long line.

Russ

AllAces wrote:

Recurvist22 wrote:On the same note, does anybody have any recommendations on starting loads for N310 or does everybody just start at the minimum listed on their site?

For 200 gr LSWC, try 3.8 gr N310.

+1

You want a good powder for 9mm and 45 Auto then try titegroup. I've got many many cleans with 185 JHP and titegroup.

Ok cool, thanks again guys, I'll give these a try. I really appreciate all of your input.

Ghillieman wrote:You want a good powder for 9mm and 45 Auto then try titegroup. I've got many many cleans with 185 JHP and titegroup.

What was your load for the 185 gr JHP and Titegroup?  Thanks in advance.

joy2shoot wrote:

Ghillieman wrote:You want a good powder for 9mm and 45 Auto then try titegroup. I've got many many cleans with 185 JHP and titegroup.

What was your load for the 185 gr JHP and Titegroup?  Thanks in advance.

4.6gr

I would go with Bullseye, VVN 310, or WST. W321 is good but dirty below 5.0gn. 

VVN320 was a waste of time for me. 4.5 seemed like an ok short line load but its more temperature sensitive then the fore mentioned. 

VVN310 is excellent but pricey and really the same accuracy as Bullseye. 

WST is the best I have tried so far for 45acp and 38 special but you will wildcatting for 9mm, It works but do not load over 4.2gn in 9MM, I started to see pressure signs over 4.2gn. 

VV310 a pinch over 3.7gn is OK for me soft and cycles a #12 Spring. 
Long line 3.9 VV310. Bullseye 3.6 and 4.0. 

WST 4.0 to 4.3 depending on the season, and shooting conditions. If it is cold out 4.3.

RT

I use 3.9 gr of N310 with a 200 gr LSWC (for the long line) because it chronographed better in my gun than 3.8.

Nice, I tried 3.6 and 3.7 of n310. I wanted to go with that just because it doesn't seem to make as much of a mess as bullseye. Those shot ok, but I'm pretty sure I had my crimp too tight. I was shooting for .470 and I was getting it, but my measurements were about 1/16 up from the case mouth, not right at the lip. I learned afterward to basically set the calipers at .470 and see when it just barely fits through. Gonna lose up some more tonight and see how they do with a more appropriate crimp.

Regarding taper crimping lead bullets, this is from an email conversation I had with Matt Dardas of Dardas Cast Bullets.
 
Me
"I taper crimp my .45 ACP, 9mm, etc.  The way I do it is, seat a bullet, measure the case diameter where the bullet is and then crimp the case mouth to match that diameter.  Hope that makes sense."
 
Matt
"You are spot on with your crimping technique."

Oh wow, in that case I am massively over crimping mine. With fc brass mine measured .474 at the base of where the bullet is. I crimped them down to .470 at roughly 1/16" up from the case mouth. I was goin to back it off to .470 right at the case mouth but it appears even that might be too tight...

Recurvist22 wrote:Oh wow, in that case I am massively over crimping mine. With fc brass mine measured .474 at the base of where the bullet is. I crimped them down to .470 at roughly 1/16" up from the case mouth. I was goin to back it off to .470 right at the case mouth but it appears even that might be too tight...

What is the diameter of the bullet you are using? 0.451", 0.452", etc.

.452

Measure the case wall thickness, double that, add to the bullet diameter then crimp 1 or two thousandths below that.

Ok excellent. I'll do that tonight. Thanks for the help guys!