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Got my first ...
badhabithobby
Member Posts: 216 ✭✭✭
Reloader today. Bought a Dillon RL550B. Thought I would share it with everyone since I'm excited. Willing to take suggestions on a good load for a .45acp (shooting a Kimber) and .38 mid-range wadcutter (S&W 52-2). Also looking for any tips from the experienced reloaders out there. Thanks in advance.
Comments
EDIT Hello Let me give you my opinion on how to get the right weight recoil spring. There are many things that determine how a semi auto pistol will function #1 the recoil impulse generated by the cartridge and it's powder charge and weight of bullet #2 the weight of the slide "the part that must fully cycle " to get 100% function. #3 the weight of the recoil spring & the weight of the main-spring/hammer-spring "remember it takes effort to cock the hammer the heavier these TWO springs the more recoil impulse needed".#4 the upper body weight of the shooter and how HARD he both grips and backs up the pistol " a tall skinny guy like me needs a stronger load or weaker spring then a short CHUNKY shooter. Now my opinion on how to find the BEST spring. #1 GET a Wilson recoil spring KIT from Wilson or Brownell's if you have the use of a ransom rest fine tune the load to shoot the best group in your pistol with out a Ransom rest start with loads I suggested .#2 now load one round in a magazine start with say a 18 pound spring load this one round and fire the pistol DOES THE SLIDE STAY BACK [?]yes go to 19 then 20 then 21 pound spring and repeat this test until you get failure of slide to lock back . If the slide does not stay back with the 18 pound spring then reduce the weight of the spring one step at a time What you want is for the slide to fully cycle but not slam the slide into the frame under recoil. Do NOT use buffers as they will change the cycle distance and mess up the timing on the feed cycle . When you find the correct spring for your load the pistol will function 100% the slide will lock back after last shot and cases will eject just behind your shoulder. As you shoot a lot of rounds and get tired the rounds will not eject as far and this will tell you that you need to back-up the gun harder. I have one pistol with over 300,000 rounds fired in it with no parts breakage because the load is matched to the springs. Remember if you change loads say to 230 grain Ball you need to change spring. I like to use standard hammer spring and work the hammer and sear to get 3&1/2 pound trigger pull not go with a lighter hammer spring to get good hit on the primer. Hopes this helps even though I did not suggest a pound spring for you. "PRAISE THE HARD-BALL GUN"
2. 200 SWC .45 - 3.8 to 4.1 grains clays.
3. .38 HBWC - 2.4 clays. (may need a lighter spring)
With the 52 be SURE you load to minimum length.
Great loader, just be sure you check every 20-25 rounds to assure you don't make a "batch" that you don't like. It's easy to run 400-500 rounds and THINK they're OK. Would also suggest a good bullet puller, we've all been there.
Best of luck.