Lee 454252 SWC in BH 5 1/5 inch barrel
Posted: 14 Dec 2015 00:49
I've been happy with the Lee 454300 FN with 19 grains of H110 in my Blackhawk, but I wanted to be able to easily tell the difference in my Blackhawk loads and my serious Rossi loads. The Rossi loads are 23 grains of H110. Those are a HANDFUL out of the Blackhawk. Knowing my abilities with a handgun would limit shots to 25 yards (bow hunting range with a handgun) I figured the lighter Lee 452252 SWC would plenty a pill for whitetail.
So this week I cast and loaded some 252 SWC's. I'm looking for a load that will produce around 1100 fps. I found load data for Accurate #9 and H110, which I had. #9 ranged from 15.8 to 17.6 grains. H110 had a listing for at 19.2 grains. After loading 19.1 grains, I found load data for 25 grain of H110 using a Lee 255 flatnose. So I think I have some room to bump up the speed.
I loaded 16, 16.5 and 17 grains of Accurate #9 AND 19.1 grains of H110.
The bullets I cast were 14.2 BHN, a little soft for the loads I wanted. I did get some leading, mostly likely from the upper end of the #9, because the 17 grains and the 17.5 grains began to open up my grouping. The recoil of the 19.1 of H110 felt less than the 16 grains of #9.
The first 2 shots that are low are me getting used to the sight picture. The front sight of a BH.45 do suck. I've painted it but wear from the holster has removed the top paint.
I'm only shooting 15 yards, kneeling. I'm no shootist by any stretch of my imagination, but this will give you an idea.
So this week I cast and loaded some 252 SWC's. I'm looking for a load that will produce around 1100 fps. I found load data for Accurate #9 and H110, which I had. #9 ranged from 15.8 to 17.6 grains. H110 had a listing for at 19.2 grains. After loading 19.1 grains, I found load data for 25 grain of H110 using a Lee 255 flatnose. So I think I have some room to bump up the speed.
I loaded 16, 16.5 and 17 grains of Accurate #9 AND 19.1 grains of H110.
The bullets I cast were 14.2 BHN, a little soft for the loads I wanted. I did get some leading, mostly likely from the upper end of the #9, because the 17 grains and the 17.5 grains began to open up my grouping. The recoil of the 19.1 of H110 felt less than the 16 grains of #9.
The first 2 shots that are low are me getting used to the sight picture. The front sight of a BH.45 do suck. I've painted it but wear from the holster has removed the top paint.
I'm only shooting 15 yards, kneeling. I'm no shootist by any stretch of my imagination, but this will give you an idea.