200 gr Wadcutters in M&P 45

[Lumpy McSoo]

Hello,

I loaded 100 and they seemed to work ok for the most part. I had 1 FTF but I just picked up the pistol and now have 6 mags that I need to test and I am running low on Large Pistol primers.

I have about 1700 of the Rainier 200 gr Plated SWC that work great for indoors shooting but don't want to load up a boat load if they have known issues. I am looking to work up a load for the S&W IDPA Indoor the end of February but I am short on primers. Maybe I should just go with my 230 RN CMJ Montana Golds, but the Rainiers were one hole accurate at 15 yards and I am guessing that the FTF was do to the rest and the way I was holding the pistol for the group shooter. Due to the accuracy I want to use them but due to the FTF I am leery for a sanctioned tournament.

Does anyone consistently load SWCs (either lead, plated, FMJ, or CMJ)?

I load mine to COL of 1.250 inches and crimp of 0.468-0.469 inch and that seems pretty reliable. Powder and primer combos vary due to the chronograph to make IDPA Major using primarily Clays and/or TiteGroup.

Thanks for any help.

Later, Lumpy.

[hockeyfighter25]

I haven't had any trouble with 200 swc or 185 swc (lead) with my M&P 45. It seems to eat everything and doesn't seem to care about length. We had loaded up some 200 swc for a 1911 and it didn't like them because they were too short, but the M&P fed them just fine. Just to try it out I put a fired piece of brass in the mag and it even fed that.

However, all guns are a little different and if I were you I would just go with the 230rn if you don't have the primers to test it out and make sure.

[Lumpy McSoo]

Thanks for the reply.

That is the kind of positive response that I was looking for. Not like when I first tried SWCs in my Glock 21 and the ejected brass kept catching on the lip of the next round in the magazine. I went through about 75 and had only the one FTF but I was not shooting under normal circumstances since I was trying to shoot off a rest, quickly, since the range was about to close. The other 25 are for the chronograph if I deem it necessary, or the load good enough to go.

I have enough primers to test out a few more hundred. What would be a good number to call it good at? How many per mag to prove both the mag and the load are reliable enough for a sanctioned match that I am traveling to? Even if I don't go with the 200 Plated SWCs, how many rounds to call a mag good? Any idea?

Thanks, Lumpy.

Edited December 14, 2009 by Lumpy McSoo

[hockeyfighter25]

It's hard to say. Since you are shooting IDPA and I assume CDP class. I would probably pick 4 mags (only need 3 for IDPA) and run 8 rounds through them 6 times, that would be roughly 200 rounds. I would feel pretty comfortable with the mags and the load at that point.

[Filishooter]

I run 185 and 200 lead SWC in my M&P45 with no problems.

[Tokarev]

I've found my full-sized .45 to be reliable with everything but the really pointy 155gr LSWC bullets that nobody uses anymore.

[Lumpy McSoo]

Thanks for all the responses. I will load up about 250 and see how they function. Appreciate all the feedback.

Thanks again, Later, Lumpy.

[Ken Mays]

I just picked up a used S&W M&P 45, and it definitely did not like my 200 gr LSWCs. I don't recall the OAL at the moment, but I can tell you I had about 1/16" or so of the bullet shoulder showing above the case. Believe I was using about 4.5g of Titegroup.

I kept getting the same failure to feed; it looked like a 3-point jam. Happened with all 3 of my mags to some extent, at least once per mag.

Ran with WWB hardball fine. I'm going to try varying the length and see if that helps, but I hate messing with a load that's reliable and accurate in my 1911s. If I can't get any improvement, I'll call S&W.

Edited December 21, 2009 by Ken Mays

[Lumpy McSoo]

Thanks for the update.

Please let me, well, us, know how it goes.

One thing I had was both over crimping and undercrimping issues with the Rainier 200 gr SWCs. Overcrimping was just bad. Under crimping would let it fit through the Dillon Case Gauge but would cause way too much setback when chambering a round from the magazine. Be careful and stay safe.

Thanks, Lumpy.

[Jhp147]

I've only had a chance to run about 220 reloads through my mid-size .45, but the 200 gr. LSWC at 1.25 OAL over enough Titegroup to make PF in a 1911-5 inch gun feed without hesitation. The slide travel into battery when loading feels just as smooth and fast if not more positive than it does picking up factory ball out of the magazine.

Edited December 22, 2009 by sheepdog

[Filishooter]

off topic: Lead and Titegroup was REALLY smokey for me. I switched to Clays and although it still smokes, its not near as much as TG. I think TG is pretty hot powder to use with lead. YMMV.