Plinking load for .45 acp

AL45 · May 3, 2014, 08:30 AM

What is your favorite plinking load for .45 acp?

Shootest · May 3, 2014, 08:55 AM

4.5g Bullseye under 230g LRN. OAL 1.250

g.willikers · May 3, 2014, 09:25 AM

200 grain semi wad cutter at 825 - 850 f/s is accurate and easy to shoot quickly.
Hodgdon 231 or Clays powder.

MR_X · May 3, 2014, 11:46 AM

For strictly plinking, 5.5gr of PB behind 200gr SWC from Xtreme.

Valornor · May 3, 2014, 11:52 AM

Glue stick sitting on top of a large pistol primer. Seriously, it's an insane amount of fun. Single shot, but you can practice your draws shots in your garage. Just make sure you have a back stop set up. They will leave dents in the garage door.

In terms of conventional loads I like 200gr's and lately it's what every powder I can find but for me Unique has always been my stand by. I'll load them light enough to just barely cycle my pistol. About 5.0-5.5gr (if memory serves).

Hammerhead · May 3, 2014, 12:45 PM

I like the 200 grain plated SWC's over 4.0 VV N310 or 4.2 Clays or 4.6 Titegroup or 5.2 HP38/W231.
The plated SWC's are very accurate at target speeds.

nemesiss45 · May 3, 2014, 12:46 PM

Right now mine is 5.5 gr of unique under a 230gr lead RN. Just because that is the mould I have.

AL45 · May 3, 2014, 03:04 PM

Thanks for the information.

Wreck-n-Crew · May 3, 2014, 05:24 PM

WST, burns clean and very accurate. I really like the LSWC too, they cut nice big holes in the target and you can see them better.

Guilty · May 3, 2014, 06:23 PM

Hornady 230gr FMJ or Montana Gold 230gr FMJ/CMJ - W231/HP38 5.3 gr - 1.230 OAL - CCI 300 Primers

riverratt · May 3, 2014, 10:33 PM

Im with nemesiss45 on this one 5.5gr unique under a 230gr lrn, soft shooter and plenty accurate. I bust clays out at 80-100 yards, what more could you want.

Nick_C_S · May 3, 2014, 11:08 PM

200g LSWC; 5.0g W231; OAL 1.235. 773 fps.

Capable of shooting the eyebrow off a gnat at 15 yards.

steveNChunter · May 4, 2014, 08:30 AM

3.7 gr of Clays under a 230 gr jacketed bullet.

4.2 gr of Clays under a 185 gr jacketed bullet works well too if your pistol likes the lighter bullets.

Clays is my go to powder for light .45 acp loads. Super clean burning, very low recoil, and has always been very accurate in my pistols. I load it for a Ruger SR1911, Llama 1911, AMT 1911, and a Springfield XDs. The Llama and the AMT are owned by friends of mine, and they now refuse to buy factory ammo to plink with. It keeps me busy loading for them but I don't mind.

Mike38 · May 4, 2014, 08:41 AM

200 grain LSWC over 4.0 grains of Titegroup. For 230 grain ball, same powder charge.

srtolly1 · May 4, 2014, 05:29 PM

5.7 gr unique under a 230 gr LRN or LTC. Use it for just about everything.

MEATSAW · May 5, 2014, 12:53 AM

230 gr cast RN over 4.0 gr of Competition. Clean and easy to shoot well

Mike / Tx · May 5, 2014, 05:00 PM

Well most loads for my 45 ACP seem like plinking loads compared to the bigger revolvers I normally shoot.

I do however favor using a 200gr SWC over a light dose of Bullseye, or Unique. I mean if your just poking holes in paper why use up more lead than necessary.

I have most, if not all, of the other powders mentioned, I just haven't dedicated the time to working with them. I found the other powders shot so well I just more or less forgot about them.

WESHOOT2 · May 5, 2014, 05:02 PM

-mixed sized case
-CCI350
-230g LRN, preferrably from Penn Bullets
-4.9g W231
-OAL 1.257"+/-.005"
-crimp to .470"

bledsoeG19 · May 5, 2014, 06:51 PM

200 gr LSWC on top of 5.0 gr of bullseye. 900 fps.

SauerGrapes · May 5, 2014, 09:20 PM

When I started shooting 45acp, I had 8lbs of American Select for shotgun. Found one recipe in the Lee manual and never looked back.
3.8gr Amer. Sel. with 200gr LSWC or 4.1gr with 185gr. Soft recoil and quite accurate.

AL45 · May 5, 2014, 09:22 PM

Any leading problems with the cast lead loads?

g.willikers · May 6, 2014, 01:43 PM

No great amount of leading with cast bullets.
Not if they're sized correctly for the barrel and are matched in hardness to the velocity.
.45acp are the least likely to lead chamber and barrel, anyway, due to the low pressures and mild velocity.

Mike / Tx · May 6, 2014, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Any leading problems with the cast lead loads?

So far at this point, I have around 300 cast, give or take a few, through my ACP and haven't done anything but shove a patch wrapped around an old brush through the bore, and wipe off the outside once in a while with a rag to get off some of the soot. This is using some around an 8 BHN up to around a 10 BHN and lubed with Alox and Carnuba Red.

In my 45 Colt Redhawk, I know this is a ACP post, but in this picture I have over a hundred rounds though this barrel, and it looks just about like my ACP does after shooting that many. Well maybe a little worse, but I'm running them a wee bit warmer as well. Just showing for comparrison.

Oh and all of the Colt rounds were lubed with Alox.

May 3, 2014, 08:30 AM	#1
AL45 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2012 Posts: 754	Plinking load for .45 acp What is your favorite plinking load for .45 acp?

May 3, 2014, 08:55 AM	#2
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	4.5g Bullseye under 230g LRN. OAL 1.250 __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

May 3, 2014, 09:25 AM	#3
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	200 grain semi wad cutter at 825 - 850 f/s is accurate and easy to shoot quickly. Hodgdon 231 or Clays powder. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

May 3, 2014, 11:52 AM	#5
Valornor Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 244	Glue stick sitting on top of a large pistol primer. Seriously, it's an insane amount of fun. Single shot, but you can practice your draws shots in your garage. Just make sure you have a back stop set up. They will leave dents in the garage door. In terms of conventional loads I like 200gr's and lately it's what every powder I can find but for me Unique has always been my stand by. I'll load them light enough to just barely cycle my pistol. About 5.0-5.5gr (if memory serves). __________________ NM M1A, HK Mk 23, Benelli M4, Ar-15 Lower, CZ 2075 RAMI (P) 9mm, Barrett MRAD .338LM Looking for a new blog dealing with firearms and reloading, check out http://theheadstamp.com/

May 3, 2014, 05:24 PM	#9
Wreck-n-Crew Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,820	WST, burns clean and very accurate. I really like the LSWC too, they cut nice big holes in the target and you can see them better. __________________ If you ever have to use a firearm, *you don't get to pick the scenario!*

May 3, 2014, 11:46 AM	#4
MR_X Member Join Date: April 23, 2014 Posts: 22	For strictly plinking, 5.5gr of PB behind 200gr SWC from Xtreme.

May 3, 2014, 12:45 PM	#6
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	I like the 200 grain plated SWC's over 4.0 VV N310 or 4.2 Clays or 4.6 Titegroup or 5.2 HP38/W231. The plated SWC's are very accurate at target speeds.

May 3, 2014, 12:46 PM	#7
nemesiss45 Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2014 Posts: 526	Right now mine is 5.5 gr of unique under a 230gr lead RN. Just because that is the mould I have.

May 3, 2014, 03:04 PM	#8
AL45 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2012 Posts: 754	Thanks for the information.

May 3, 2014, 06:23 PM	#10
Guilty Member Join Date: November 9, 2012 Posts: 54	Hornady 230gr FMJ or Montana Gold 230gr FMJ/CMJ - W231/HP38 5.3 gr - 1.230 OAL - CCI 300 Primers

May 3, 2014, 10:33 PM	#11
riverratt Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2014 Posts: 314	Im with nemesiss45 on this one 5.5gr unique under a 230gr lrn, soft shooter and plenty accurate. I bust clays out at 80-100 yards, what more could you want.

May 3, 2014, 11:08 PM	#12
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,522	200g LSWC; 5.0g W231; OAL 1.235. 773 fps. Capable of shooting the eyebrow off a gnat at 15 yards. __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

May 4, 2014, 08:30 AM	#13
steveNChunter Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2012 Location: Southern Appalachian Mtns Posts: 1,520	3.7 gr of Clays under a 230 gr jacketed bullet. 4.2 gr of Clays under a 185 gr jacketed bullet works well too if your pistol likes the lighter bullets. Clays is my go to powder for light .45 acp loads. Super clean burning, very low recoil, and has always been very accurate in my pistols. I load it for a Ruger SR1911, Llama 1911, AMT 1911, and a Springfield XDs. The Llama and the AMT are owned by friends of mine, and they now refuse to buy factory ammo to plink with. It keeps me busy loading for them but I don't mind. __________________ DEO VINDICE

May 4, 2014, 08:41 AM	#14
Mike38 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 2,710	200 grain LSWC over 4.0 grains of Titegroup. For 230 grain ball, same powder charge.

May 4, 2014, 05:29 PM	#15
srtolly1 Member Join Date: May 19, 2012 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 47	5.7 gr unique under a 230 gr LRN or LTC. Use it for just about everything.

May 5, 2014, 12:53 AM	#16
MEATSAW Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2009 Location: Burnet, TX Posts: 727	230 gr cast RN over 4.0 gr of Competition. Clean and easy to shoot well __________________ Veteran OEF (2002) and OIF1 (2003) - US Army Member of the Burnet Gun Fighters, Inc. and of course the NRA Oregon State University alum -- Go Beavs!

May 5, 2014, 05:00 PM	#17
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 2,101	Well most loads for my 45 ACP seem like plinking loads compared to the bigger revolvers I normally shoot. I do however favor using a 200gr SWC over a light dose of Bullseye, or Unique. I mean if your just poking holes in paper why use up more lead than necessary. I have most, if not all, of the other powders mentioned, I just haven't dedicated the time to working with them. I found the other powders shot so well I just more or less forgot about them. __________________ LAter, Mike / TX

May 5, 2014, 05:02 PM	#18
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	5" makes Major, too -mixed sized case -CCI350 -230g LRN, preferrably from Penn Bullets -4.9g W231 -OAL 1.257"+/-.005" -crimp to .470" __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

May 5, 2014, 06:51 PM	#19
bledsoeG19 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2013 Posts: 135	200 gr LSWC on top of 5.0 gr of bullseye. 900 fps.

May 5, 2014, 09:20 PM	#20
SauerGrapes Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2009 Location: S.E.PA. Posts: 920	When I started shooting 45acp, I had 8lbs of American Select for shotgun. Found one recipe in the Lee manual and never looked back. 3.8gr Amer. Sel. with 200gr LSWC or 4.1gr with 185gr. Soft recoil and quite accurate. __________________ NRA member, DCF&S member, PAFOA member, USPSA member, NSCA member R.I.P.____Murphy

May 5, 2014, 09:22 PM	#21
AL45 Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2012 Posts: 754	Any leading problems with the cast lead loads?

May 6, 2014, 01:43 PM	#22
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	No great amount of leading with cast bullets. Not if they're sized correctly for the barrel and are matched in hardness to the velocity. .45acp are the least likely to lead chamber and barrel, anyway, due to the low pressures and mild velocity. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

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