Titegroup and pressure signs

Titegroup seems to produce accurate loads in the 45acp, but pressure signs caution me from using it.  Hodgdon's website show loads starting at 5.0gr (892fps/14,600cup) up to 5.5gr(956fps/17,000cup).  Zero 185gr JHP.

I don't need that kind of velocity, and TG can be loaded down safely, so I backed to 4.1 and started there.

4.1 wouldn't cycle the slide reliably on hardball gun
4.5 was a light load, but seemed to work well
4.9 seemed like it was in the sweet spot, stout load
5.2 was very accurate, but had a lot of recoil

The thing that was interesting in how flat the primers were, but still the brass wasn't fully sealing the chamber as one side of the case mouth was discolored.  I'm using Federal brass, if that makes a difference.

I've also used TG with 230RN for EIC matches, and inching up to the max of 4.8gr showed extremely flat primers that I haven't seen from a pistol since my days of building full-house 44Mag loads.

In searching through the forum posts, I did run across another comment about the 4.8 ball loads.  Any ideas on why I'm seeing "pressure signs" with such light TG loads and 185JHP bullets?

I've got a fair bit of WST so I may just go back to it as it reacts in a more civilized fashion with load development.

Lots of negative opinions on titegroup out there.

What type of bullet were you using?
Also, if the gun won't cycle, that doesn't necessarily mean the load is wrong. You test for accuracy first, then adjust the recoil spring to the load. 
When I first started shooting Precision Pistol, my short line load was 5.0 grains of TG with a 160 gr SWC in a frame mount gun.  Shot my first clean sustained fire targets with it.  The recoil was very manageable.

I am using 3.6 grains of Titegroup.  Went to a 12 pound spring and it cycles every time.  My scope is frame mounted so no scope weight added to slide.

sixftunda wrote:What type of bullet were you using?
Also, if the gun won't cycle, that doesn't necessarily mean the load is wrong. You test for accuracy first, then adjust the recoil spring to the load. 
When I first started shooting Precision Pistol, my short line load was 5.0 grains of TG with a 160 gr SWC in a frame mount gun.  Shot my first clean sustained fire targets with it.  The recoil was very manageable.

I'll modify my original post.  Thanks for catching this.

I'm loading Zero 185 JHP bullets.

In my experience, flattened primers (and I know someone will call me an idiot) happens with VERY light loads and loads that are 35000 psi or higher.
A reasonably accurate light target load for me has been 3.8 gn of TG and 185gn L-SWC. Max seemed to be around 5.0gn. I can't afford or see a need for jacketed bullets. 
My load compilation shows, for 185gn jacketed bullets, 4.7gn as the lowest starting load and 5.5gn the lowest MAX load.
However, 231/HP38, AA2, Red Dot, and Bullseye have been a LOT more consistently accurate and over a MUCH wider range of charge weights than TG.