Loading for 45 GAP

[RooftopKorean]

I asked in the Glock forums, but the responses are slow going.

I have Berry's 185gr flat nose FMJ bullets. In Lee's 2nd Ed. there is load data for 185gr but for XTP bullets.

Lee's quotes 4.8gr starting charge, not to exceed 5.5gr of HP-38 powder. The other issue, in the picture provided, it shows a COL of 1.137. Loading the flat nose, I'm getting COL of 1.050 and it doesn't eject properly when I drop it in and rack to eject. It passes the plunk test fine. This leads me to believe that it has a to be a COL issue. I'm not sure if the COL being below the 1.137 at 1.030 is acceptable. I believe the COL is affected due to a flat nose bullet over the typical conical shape.

The seating depth of the bullet into the cartridge is only 0.150 which doesn't seem very deep. I'm dropping 5.0gr of HP-38.

Any information, suggestions?

 

[FP1201]

I've never loaded any GAP ammo, so I'm going on what I think and would try:

The difference between the two Bullets might be in the Ogive, but really shouldn't make that much difference in pressure or function...

The GAP is a shorter case, but much higher pressure than .45acp

Looking at Hodgdon.com and their Data, the powder charge is the same, but the OAL is 1.060"
If the Bullet is too long in the ogive, it might hit the rifling before going/allowing fully into battery...

Once fired Brass? I wonder IF the GAP might suffer the same problem as .40S&W and 10mm with bulging at the base; doesn't have to be a lot and you can't run the case up into the Die enough to correct it, and it WILL make those fuckers stick, go out of battery, and make hand cycling miserable at best...Lee Makes a "Bulge Buster" for the forty cal. however I don't know if they make one that would do .45 acp/gap

Reloading Data Center – Hodgdon Reloading Data Center

hodgdonreloading.com

 

[RooftopKorean]

I think my COL is good but I think I can adjust it outward more by backing out the expander die further.

I also purchased an RCBS taper crimp die. Many people online have said it yielded better crimping results over the Lee crimper.

 

[FP1201]

I think my COL is good but I think I can adjust it outward more by backing out the expander die further.

I also purchased an RCBS taper crimp die. Many people online have said it yielded better crimping results over the Lee crimper.

As mentioned before, I had a lot of trouble with 10mm until I started running the cases through the Lee "Bulge Buster" and their "Factory Crimp" die and since then the work flawlessly...I'm very curious to find out what you finally diagnose the issues as.

 

[Acer-m14]

had big issues with berrys plated bullets in a 10mm Glock ..

nothing but tumbles hitting the target sideways .,

min load to max loads , everything shot like shit ..

 

[Depick]

On Berry’s mfg website they have C.O.L listed for their flat point bullets. I used it successfully for a 9mm load. I would check load data from Hodgdon’s site as well. I usually utilize Hodgdon’s load data after comparison to my speer and Lee books.

 

[RooftopKorean]

Well, I did two things which helped immensely.

1. I pulled back on the expander die to prevent the mouth from widening too much. This greatly improved me hitting the COL that I wanted of 1.050.
2. The RCBS taper crimp I purchased also works MUCH better than the Lee crimper.

I initially seated at 1.060 but the bullet was too long on the ogive as you suggested @FP1201

I adjusted my seating die for 1.050, plunk test worked perfectly just like commercial ammo and the bullet stopped hitting the rifling, and ejected normally with no issues.