So I have started to reload again, but this time I am going to load 45acp. I am using 5in. 1911, looking for reasonable groups at 25 yard, and something that
shoots clean. I will probably use 230gr. magtech bullets since they seem to be the best bang for the buck. I have a few preset loads in my books, but I have
found in the past that those can be very generic. Thanks all who can help.
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Looking for a good 45acp load.
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 BWCRITCH |
Looking for a good 45acp load. |
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Posts: 465 (04/05/09 4:01 PM) |
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Jeff7mm |
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Posts: 3117 (04/05/09 5:37 PM) MODERATOR |
You will shoot better with a 200 grain load that cycles the action without malfunctions. The 185 gr match type loads certainly do too but sometimes cause
feeding problems due to OAL and nose shape.
Diapers and politicians need frequent changing, and for the same reason
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jeeper1 |
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Posts: 5592 (04/05/09 7:43 PM) MODERATOR |
Half the fun of reloading is working up an accurate load.
I may not be completely sane, but at least I don't
think I have the power to influence the weather
grog101.forumco.com/active.asp www.GBOCannons.com www.homegunsmith.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi |
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Thor96 |
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Posts: 6663 (04/05/09 8:18 PM) MODERATOR |
Jeff, you hit the key factor in "cycling without malfunction". I acquired a large quantity of reloads from a man who got too old to shoot and reload. They do fair, but occasionally I have a jam. Could be the gun, possibly the magazine, as understand they don't always do well, but also suspect the loads. I have in the past few months acquired a Dillon autoloader , missing the powder dump but I can use my RCBS dump manually to do that. It's all set up for 45, but I've been nervous about getting into it, so I'm anxious to learn more about loads too.
"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money".... Margaret Thatcher
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rkba857 |
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Posts: 472 (04/05/09 8:25 PM) Contributing Member |
I've always had good luck with 5.0 Red Dot under a 230 grain hard ball. Been using it for decades with no problems. Win. 231 is another good powder for the
.45 ACP.
RKBA TSRA Life Member NRA Patron Member |
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BWCRITCH |
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Posts: 466 (04/05/09 9:00 PM) |
jeeper1 wrote: No doubt that is part of the fun, but often times already having a good starting point keeps it fun, and not frustrating.
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pepperbelly |
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Posts: 4059 (04/05/09 11:08 PM) MODERATOR |
I have a load that I use in plate matches and NRA Bullseye. I used to use Unique but switched to WST. It is much cleaner.
4.5gr WST under a 200gr LSWC. It is very accurate, cycles reliably in both my Springfield Loaded and Kimber Warrior with stock 16# springs. Jim 9Winchester Super Target) NRA Life Member Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man. --- Thomas Jefferson.
Last Edited By: pepperbelly
04/06/09 12:10 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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jeeper1 |
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Posts: 5593 (04/05/09 11:40 PM) MODERATOR |
I use 5.5 grains of Unique to push a cast 225 grain LRN out the front of my 45s.
I may not be completely sane, but at least I don't
think I have the power to influence the weather
grog101.forumco.com/active.asp www.GBOCannons.com www.homegunsmith.com/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi |
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Thor96 |
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Posts: 6670 (04/06/09 7:53 AM) MODERATOR |
Gotta agree with BW on this. I learned general reloading and rifle all by my self. But I assure you, it was a nervous thing and I would have given my eye teeth for a ever present mentor. Handguns are a whole new thing. Everything has to be right, from the sizing, depth, crimp, and getting a decent load. Since the objective is different, and no way you could ever refine a load the way you do a rifle, it would certainly help to have a decent starting point. I've had this Dillon press for well over 6 months now, and I'm afraid to get started.
"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money".... Margaret Thatcher
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BWCRITCH |
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Posts: 467 (04/06/09 8:13 AM) |
Thanks for the back up Thor. I have been around a reloading bench my whole life. my great-grandfather showed me the basics, followed by my father in a little
more detail, and how to keep organized by only doing one step at a time, and never get in a hurry, because you will only regret it later. My father loaded a
whole lot of 270 back in the 80's, and to this day for pure entertainment I can still shoot a golf ball at 100 yard on the first shot. We also loaded allot
of 38spl. I feel very comfortable in my ability to reload, but this is the first time I am reloading something with out someone looking over my shoulder, and I
am the first person in my family to reload 45acp, and 9mm in the next month or so. I also plan on reloading .223 for a varmint gun, but not for a few months
yet. For that load I will be spending allot more time in "tweaking" the load to get the exact fps I am looking for, and the sub 1 MOA I am looking
for.
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BWCRITCH |
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Posts: 478 (04/10/09 3:57 PM) |
So I tried out a few different loads today. I was shooting a Taurus PT-1911 with a 16# spring, and a Custom Kimber with a 20# spring. I used a Rainier 230gr.
FMJ, with Universal powder. It looks like the 5.4gr load worked best and felt good. Average FPS was 767, which is a little slower than Fiochi, or Magtech I
used as a control. I am going to try and produce a few more like that, but I would also like to try some WST powder. My grouping was not to bad, but I was only
shooting from about 15 yards, and was using rest on most of the shots to try and see how consistent everything was, and make sure I did not shoot my croni.
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Dubhhawk |
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Posts: 1201 (04/12/09 9:00 AM) |
BW, the powders listed above are all good for the 45 ACP. Red Dot, Green Dot, Unique. Have used all. Am going to try a newer powder from Alliant called
American Select. I haven't any loads worked up yet with it but, it is supposed to be bulkier. Since you are loading handgun loads you already know you have
to watch for double charging. If you double load it will not run over in some of the larger cases like it does in rifle loads. Also watch your crimp since the
case headspaces on the case mouth.
I do have a 200 gr 45 ACP mold. Got to mold up some soon. I don't see the need to spend a bunch on 45 billets since I have around 50 lbs of lead. Good luck and enjoy. I have a stainless PT 1911. As far as I am concerned it is a good one. So is my Beretta 92FS. Oh heck, I like them all. Mike |
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BWCRITCH |
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Posts: 483 (04/12/09 2:17 PM) |
Dub,
It sounds like you and I have the same taste. Pull trigger, go bang, bullet goes forward. all that followed by hole in target, watermelon explodes........... and so on.
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archeomania |
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Posts: 955 (04/14/09 10:26 PM) |
The cleanest, most accurate l have tried is a 200 grain lswc with 5.0 g of VV N320
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BWCRITCH |
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Posts: 487 (04/15/09 4:18 AM) |
All you guys using lswc rounds, are not worried about lead fouling, or do just stay on top of cleaning your gun, so it is just not and issue?
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Dubhhawk |
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Posts: 1206 (04/15/09 5:53 AM) |
BW,
You betcha, Same taste. I've shot lead bullets in handguns off and on for years. If you keep your vel down leading isn't much of a problem if your bullets are hard cast. Soft lead that the major bullet makers sell are soft. If you want to up your vel gas check them. The 45 ACP isn't much of a problem. I used to push hard cast gas checked loads out of 357 mags at 1250 fps, 44 mag 1300 to 1350 out of a Ruger SBH and 45 LG out of a Ruger BH at 1200 to 1250 with out any leading. M |
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Thor96 |
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Posts: 6773 (04/15/09 7:41 AM) MODERATOR |
archeomania wrote:At first, I thought that was a W, but after not finding the powder in Winchester, I see now it is VV. I notice it seems to be more available that other brands, at least with Midway and Midsouth. Are you pistol shooters having as much problem finding powder as rifle shooters? Seems like the "backordered" powders are not coming in, and the "available" powders are now beginning to disappear.
"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money".... Margaret Thatcher
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BWCRITCH |
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Posts: 488 (04/15/09 3:48 PM) |
What about the Laser bullets?
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archeomania |
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Posts: 956 (04/15/09 9:03 PM) |
The V V together looked like a W for sure. Anyways Vihta powders are the cleanest powders I have used in pistol reloading. N 320 is a good all around pistol
powder. It can be used for 45 ACP, 40 S&W, 9mm, and 38 with very good results.
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Thor96 |
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Posts: 6778 (04/16/09 6:17 AM) MODERATOR |
archeomania wrote:Thanks Arch. I'll remember that if I ever start loading the 45 ACP. I've got the press, but also have acquired a sizable stock of ammo, and don't need any at the time. It's also new territory I'm hesitant to venture into. I do notice availability is about as tough as the other brands. I was looking for a backup as my favorites are backordered/out of stock, and who knows when they will be available. I keep seeing powders disappear and not coming back.
"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money".... Margaret Thatcher
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archeomania |
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Posts: 957 (04/16/09 7:31 AM) |
Regarding leading in shooting lswc bullets; I have never had a problem using Vihta powder. Just keep the velocity near the low to middle end and you will be
fine. Even with 5.0 grains of N320 I have not had a problem and that is near the top end. I have had light leading problems using Winchester 231 but nothing
that did not clean up quite easy. I even use the N320 load in my S&W 625 and it works great. Another plus is the fact that N320 meters very well.
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