160gr 45 loads

Just got a sample pack of the Brazos 160gr hi-tek coated 45 bullets. Anyone willing to share a suitable (read: safe) load starting point for experimentation? Bullseye or WST preferred but all info gratefully received. The idea is to generate the 'softest' working load for the short line.

Also - crimp. I've seen a few comments hereabouts that ~.464 is suitable. Seems extreme to me - I normally use .469 for 185gr and 200gr for lead SWC.

I used to crimp all my lead loads at .469 also. Per a post I loaded the high tech coated 160 at .463 with 4.0gr Bullseye. Very soft shooting and accurate at 25yds.

Bill

4.1 WST .463 crimp. 8&.9s are all me not any other factor

4.3 gr WST, 1.16" COL, 0.469" crimp for me. I load 185gr Zero HPWC for the long line with 4.3gr and I dont have to adjust anything on the press. I use a seating die that seats on the shoulder. I just tested this load at 25 yards with the coated Brazos and it ran with no issues in my gun and is X ring accurate.

4.4 BE, .463 crimp, .920 from base to shoulder

My load for the 160 is 4.05  to 4.3 of BE depending on the strength of the lot in use.  Experimentation with 4.8 of W231 and 4.4 of 700x shot well also. Right now I'm working on WST, of which 8 lbs was obtained during the last pdr shortage, and am at 3.8 gr w/it. That load being a bit soft  I found a bushing which drops 3.9. (WST) and decided to shoot a few of them  but think I will likely end at 4.0. BE  & WST have a different "feel" when shooting. I prefer BE, maybe from yrs of use?

I started shooting these bullets in '73. They were 165 gr from the H&G molds, no 242S.. Frank Bickar found a caster who would make them for a dime unlubed or 11 cents lubed, if we bought the molds.  Several of us in the Canton-McKinley area did so and the molds yielded  the 160 gr we now use. 

Ron Habegger

Colt711 wrote:My load for the 160 is 4.05  to 4.3 of BE depending on the strength of the lot in use.  Experimentation with 4.8 of W231 and 4.4 of 700x shot well also. Right now I'm working on WST, of which 8 lbs was obtained during the last pdr shortage, and am at 3.8 gr w/it. That load being a bit soft  I found a bushing which drops 3.9. (WST) and decided to shoot a few of them  but think I will likely end at 4.0. BE  & WST have a different "feel" when shooting. I prefer BE, maybe from yrs of use?

I started shooting these bullets in '73. They were 165 gr from the H&G molds, no 242S.. Frank Bickar found a caster who would make them for a dime unlubed or 11 cents lubed, if we bought the molds.  Several of us in the Canton-McKinley area did so and the molds yielded  the 160 gr we now use. 

Ron Habegger

Neat bit of background and history - Thanks for the info

Ron,

 What crimp are you using on the 4.8 of W-231 ?

Any load suggestions with the 160s and N310?  I have to think about the same as bullseye

lablover wrote:Any load suggestions with the 160s and N310?  I have to think about the same as bullseye

4.4gr N310 works great and is accurate with my older S&S and Quality Cast 160's.

lablover wrote:Any load suggestions with the 160s and N310?  I have to think about the same as bullseye

Generally speaking, with N310 you would use 10% less than BE to get the same velocity.  So roughly, 4.4 BE = 4.0 N310.  

https://servimg.com/view/19296309/48 shows Marine Corps Shooting Team testing results.