Federal Goldmedal match .45 ACP 185 gr FMJ-SWC 770

First topic message reminder :

I just brought home my first true bulleye 1911 acp and was wondering if Federal Gold medal match 185 grain fmj swc would be a good round use as a base line for comparing hand loads.

thanks

Is that from a pulled cartridge? If so what was the chg wgt

From a Shooting times article. http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloading/performance-of-alliants-new-be-86-pistol-powder/

jmdavis wrote:
From a Shooting times article. http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloading/performance-of-alliants-new-be-86-pistol-powder/

Off the topic maybe, but this seems to illustrate that you shouldn't trust your eyes unless they are reading the label on the container. 

The article above has some info on full house 185 jhp loads. That would help one to determine the high point of a load for the 185.

Doesn't sound like something they would put in a 770 fps target round to me.

The 6.2 sounds like it might be right for 770. They were using 7.9 in the article to get 1068fps with the Nosler 185. 

If it fills the case well, meters well, gives good velocity, and accuracy, it sounds good to me. But I personally like my load of 4.2-4.6 of BE for a 185jhp or jswc and 3.5 to 3.8 for a 185 zero.

And it's just more 'unobtainium' around here.

James, They have a lot of it in stock on Pandora.

Jerry Keefer wrote:I don't think Federal is going to release quite that much info, but it would be an easy matter to work up a load using BE-86 @ 770 fps to duplicate the load..The sales data lists 770 as the muzzle velocity..

  What is the "Factory Load" for Federal GM45?

  In the course of my day job I once interviewed a primer chemist at Federal, and asked that very question.  The answer was, there isn't one.  They use bulk powders, not canister powders, and load to the pressure vs. time curve they believe to be optimum.  When they change lots of powder, the load changes.

  So, every lot is different.

Except the velocity historically stays the same. The only real comparative reference we have, imho

BE-86: http://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/sample_detail.php?powder_id=817
Bullseye: http://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/sample_detail.php?powder_id=106
Power Pistol: http://www.ilrc.ucf.edu/powders/sample_detail.php?powder_id=4

You can google Federal 45 GM and read the velocity chart from the muzzle to 100 yards on Federal Ammunition website.

BE-86 is less porous and has a heavier deterrent coating, which slows down the burning rate.  So your observation is spot on.

If anyone wants to try BE-86 with a 185 gr Zero HP, I suggest a charge in the range of 5 to about 5.4.  I know one very good shooter, and Jerry knows him too (JC), who likes the way 5 grs feels.  I have tried 5 to 5.2 grs with good results. It just depends on what feels and cycles good in your gun.  I have not shot this load over a chrony so I do not know the speed.  If you are using Bullseye powder now, try the same charge bar setting with BE-86 and weigh it.  Due to BE-86 having a higher density, you may find that no, or very little, adjustment to be necessary to get the higher weight that BE-86 requires.  As stated earlier, be sure and don't get Bullseye and BE-86 confused, because the look the same.

Goes back to the reloading rule of always only having one powder  out on the bench at a time...BTDT

Several years ago I tried Power Pistol with 185gr jacketed bullets. 5.7 to 6.1 with either a Nosler jhp or Remington jswc gave 780-820 fps.  Accuracy was good, but I ended up going with 4.6gr Bullseye because I had 8lbs of it.

BE-86 is a faster burning than Power Pistol, and BE-86 has some flash suppressant in it. Power Pistol is a little flashy, especially in high intensity cartridges such as the 9mm, 40 SW and 357 Sig. By the way, there is an OEM version of Power Pistol named BE-84.  Tons of it is sold to the ammo companies for certain factory loads. I would have to imagine that Power Pistol in a target velocity load might leave extra residue in the barrel. It burns more efficiently at higher pressures than what the 45 auto operates at.  Bullseye, BE-86 and Power Pistol (BE-84) are all in the same family of powders. This is why they look similar, but the deterrent coating for each one is different, giving them the different burn speeds. Once again, it is important not to get them confused.