TonyT

I have been using either the 147 gr. Star FMJ or the Rainier or berry's 137 gr. plated bullets. All three shoot well in my guns, Sig 226 Sport, SA 1911. PO18-9, S&W99, S&W5906.

I have used 3.4 gr. Titegroup with the 147 gr. Star FMJ and WInchester small pistol primer for ca. 900 fpos with excellent results.

I have not tried WSt with 200 gr. bullets. I have used 4.5 to 5.0 gr. of WST with the 185 gr. Rainier plated bullets with excellent results. Also lighter loads with the 330 gr. Star FMJ and 230 gr. Rainiers. WST and American select are my favorite two powders for loading the 40 S&W and 45 ACP.

Using 185 gr. Rainier or Berry's plated bullets 4.5 gr. of WST gave me ca. 740 fps, 5.0 gr. of WST gave ca 820 fps with the same bullets. IO have used 3.8 to 4.2 gr. WST with the 230 gr. Rainier RN for 655 to 725 fps. I get approximately the same velocities using jacketed bullets as the Rainiers. In all cases nice clean burning loads.

I like loading 5.6 to 5.8 gr. of SR-4756 behind the 124 gr. rainier bullet. Very clean burning.

The previously mentioned 4.0 gr. W-231 load is also a good performer at the ca 720 fps level with either the 180 gr. Rainier or 180 gr. Star FMJ.

Virtually all the powders mentioned will provide accurate reloads. A lot of it is customer preference and availability. W-231, Bullseye, Unique, WST, WSF and the Vihtavouri powders measure very uniformly. Clays and American Select are not quite as uniform in metering but provide equal accuracy.

Never obtained satisfactory loads with either AA#2 or AA#5. Swore off AA powders. The Alliant, Hodgdon and WW (now Hodgdon) lines provide a wide variety of suitable powders.

American Selct and WST provide nice clean burning loads.

Sorry that I am away from home and cannot access my VV reloading data. Have you tried the VV websirte for relaoding info?

Titegroup is a very fast burning powder. To lessen the smoke with lead bullets try a slower burning powder.

Scrutinizing the loads in the WW 14 Ed. reloading manual, it appears that WSt is faster than W-231.

I have been using the 230 gr. Star FMJ with 3.8 to 4.0 gr. Clays, 4.0-4.2 gr American Select and 3.8 - 4.2 gr. of WST - all with Federal 150 primer.

I have used ther 185 gr. Star JHP with 4.3 to 4.6 gr. Clays for ca 800 to 870 fps. The loads are very accurate and reliable both in my Sig 220 Sport and several 1911's.

With my Po 16-40 and Sig 229 Sport only trial and error will tell. I prtefer the faster burning powders and loads which are less than 22000 psi. Light recoil and accurate.

I have used 3.6 to 3.9 gr. of WST with either lead or jacketed 155 gr. and 180 gr. bullets for light loads. Very accurate in my S&W 646 and PO16-40.

I have used 3.6 to3.8 gr. of Clays behind the 230 gr. Rainier using a Dillon 550. Good performance.

Darren, Don't you consult a reloading manual before you load? The Winchester-Wester 14th Edition lists 5.0 gr. of W231 as MAX for the 180 gr. JHP with a velocity of 950fps and 33200psi. Hope you enjoy a long life but your current practise makes me doubt it.

For light loads in my S&W 646 or 610 I have found 3.6 to 3.9 gr. WST with 155 to 180 gr. Star FMJ's to be very accurate with velocities under 800 fps.

I believe that Clays is a bit too fast for your intended use. Try W-231.

I have used the 130 gr. Star FMJ with 5.0 gr. of Titegroup or Bullseye in 38 Special brass with a Federal Small Pistol primer. Does a solid job on plates.

Tony - Sierra's 240 grain JHC has one, and it's pretty nice. Hornady makes a 250, and Speer a 260, both also with crimp grooves. I haven't tried the last two, but the Sierra works well in .45 ACP/AR. Never used a bullet heavier than 230 gr. in the 45 ACP. I guess if you want to shoot real stout loads using a 45 AR case thge crimpo might help.

I believe that's too high a velocity for the platd bullets. I would use jacketed bullets at those velocities.

I have found that some military brass has tight primer pockets which make it difficult to seat the primer. I would rather purchase commercial brass for reloading. Peersonally I reload my 9mm and 40 S&W brass 4 times and then fire the last reloads at ranges where one does not pick up brass. For 45 ACP and 38 Special I reload until the mouth frays. Above all avaoid any AMERC brass.

I have used 4.3 to 4.6 gr. Clays withthe 186 gr. Rainier FP. Both are mild loads the 4.6 gr. knocks the plates down with a bit more authority. WST also burns very cleanly and is excellent with both lead, plated and FMJ's.