.45 DISC Elite Range Day

[ronlaughlin]

The Leighs do have roughly a .500 "powder pocket". Im not toally sure if its good or bad in a 45cal but mine seems more consistent with it than with a FPJ plug. I wanted to try one with a pocket just large enough for the liner but by then he got busy.

Last winter i started using a 5/16" drill to make the pocket, whenever i modified a plug. It just seemed right. I also make the pocket in homemade plugs 5/16" diameter by using a 5/16" round end mill.

This requires i turn the vent liner head to 5/16". Attempting to turn a Lehigh vent liner from 3/8" to 5/16" is when i learned just exactly how 'hardened' they are. Had to purchase a carbide cutter to get the job done; steel cutters made me think the machine was running backwards.

The 5/16" pockets have all been 100% reliable all through sub-zero weather last winter. Right or wrong, this diameter seems to be best to me, however i have no real science to support my feeling.

At any rate, i will eliminate the diameter of the powder chamber, as being a reason my rifle isn't performing better.

 

[GM54-120]

The over sized .465 CVA plug you made for me seemed fine too. IMO it acts a little like a bottle neck cartridge and might help. It does seem to help get a better burn. If that better burn creates better accuracy, i cant prove it.

I do know some guys have made a recess in "the other" 45s and even 50cal Savage type plugs with success. I guess it is still about geometry and the goals you want.

Best of luck. Try going higher and lower charges with the 200gr. My most accurate load was 80-90gr and a 180gr XTP/GD. By MOST i mean most repeatable and consistent. 200gr bullets liked 100-110 and was nearly as consistent. I couldn't tell much of a difference and i never exceeded 120gr yet....at least that i remember.

Ive got a good selection of 180gr-200gr 40s if you want to try some. I even have some of the Barnes 155gr XPBs which are a hoot to shoot.

 

[ronlaughlin]

GM54-120

Do i recall correctly that you have been shooting 0.458 bullet naked in your 45? If so, any hints. I just ordered some of them 325g FTX, and am planning to try them in my rifle. Also am wondering about the Socom; may have to give them a try. Am real curious as to whether i will be able to get the FTX down the barrel. The 260g PT are much too loose in my rifle.

 

[Omega45]

Before modifying I would switch to Harvester light blue smooth sabots and back down to 100gr with the 200gr SST's. The plug I have in my .45 is the Lehigh Gen II plug. I have the Lehigh Knight plug in my Green Mtn 54-120 but have not shot that plug yet.

I have an origional Knight NFPJ that you modified for me. I do believe the powder pocket is not as large in diameter as the new Lehigh Knight plug. I will mail it off to you with some Harvester smooths.

Edit: The powder pocket is just a shade bigger then a Lehigh vent liner head on this one you modified. I do not think you opened the flash channel fom 1/8th to 5/32 as I did not ask you to. This size powder pocket should be the size you are seeking, well maybe just a shade larger but smaller then the Lehigh Knight you have. It will be in the mail tomorrow.

 

[JStanley]

GM54-120

Do i recall correctly that you have been shooting 0.458 bullet naked in your 45? If so, any hints. I just ordered some of them 325g FTX, and am planning to try them in my rifle. Also am wondering about the Socom; may have to give them a try. Am real curious as to whether i will be able to get the FTX down the barrel. The 260g PT are much too loose in my rifle.

I am playing around with the 250gr. FTX in .452 with my White .451 from Flounder. They measure .451 with the calipers and load like a firm sabot until you get them in the powder column area. Then they get REAL tight. I took a mallet and a jag for pointy bullets and gently tapped the bullet through and out the breach. It had the rifling lightly engraved so I thought why not give it a try. I used 100gr of T7 2f and it actually shot pretty good. I was very encouraged. I love shooting the big lead but there are so many cool looking rifle bullets in .45 cal that I think it would be fun to shoot them too if possible. I don't want to cut my barrel to make a Swinglock sizing die but bullets that are reasonably close I think I can "pre-rifle" by smearing a little lube on them and using the barrel as a sizing die. It's more work but what the heck, that's what's fun about this sport - experimenting!

GM54 - Do you think annealing the bullets first would help with the "barrel sizing" technique?

Be blessed.

 

[ronlaughlin]

........................I have an origional Knight NFPJ that you modified for me. I do believe the powder pocket is not as large in diameter as the new Lehigh Knight plug. I will mail it off to you with some Harvester smooths................................

You are too kind. Thank you!

 

[jsteurrys]

I modified the Knight NFPJ breechplug with a vent liner except mine is flush with the front face meaning no powder pocket. I opened up the primer pocket to .243" and use an "o"-ring for a seal. The flame channel is .178" to reduce the pressure on the primer pushing it into the firing pin hole. I have no blowback except for some minimal primer leakage around the anvil. I am using this set-up in all of my DISC based guns.

 

[GM54-120]

ronlaughlin

Not yet on the big ones but the little 225gr FTX might just be worth the effort for fun loads and are much easier to stabilize in a 1-30 twist. They fit perfect too in one of mine after going through a Lee .451 die. I doubt mine would stabilize over a 250gr.

The Harvesters fall down that barrel and need just a little knurling for a good fit. Once my .498 die arrives i will be set to try a few more options and rifles.

JSstanley, you only anneal solid copers like Barnes. There is no need on a jacketed bullets and im not so sure im comfortable shooting a solid copper sabotless.....yet.