Favorite 45ACP loads

Doug242ti · February 2, 2005, 03:11 AM

Think I have my 45ACP load worked up for now. 230gr FMJ winchester, mixed brass, Magtech primers and 6.0gr Unique.

Always open for suggestions though... anyone have something similar, better?

rbwillnj · February 2, 2005, 01:22 PM

Have you Ransom Rest tested your load? What makes you think its a good one?

Art Eatman · February 2, 2005, 03:22 PM

I went through a combat pistol course in 1980 and shot up a ton of old WW II GI surplus stuff. Then I got into IPSC, loading the 200-grain SWCs ahead of 5.8 grains of 231 to make Major.

I shot a little bit better with the lighter loads, but not enough to matter. So, I've mostly stayed with them for the vast majority of my shooting. I don't shoot IPSC anymore; I just practice on my range at home.

My carry loads are commercial; I'll run a magazine of them from time to time as a check on myself, but I haven't seen any good or bad or whatever in my shooting.

So, I stay with the SWCs...

, Art

plateshooter · February 2, 2005, 03:58 PM

My favorites are 230 FMJ with 5gr Red Dot, and 230 RNL with 4 grains of Red Dot. Been using those loads for many years, they work great for me in all my 45s.

sindiesel666 · February 2, 2005, 07:43 PM

200 lead SWC, 4.0 grains of Titegroup, mixed brass, Winchester primers
Very clean, soft-shooting load, knocks pins down with no problems!!

Doug242ti · February 2, 2005, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Have you Ransom Rest tested your load? What makes you think its a good one?

I started at the min' load, made 20, then bumped the grain count by ~.25 or so till I got to the max. The 6gr turned in the best groupings, both shot from a rest (10) and normal standing (second batch of 10). The 5.8 and 6.2 were close, but both times the 6gr loads turned in the best groupings.

rbwillnj · February 2, 2005, 11:22 PM

OK, that's good, at least you had a reasonable process. For any particular gun, powder, and bullet, there is a best powder charge, and you probably found the right one for you gun, bullet choice, and powder choice. There may very well be a better one out there, but you will have to repeat the process many times to find it. I shoot lead bullets because I shoot a lot, and they are cheaper. I can get a 1" group form a ransom rest at 25 yards with my Kimber Gold Matches. Here are a few loads, that all give 1" groups in my guns.

185 Grain LSWC, 4.3 Grains of Bullseye
200 Grain LSWC, 4.0 Grains of Bullseye
220 Grain LSWC, 3.7 Grains of Bullseye
230 Grain RN, 3.5 Grains of Bullseye

I have also worked up loads with TiteGroup, and and get comparable accuracy, but it takes a smidge more powder...say 4.3 grains instead of 4.0 grains.

ParaJoe · February 3, 2005, 04:13 AM

My favorite is 200 LWSC and 4.6 grains Bullseye. Puts 1" groups at 25 yards through my Para. From a rest of course.

RonH · February 3, 2005, 05:36 AM

My standard is 5.2 LSWC and 5.2 grains of 231. Mild and very accurate in my guns. I have of course loaded both light and hotter with no improvement in accuracy.

rn22723 · February 3, 2005, 11:03 AM

My USP load is 4.8gr of Titegroup with Win 230gr FMJ.
My 625 load is 3.8gr of Titegroupd with 200gr LSWC.

Doug242ti · February 3, 2005, 03:42 PM

rbwillnj, exactly. I have a crap load of unique laying around (Thats what my SW revolvers seem to prefer) so I've been using it, but I was searching around and ALOT of people liked titegroup, bullseye ect. Thats why I was asking

I dont mind experimenting

impact · February 4, 2005, 12:35 AM

I like 200gr wadcutters and 4.4grs of AAno5. It makes the 165000 power factor for IDPA. It will push the 200gr bullet at about 840fps in my Kimber. With 7000gr to a pound of powder you get more bang for the buck!

Doug242ti · February 4, 2005, 12:41 AM

Where are you getting wadcutters for 45? Will they feed in a Semi (Im assuming since you mention your Kimber)?

rbwillnj · February 4, 2005, 09:06 AM

TNT Reloading is local for me, so I don't have to pay shipping. But I see them mentioned by other posters, so they must have pretty good prices even including shipping. I also cast my own.

http://www.tntreloading.com/

Tim51 · February 4, 2005, 04:47 PM

My favorite load uses 200gr LSWC, 4.0gr Clays (Not Universal), Winchester primers, and mixed brass. It's a clean and easy shooting load that gives me 1" groups at 25 yards from a rest.

I've gone down to 3.6gr for a light target load and my Dan Wesson Patriot and SIG P220ST functioned fine.

Tim

impact · February 5, 2005, 12:07 AM

The bullet I use is from Lone Star Bullet company. They are SWCs. They work really well. It's the only lead bullet I use in my 45s. The number is 361-798-7199.

There was talk that a good gun will feed empty cases. And I belive that to be true. I have Glocks, Sigs, Berettas, Springfeilds, and a Kimber. They will all feed empty cases.

But I do know that a bullet that looks the same as another will not feed the same. The Rainier looks the same as the Lone Star bullet! But the rainier gives me feeding problems. not in just one gun But all of my 45s. If my sig 220 or Ruger P 90 won't feed a bullet there is something wrong. It's not good to shoot lead in a Sig but the Sig will shoot the Lone Star very accurate. and yah my Kimber likes it too. Most all of us IDPA and IPSC shooters in the Houston area shoot the Lone Star bullets.

nandoaqui · February 5, 2005, 05:57 PM

I have about 200 bullets each of Hornady 230-gr FMJ in Hollow Point and Flat Point. The BC of the HP is slightly better than for the FP, but I doubt if I will notice the difference. I also have three pounds of Hogdon Titegroup.

IIRC, I have reloaded the FP with 4.3-gr of Titegroup for my H&K USP Tactical with good results, but I did not experiment.

Now I want to reload for my Kimber SST2, and want to use these bullets and powder. The Hogdon website has one listing for Hornady's 230-gr, and it is for the FMJ HP. They list 4.8-gr, 818 fps (maximum).

My Hornady handbook is so old it doesn't even include either of these bullets.

I noticed that RN22723 uses 4.8-gr for the Win 230-gr FMJ (Round Nose, I guess?)

How many grains of Titegroup do you recommend or have had good experience with for these Hornady bullets?

BTW, I will use these primarily for IDPA, and I practice quite a bit with Sellier & Bellot 230-gr FMJ RN, which is how I get my brass.

Thanks for your help!

Alex

thelast2 · February 8, 2005, 04:51 AM

Well your not the first person to have used unique powder in your .45 loads that has liked the performance. I also load 230 gr FMJ using unique I tend to load mine at either 5.5 gr or 5.8 gr using remington 209 primers. And I have had pretty good results.

fed168 · February 8, 2005, 07:44 AM

A 185 grain Montana Gold JHP over 3.8 grains of Titegroup, and a 230 grain Hornady HAP over the same and 4.0 grains of Titegroup.

BigSlick · February 8, 2005, 08:16 AM

Winchester case
CCI 300 primer
4.5 gr Titegroup
230 Ball

Just enough taper crimp to remove the belling. OAL - 1.260

A good light-medium range load, the Officers Model and the Kimber eat it up. I have used 180-200 grain bullets with Titegroup and had excellent accuracy at medium to lighter charges.

I have been developing a load with Power Pistol, but haven't dialed it in just yet.

BigSlick

Jailbirdwatcher · February 8, 2005, 08:17 AM

I have been loading 230gr fmj's and hp's with 5.8 to 6.0 gr of Unique in mixed cases with CCI small pistol primers. Works for me, but my supply of Unique is a little older and burns a bit dirty. I hear that the new lots are much cleaner. I always clean my guns after firing them, so it's really a non issue.

BigSlick · February 8, 2005, 08:30 AM

Hey JBW,

You are using small pistol primers ? Most of the loading data I have calls for large pistol.

Which CCI primer are you using ?

BigSlick

redrooster2 · February 8, 2005, 11:45 PM

My favorites are 200 grain LSWC --- wheel weights --- with 4.0 grains of Bullseye and Win. 230 FMJ with 5.5 grains of W231 seated to 1.25.

Doug242ti · February 9, 2005, 02:19 AM

I think Im at about 400 rounds of handloads used, finally cleaned my HK and Kimber, both looked about average. Both shot very well and no FTE/FTF anything goofy so Im happy.

The only thing is, unique kind of stinks a bit

I guess thats why they call it Unique right? lol

Doug

Jailbirdwatcher · February 9, 2005, 08:07 AM

Hey Big Slick,
You caught me on that one. I tried small primers but they kept falling out of the d@*#n shells before I could get 'em in the pistol. Now I only use CCI large pistol primers.

February 2, 2005, 03:11 AM	#1
Doug242ti Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 316	Favorite 45ACP loads Think I have my 45ACP load worked up for now. 230gr FMJ winchester, mixed brass, Magtech primers and 6.0gr Unique. Always open for suggestions though... anyone have something similar, better? __________________ www.pbase.com/dkauer744 NRA Member

February 2, 2005, 03:58 PM	#4
plateshooter Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 1999 Location: N.E. Ohio Posts: 522	My favorites are 230 FMJ with 5gr Red Dot, and 230 RNL with 4 grains of Red Dot. Been using those loads for many years, they work great for me in all my 45s. __________________ Make a hole

February 3, 2005, 03:42 PM	#11
Doug242ti Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 316	rbwillnj, exactly. I have a crap load of unique laying around (Thats what my SW revolvers seem to prefer) so I've been using it, but I was searching around and ALOT of people liked titegroup, bullseye ect. Thats why I was asking I dont mind experimenting __________________ www.pbase.com/dkauer744 NRA Member

February 4, 2005, 12:41 AM	#13
Doug242ti Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 316	Where are you getting wadcutters for 45? Will they feed in a Semi (Im assuming since you mention your Kimber)? __________________ www.pbase.com/dkauer744 NRA Member

February 8, 2005, 04:51 AM	#18
thelast2 Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2005 Location: Eagle River, Alaska Posts: 118	Favorite .45 loads Well your not the first person to have used unique powder in your .45 loads that has liked the performance. I also load 230 gr FMJ using unique I tend to load mine at either 5.5 gr or 5.8 gr using remington 209 primers. And I have had pretty good results. __________________ "Genius Has Limitations, Stupidity Does Not"

February 2, 2005, 01:22 PM	#2
rbwillnj Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northwest NJ Posts: 38	Have you Ransom Rest tested your load? What makes you think its a good one?

February 2, 2005, 03:22 PM	#3
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I went through a combat pistol course in 1980 and shot up a ton of old WW II GI surplus stuff. Then I got into IPSC, loading the 200-grain SWCs ahead of 5.8 grains of 231 to make Major. I shot a little bit better with the lighter loads, but not enough to matter. So, I've mostly stayed with them for the vast majority of my shooting. I don't shoot IPSC anymore; I just practice on my range at home. My carry loads are commercial; I'll run a magazine of them from time to time as a check on myself, but I haven't seen any good or bad or whatever in my shooting. So, I stay with the SWCs... , Art

February 2, 2005, 07:43 PM	#5
sindiesel666 Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2004 Location: San Antonio Posts: 270	200 lead SWC, 4.0 grains of Titegroup, mixed brass, Winchester primers Very clean, soft-shooting load, knocks pins down with no problems!!

February 2, 2005, 11:22 PM	#7
rbwillnj Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northwest NJ Posts: 38	OK, that's good, at least you had a reasonable process. For any particular gun, powder, and bullet, there is a best powder charge, and you probably found the right one for you gun, bullet choice, and powder choice. There may very well be a better one out there, but you will have to repeat the process many times to find it. I shoot lead bullets because I shoot a lot, and they are cheaper. I can get a 1" group form a ransom rest at 25 yards with my Kimber Gold Matches. Here are a few loads, that all give 1" groups in my guns. 185 Grain LSWC, 4.3 Grains of Bullseye 200 Grain LSWC, 4.0 Grains of Bullseye 220 Grain LSWC, 3.7 Grains of Bullseye 230 Grain RN, 3.5 Grains of Bullseye I have also worked up loads with TiteGroup, and and get comparable accuracy, but it takes a smidge more powder...say 4.3 grains instead of 4.0 grains.

February 3, 2005, 04:13 AM	#8
ParaJoe Junior Member Join Date: February 3, 2005 Location: Ridgecrest, CA Posts: 12	My favorite is 200 LWSC and 4.6 grains Bullseye. Puts 1" groups at 25 yards through my Para. From a rest of course.

February 3, 2005, 05:36 AM	#9
RonH Member Join Date: April 19, 2000 Posts: 67	My standard is 5.2 LSWC and 5.2 grains of 231. Mild and very accurate in my guns. I have of course loaded both light and hotter with no improvement in accuracy.

February 3, 2005, 11:03 AM	#10
rn22723 Junior member Join Date: December 10, 2001 Location: Burbs of Minneapolis Posts: 676	My USP load is 4.8gr of Titegroup with Win 230gr FMJ. My 625 load is 3.8gr of Titegroupd with 200gr LSWC.

February 4, 2005, 12:35 AM	#12
impact Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: the great state of Texas Posts: 854	I like 200gr wadcutters and 4.4grs of AAno5. It makes the 165000 power factor for IDPA. It will push the 200gr bullet at about 840fps in my Kimber. With 7000gr to a pound of powder you get more bang for the buck!

February 4, 2005, 09:06 AM	#14
rbwillnj Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northwest NJ Posts: 38	TNT Reloading is local for me, so I don't have to pay shipping. But I see them mentioned by other posters, so they must have pretty good prices even including shipping. I also cast my own. http://www.tntreloading.com/

February 4, 2005, 04:47 PM	#15
Tim51 Junior Member Join Date: September 17, 2000 Posts: 8	My favorite load uses 200gr LSWC, 4.0gr Clays (Not Universal), Winchester primers, and mixed brass. It's a clean and easy shooting load that gives me 1" groups at 25 yards from a rest. I've gone down to 3.6gr for a light target load and my Dan Wesson Patriot and SIG P220ST functioned fine. Tim

February 5, 2005, 12:07 AM	#16
impact Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2005 Location: the great state of Texas Posts: 854	The bullet I use is from Lone Star Bullet company. They are SWCs. They work really well. It's the only lead bullet I use in my 45s. The number is 361-798-7199. There was talk that a good gun will feed empty cases. And I belive that to be true. I have Glocks, Sigs, Berettas, Springfeilds, and a Kimber. They will all feed empty cases. But I do know that a bullet that looks the same as another will not feed the same. The Rainier looks the same as the Lone Star bullet! But the rainier gives me feeding problems. not in just one gun But all of my 45s. If my sig 220 or Ruger P 90 won't feed a bullet there is something wrong. It's not good to shoot lead in a Sig but the Sig will shoot the Lone Star very accurate. and yah my Kimber likes it too. Most all of us IDPA and IPSC shooters in the Houston area shoot the Lone Star bullets.

February 5, 2005, 05:57 PM	#17
nandoaqui Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2002 Location: midwest Posts: 113	I have about 200 bullets each of Hornady 230-gr FMJ in Hollow Point and Flat Point. The BC of the HP is slightly better than for the FP, but I doubt if I will notice the difference. I also have three pounds of Hogdon Titegroup. IIRC, I have reloaded the FP with 4.3-gr of Titegroup for my H&K USP Tactical with good results, but I did not experiment. Now I want to reload for my Kimber SST2, and want to use these bullets and powder. The Hogdon website has one listing for Hornady's 230-gr, and it is for the FMJ HP. They list 4.8-gr, 818 fps (maximum). My Hornady handbook is so old it doesn't even include either of these bullets. I noticed that RN22723 uses 4.8-gr for the Win 230-gr FMJ (Round Nose, I guess?) How many grains of Titegroup do you recommend or have had good experience with for these Hornady bullets? BTW, I will use these primarily for IDPA, and I practice quite a bit with Sellier & Bellot 230-gr FMJ RN, which is how I get my brass. Thanks for your help! Alex

February 8, 2005, 07:44 AM	#19
fed168 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2000 Posts: 1,040	A 185 grain Montana Gold JHP over 3.8 grains of Titegroup, and a 230 grain Hornady HAP over the same and 4.0 grains of Titegroup.

February 8, 2005, 08:16 AM	#20
BigSlick Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Texas of course Posts: 277	Winchester case CCI 300 primer 4.5 gr Titegroup 230 Ball Just enough taper crimp to remove the belling. OAL - 1.260 A good light-medium range load, the Officers Model and the Kimber eat it up. I have used 180-200 grain bullets with Titegroup and had excellent accuracy at medium to lighter charges. I have been developing a load with Power Pistol, but haven't dialed it in just yet. BigSlick

February 8, 2005, 08:17 AM	#21
Jailbirdwatcher Junior Member Join Date: January 18, 2005 Location: Brownsville Pennsylvania USA Posts: 9	I have been loading 230gr fmj's and hp's with 5.8 to 6.0 gr of Unique in mixed cases with CCI small pistol primers. Works for me, but my supply of Unique is a little older and burns a bit dirty. I hear that the new lots are much cleaner. I always clean my guns after firing them, so it's really a non issue.

February 8, 2005, 08:30 AM	#22
BigSlick Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Texas of course Posts: 277	Hey JBW, You are using small pistol primers ? Most of the loading data I have calls for large pistol. Which CCI primer are you using ? BigSlick

February 8, 2005, 11:45 PM	#23
redrooster2 Member Join Date: September 23, 2004 Location: north of Acadiana Posts: 80	My favorites are 200 grain LSWC --- wheel weights --- with 4.0 grains of Bullseye and Win. 230 FMJ with 5.5 grains of W231 seated to 1.25.

February 9, 2005, 02:19 AM	#24
Doug242ti Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 316	I think Im at about 400 rounds of handloads used, finally cleaned my HK and Kimber, both looked about average. Both shot very well and no FTE/FTF anything goofy so Im happy. The only thing is, unique kind of stinks a bit I guess thats why they call it Unique right? lol Doug __________________ www.pbase.com/dkauer744 NRA Member

February 9, 2005, 08:07 AM	#25
Jailbirdwatcher Junior Member Join Date: January 18, 2005 Location: Brownsville Pennsylvania USA Posts: 9	Hey Big Slick, You caught me on that one. I tried small primers but they kept falling out of the d@*#n shells before I could get 'em in the pistol. Now I only use CCI large pistol primers.