Load for my Les Baer

So my Les Baer finally came today, woo! Now I have to find a load for it. I already have my staring brass and my bullseye powder. Now I just need to find the best powder combination, with a zero 185gr swchp. If anyone has experience with this load. What powder weight and crimp are you using?

I have found 4.6gr WST with a .469 roll crimp to work very well. Gets me about 2" at 50yds.

Bill

I am using 3.8gr BE and 185gr Zero SWCHP in my LB wadgun.  That is giving me a HV 703 AV 693 LV 679 checked with a Labradar..  I am just tapering crimping till I can run my finger over the edge of the case and not feel the edge.  I need to run test on different crimps to see what gives the best groups. 

For LL I am using Zero 185gr and 4.2 BE with a HV 759 AV 729 LV  705   Don

What taper crimp die do you use? I am looking to find the most consistent one and I dont know where to start

KBarth wrote:What taper crimp die do you use? I am looking to find the most consistent one and I dont know where to start

I am using  the Lee.

KBarth wrote:What taper crimp die do you use? I am looking to find the most consistent one and I dont know where to start

http://www.redding-reloading.com/

Crimp to .468 diameter to start, and start at 3.8 gr Bullseye.

Chris Miceli wrote:

KBarth wrote:What taper crimp die do you use? I am looking to find the most consistent one and I dont know where to start

http://www.redding-reloading.com/

Do you use the micro adjustable die? Or just the standard taper crimp die

KBarth wrote:

Chris Miceli wrote:

KBarth wrote:What taper crimp die do you use? I am looking to find the most consistent one and I dont know where to start

http://www.redding-reloading.com/

Do you use the micro adjustable die? Or just the standard taper crimp die

Standard , but micro adjust seating. Dillon seating is a good 1

Maybe I'm missing something with some of the responses, but from your post I assume you just got a new LB wad.  Did it come with a frame scope mount or a slide mount, or is it iron sights?  Unless production has changed through the years, a 15 lb. recoil spring was used with their iron sight wadcutter pistols.  Their specs do not specify, so it must be measured.  Along with their tight slide to frame fit on new pistols, most popular loads may not function on a new LB (I'm assuming their slide to frame fit is still very tight).

Before being too concerned with too many minor details, match the ideal recoil spring and powder charge to reliably cycle the pistol.  If you have a scope mounted on the slide, a 15 lb. recoil spring is too high. As you break in this new pistol, a lower recoil spring and/or a higher powder charge will be needed.  With use, recoil spring and powder charge will need to be re-evaluated as the slide loosens up.

I have the frame mounted scope rail

Stay away from Lee reloading supplies.  You get what you pay for.  My experience with them is that they are junk! IMHO.

Allen Barnett wrote:Stay away from Lee reloading supplies.  You get what you pay for.  My experience with them is that they are junk! IMHO.

Been using Lee since the mid 80's and got to where I am at today.
The ammo made is not holding me back.
I am holding me back.

I will stick with the junk; thank you

C.Perkins wrote:

Allen Barnett wrote:Stay away from Lee reloading supplies.  You get what you pay for.  My experience with them is that they are junk! IMHO.

Been using Lee since the mid 80's and got to where I am at today.
The ammo made is not holding me back.
I am holding me back.

I will stick with the junk; thank you

Agreed with above.  I have Lee dies for 6 different calibers and they do all I ask from them from handgun loads that shoot under 2" @ 50yds to .223 loads that will shoot a 1/3 MOA so I guess I will keep buying junk.  Don

KBarth, go ahead and rack the slide and let us know if the slide to frame fit is very tight or not.  I can give you some feedback on loads afterwards.

Using Lee reloading equipment in past; broke 2600, multiple 100-10x targets and sub 1" 50 yd groups with reloaded 45 acp smmunition
Jon

I've loaded ammo since the 1960s.  All of the equipment sold today is good equipment and will produce good accurate ammunition.  That includes Lee dies.

After using all this equipment over the years, I have my favorites.  Personally, I prefer RCBS and Redding.  Mostly because I find their equipment easier to work with.  Or maybe I'm old fashioned.  In any event, choose any equipment you like. They all work well.

Use Lee, like Lee.

I prefer my Star and Dave Wilson dies

I use Lee dies for almost everything. I had to go to a Dillon taper crimp die for my lead .45 bullets. I am old school and still try for .463 and Dillon only die I can get there with.

Len

xmastershooter wrote:KBarth, go ahead and rack the slide and let us know if the slide to frame fit is very tight or not.  I can give you some feedback on loads afterwards.

The slide to frame fit is very tight

Frame to slide fit tight or not has little to do with cycling. Baer guns typically have a wedge fit bottom lug which tightens things up when in battery. Typically unlock fast after initial slide travel. If you're going to test frame to slide fit pull the slide stop out of the pistol. That way barrel fit doesn't affect true frame to slide fit. Most guns are looser this way.
Jon

I am going to start with Winchester primers, starline brass and 3.8gr of bullseye. Just waiting for my bullets to ship

KBarth wrote:I am going to start with Winchester primers, starline brass and 3.8gr of bullseye. Just waiting for my bullets to ship

A reasonable starting point.

I find 4.1 BE works well

Is that with a zero 185gr swchp?