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steve4102 · 06-08-2012, 01:13 PM

A couple things that may or may not be in your manual.

Start off with a couple rounds to make sure they fit-feed and fire. Nothing worse than having to pull bullets after the fact.

Load a dummy round or three and do the "plunk" test. That is to take the barrel out of the gun, drop a dummy round into the chamber. It should "plunk right in and fall right out when turned upside down. Forget the case gauge, use your barrel.

Do not get hung up on the OAL listed in the manuals. OAL is firearm specific not manual specific. After all, if the OAL used in the manual will not feed and fire in your pistol there is really no need to worry about pressure, is there. Find the longest OAL that fits-feeds and fires in Your pistol, start low and work up.

According to Lyman 4.3gr of Red Dot is the "Start" charge for 225gr Lead RN. Max is 5.3gr. I would start out at 4.5gr.

Depending on what bullet you are using in the Colt Lyman lists Start charges of 5.6gr and 6.1gr of Red Dot with 200gr lead. You should be fine at 6.0gr.

06-08-2012, 01:13 PM	#16
steve4102 Former Guest Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota Contributor Posts: 2,760	Re: To My TFF brothers in arms A couple things that may or may not be in your manual. Start off with a couple rounds to make sure they fit-feed and fire. Nothing worse than having to pull bullets after the fact. Load a dummy round or three and do the "plunk" test. That is to take the barrel out of the gun, drop a dummy round into the chamber. It should "plunk right in and fall right out when turned upside down. Forget the case gauge, use your barrel. Do not get hung up on the OAL listed in the manuals. OAL is firearm specific not manual specific. After all, if the OAL used in the manual will not feed and fire in your pistol there is really no need to worry about pressure, is there. Find the longest OAL that fits-feeds and fires in Your pistol, start low and work up. According to Lyman 4.3gr of Red Dot is the "Start" charge for 225gr Lead RN. Max is 5.3gr. I would start out at 4.5gr. Depending on what bullet you are using in the Colt Lyman lists Start charges of 5.6gr and 6.1gr of Red Dot with 200gr lead. You should be fine at 6.0gr.