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Old May 28, 2011, 12:01 AM   #1
Smaug
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Good and cheap 45 ACP load

Bullets: 200 gr. plated flat point from berrysmfg.com:
http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14..._200gr_FP.aspx

Powder: Hodgdon HP38, 5.8 gr.

Primers: I used Winchester WLP, but whatever large pistol primer you have on hand will probably do well.

This load feels not quite as strong as factory 230 gr. ball ammo, but it is probably due to the lighter bullets. There's a bit more flash than with 230 gr. ball ammo too, probably since it is a lighter bullet, sometimes the powder is still burning a bit when the bullet exits the barrel.

I've seen it printed that plated bullets should be treated as cast lead, but I've found this not to be the case unless they are the same diameter as cast lead. They tend to be 0.451" and not 0.452", so I treat them as jacketed, as far as load data is concerned.
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Old May 28, 2011, 06:59 PM   #2
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Update:

I shot 100 rounds of this today. The power level is perfect. But the flat point bullets occasionally prevent good chambering from a GI 1911.

If your 45 is less finnicky, (i.e. anything modern, with the feed ramp integral to the barrel) I'm sure it won't be an issue.

I'll try hollow points next, with a nice rounded profile, and probably settle on 230 gr. round nose for range ammo in this gun from now on. At least until I figure out whether it is in my realm of gunsmithing to make it feed the flat points well. I really like the neat holes flat points cut in the paper.
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Old May 29, 2011, 06:48 AM   #3
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I use these bullets for low-cost plinking ammo. I figure they're costing me 13 cents apiece at today's inflated lead prices.

I use Berry's too, and if you make an order large enough for free shipping, that drops the per-bullet cost down to a very manageable price.

For the lowest cost ammo, I cast my own bullets. Lead is still fairly easy to scrounge and because it's a hobby, we don't consider the time or effort as part of the bargain. (I'm trained in cost accounting and understand that nothing is free, but what the heck). When you cast your own, after you amortize the cost of the mold and melter, you can get the price of ammo down to the cost of primers and powder. I figure my .45 ACP ammo costs me 1 cent for the powder and 2.5 cents for the primer.

Ain't reloading grand?
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Old May 29, 2011, 08:50 AM   #4
hammered54
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using berrys 230 g.( 250cnt box) and HS6 (1lb.) with Fed. primers ....about 28 cents a round.not a bad day.
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Old May 29, 2011, 09:19 AM   #5
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I cast my own bullets. Moulds have long since been paid for. Wheel weights and range scrap has no cost. So, free bullets. I make my own lube, minimal cost.

My brass had no cost, and even it did, it gets used so many times the cost would be minimal.

Primers are still from when they were $75/case (0.015/each).

Powder is surplus SMP231, might be a penny per round.

So, I am still under $3 per hundred.

I guess my time is worth something, but since it's a hobby, well, $0/hr.

As components are replenished, the cost is going to significantly increase, especially primers. Not looking forward to that.
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Old May 31, 2011, 07:20 PM   #6
Champion5
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My go to cheap load is...
MBC Softball $43/500
Any primer ~$16/500
Unique 5.2g ~$11/500

About $7 for 50 rounds isn't bad in my book. Although that's not counting the free brass I pick up at my range.
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Old May 31, 2011, 08:20 PM   #7
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My favorite load is a 200gr bullet, either a SWC Lead or Raineer FP with 4.5 grs of Clays.

Over 1500rds per pound of powder. Clean to shoot and low flash at night.
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Old May 31, 2011, 08:30 PM   #8
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4 gr of Red dot or 4.5 of 700x under a 230 gr Berry's RN plated bullet, WLP primer workds for punching paper. 6.5 gr of vN-340 under a 230gr XTP for pins.
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Old May 31, 2011, 08:30 PM   #9
buck460XVR
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Quote:
Bullets: 200 gr. plated flat point from berrysmfg.com:
http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i14..._200gr_FP.aspx

Powder: Hodgdon HP38, 5.8 gr.

Primers: I used Winchester WLP, but whatever large pistol primer you have on hand will probably do well.

I use the same load, but prefer the 200gr RSFPs from Berry. Never had a problem with them feeding in my 5'' Government.
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Old May 31, 2011, 11:31 PM   #10
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I have been casting my own as well as using Unique @ just under 6.0 grains, and a WLP. I have not figured out how much each round costs but I am pretty cheap.
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Old June 1, 2011, 04:37 AM   #11
warningshot
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Instant millionaire for anyone whom can get plated bullets to shoot & perform as well as real FMJs for the same price. For those that come close can go play Horseshoes.
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Old June 1, 2011, 07:20 AM   #12
mikejonestkd
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My favorite plinking load is a 200 gr swc www.mastercast.net bullet on top of 5.2 gr of win 231.

I get 1000 bullets for $77, 1000 powder charges for $15, and 1000 primers for $26. Comes out to about 12 cents a shot.
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Old June 1, 2011, 04:14 PM   #13
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Quote:
Instant millionaire for anyone whom can get plated bullets to shoot & perform as well as real FMJs for the same price.
At 800-850 f/sec, you can't tell the difference in my gun.

Push them faster and accracy goes to hell, and cleaning gets harder.
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Old June 1, 2011, 04:42 PM   #14
BDS-THR
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These are two of my favorite target loads. Very accurate and "economical" too:

Bullet: 200 gr SWC - 18 BHN IDP #1 Missouri Bullet / Powder Valley ($35.89/500)
Primer: Large Pistol primer of choice
Powder: 5.0 gr of W231/HP-38 (HP-38 is the same powder but cheaper than W231 - $110.50/8 lbs from Powder Valley)


Bullet: 200 gr SWC - 12 BHN Bullseye #1 Missouri Bullet / Powder Valley ($35.89/500)
Primer: Large Pistol primer of choice
Powder: 4.0 gr of Promo (I use Red Dot load data by weight per Alliant) - $84.75/8 lbs from Powder Valley

I buy in bulk and usually stock up when I see a good sale/deal/price. I also do group buys with other reloaders to save on HazMat/Shipping costs.

Using reloading calculator, I usually can load them for around $5/50.
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Old June 1, 2011, 06:32 PM   #15
Edward429451
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I'm using
Lymans 225 LRN .452
Fed 150 LP
5.5 WW-231
any brass
1.260

I'm still loading this load for <$3. per 100. A good GP load.
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Old June 2, 2011, 04:17 AM   #16
warningshot
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I thought the..

Rule for tool use was to, 'Use the correct tool for the job'.

I would still like to see the accuracy results of Anybodys Plated Bullets compared to Anybodys FMJs or any good cast bullets.

See you on the 50 yard line or on the Bianchi plate rack @ 25 yards, then we can talk bullet value and reloading skills.
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Old June 2, 2011, 12:28 PM   #17
AlaskaMike
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Warningshot, Smaug started this thread with the goal of a "Good and cheap .45 ACP load". Plated bullets are plenty fine for this type of load. They may be completely inadequate for the type of competition shooting you're engaged in, but then that's not relevant to what he's looking for, is it?
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Old June 2, 2011, 02:15 PM   #18
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Where are you all getting your primers for so cheap? I am getting a 1000 for 35 after tax. And I see some posting their cost is a penny. Mine is about 3.5

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
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Old June 2, 2011, 02:37 PM   #19
BDS-THR
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I stocked up on Winchester primers when they were selling for $20/1000 at gun shows earlier this year - Winchester is my preferred primer of choice for match/SD/HD loads. Tula/Wolf primers were selling for $16/1000, so I stocked up on those as well but use them for practice/plinking loads.


Powder Valley
has Winchester primers for $25/1K, CCI primers for $25.50/1K and Tula primers for $20/1K.

Graf & Sons has CCI primers for $115/5K ($23/1K), Winchester primers for $120/5K ($24/1K) and Tula primers for $95/5K ($19/1K).

Last edited by BDS-THR; June 2, 2011 at 02:47 PM.
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Old June 2, 2011, 04:00 PM   #20
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Still working on some primers I got years ago for < $75 case, some way less. That was the reason for my comment above about replacement cost for what I am using now. Not looking forward to it.

The main point was, however, that if you cast your own with metal you can get at no or very little cost, you are FAR ahead of the game for cost per round. If you have to pay for casting metal and buy moulds and a pot, it may be worth just buying the bullets, cast, plated, or jacketed.
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Old June 2, 2011, 04:43 PM   #21
Smaug
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warningshot: I don't recall any difference in accuracy between plated and FMJ. For me, hard cast bullets have been the most accurate, but so dirty that I don't mind a marginal loss of accuracy by going to plated.

FMJs are too expensive. However, I do have some jacketed Hornady hollow points and some plated Berry's for 44 Magnum. I'll cook up some loads and post up when I have results.
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Old June 2, 2011, 05:43 PM   #22
Clifford L. Hughes
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Smaug:

When I shot on several Marine Corps' pistol teams I shot a 215 grain lead semi-wad cutter and 3.5 frains of Bulls Eye Powder. Very accurate and mild recoil.

Semper Fi.

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Old June 2, 2011, 07:46 PM   #23
m&p45acp10+1
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Good load, acurate, and cheap.
Bullets are Lee 200 grain LSWC tumble lubed.
Brass is what ever I picked up that was not AMerc or steel/aluminum cases
Primers whichever I could get. (Used a lot of Wolf all worked just fine)
Powder Bull's Eye (about 4.4 grains.

Cost less than 5 cents total per round. Yeah it is is dirty. I load 1,000 rounds for under $55 so cleaning is not a real big deal for me. Takes a few minutes more at the max.
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Old June 3, 2011, 02:41 AM   #24
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Excuse me, Smaug

I mistakenly thought that the word, 'Good', in your term, 'Good and Cheap', meant that you were expecting an actual 0.452 diameter bullet that didn't adversely affect your accuracy, feeding and crimping concerns. Silly me. What was I thinking? Please accept my apology. Thank you and good shooting.
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Old June 3, 2011, 03:00 AM   #25
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4.6ยข each cast free wheel weights, wolf LP primers, free range brass, 5.5 grains of unique.

cheap!
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