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I am loading up 50 rounds with 26 grain of Lil Gun and a 200 grain round nose copper plated .452 bullet. Gonna start low and increase powder until I have a tight group at 200 yards. See if I can get them into 2 " groups. Anybody have any tips?

demo-450 --

Could you give us a range report?

I'm guessing that you may have had some hangfires, and a fair amount of sooting on the cases, maybe back to the case head.

Be sure to let us know bullet type, COL, and primer brand and type.

Thanks.
--Bob

You will get a lot of sooting with that light of load and bullet. What cases and crimp are you using?

I wish I had read you replies before I had loaded and shot these loads. I used Jerry's plated bullets 200 grain hollow point. Hang fires, misfires. Miserable day. Back to the hornady 250 grains.
Why does the bullet weight matter. I am new to reloading a need guidance. Why would 240-300 be good but 200 misfires and hang fires? Why wouldnt the powder burn regardless of the bullet weight???????????????

BTW- I used CCI small rifle magnum primers, Lil gun 25 grain, hornady brass. My 45 colt rounds worked great...

demo_450 wrote:BTW- I used CCI small rifle magnum primers, Lil gun 25 grain, hornady brass. My 45 colt rounds worked great...

Bullet weight is probably not your problem, assuming a proper crimp. As you say you are new to reloading I suspect that your loading technique is in need of something. To have that many hang fires, your powder or primers or both, most likely are corrupted and this can happen from a variety of factors. Tell us about your crimp, in detail. Are you using spray lubes in your loading room? How do you store your powder and primers and how old are they? How are you seating your primers? Are you cleaning the primer pockets? Are you seating the primers all the way in and not crushing them, both those conditions can cause your problem? There are many, many factors and you've got to discover what's happening and why...

I store my primers and powders in a ammo can (old steel type) in my cold dark basement. I use the hornady crimper.....not sure if I am crimping properly. But my first 100 reloads had no issues. My 45 colt reloads worked fine. How suspect is the humidity. Being in buffalo I am not accustomed to the heat and humidity we are having....but the colts worked. I am baffled........
Also, Using the case lub which is a paste.....cleaning primer pockets,..............????? Powder is about two months old
Maybe the pressure is not heavy enough to chain react the powder to full burn. I will measure my bullets and move the seating down to increase pressure and decrease head space....
Also try some factory loads to insure its not my firing pin.
Thank You- any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

I tried some 200gr. jswc over 40 to 42gr of Lil G. Worked just fine. When I tried some 230gr. Lead ball over 18 to 20grs. Would not cycle the action and leaves unburnt powder in the bore. There is a minimum load for any givin bullet caliber & weight. Just look at any reloading manual. The 450B is not in any manuals YET! Which brings us all HERE! A lot of R&D going on here! If you've reloaded pistols succesfully, You can reload this super hyped up steroid injected 45acp. Just pay attention to details and read the threads here and on Calguns, Very,Very,Very helpful! Be safe! and may you be blessed with good solid crimps!

OH!! You reloaded for the 45 colt long? Do not use the roll crimp in the factory seating Die! Taper or side crimp only! This beast head spaces on the case mouth not the rim. 1.7" + 0,-.003.

Also -- measure the diameter of those bullets you are using. Someone of us tried Montana bullets and they measured .450, not .452. With a lite bullet, that will make a difference. Also, some had tried the Rainer plated bullets and they did not work. TOO soft! The only 200 grain bullets I have tried were the Barnes XPB's. Got 2500+ fps, but accuracy was no good.