Very bestest .45ACP target loads

Brutus · November 26, 2015, 11:31 AM

Just curious as to what other folks deem to be their most accurate and favorite reload is for the .45ACP.
Used to love shooting 200gr. lead SWC's with Bullseye but I shoot at an indoor range so I've switched to 200gr. plated flat points to reduce lead fumes, even though I still shoot lead out of my revolvers.

My favorite to date has been 200gr. Rainier flat points on top of 6.0gr. of HP-38 or WW231. Gets me 845fps with a spread of 49fps.

**Unclenick** · November 26, 2015, 11:47 AM

200 grain Hornady JSWC over 4.2 grains of Bullseye. Federal brass and Federal 150 primer.

Brutus · November 26, 2015, 12:30 PM

Nice shooting, haven't quit using Bullseye just been unable to find some for the last several years.

Snobal · November 26, 2015, 12:50 PM

Midway had Bullseye powder in stock this morning.

cw308 · November 26, 2015, 01:39 PM

Everybody seems to be on the same page with bullseye, haven't reloaded for 45's for awhile, but I remember it was on the dirty side. I think winchester 231 was the powder that worked for me.

**Unclenick** · November 26, 2015, 03:50 PM

Bullseye's got enough graphite on it that it blows around a bit. But it works and has a lengthy history. A lot of folks like OBP231 (sold as Winchester 231 and Hodgdon HP38; same stuff; same load data at Hodgdon's site). It meters more consistently than Bullseye, but it's still not really clean. For cleaner go to Hodgdon Universal.

Hunter Customs · November 26, 2015, 04:57 PM

I shot 200 gr SWC with 5.7 grs of Winchester 231 for years with excellent results.

Brutus · November 26, 2015, 06:43 PM

Don't know why but Alliant powders, with the exception of some rifle offerings, just aren't making it to the local store shelves in my area. Haven't seen bullseye, unique or 2400 in several years. Fortunatly Hodgden powders have made something of a come back as well as some from Accurate. Not going to pay a hazemat fee if I don't have to. Love Universal clays but it's my goto powder for .357, .44mag. and .45 Colt target rounds where I do shoot lead SWC's. It has for all intents and purposes replaced Unique in those applications and I don't think I'll be going back to it unless Universal dries up and Unique becomes abundent.

Hammerhead · November 26, 2015, 11:53 PM

Currently my target load is 4.2 grains of Bullseye under a Blue Bullets coated 200 grain SWC. Works great in my HK. No smoke, no smell, no leading.

My old standard was the Hornady 200 grain jacketed SWC. They haven't been available for almost 3 years now. I still have ~1000 stashed.

ETA, I've also had great luck with Clays and VV N310.

RWNielsen · November 27, 2015, 12:46 AM

Missouri 200g RNFP over 5.3g HP38 @ 1.205 Col... IIRC. Very accurate in every 1911 I've used it in.

mmb713 · November 27, 2015, 12:57 AM

I used to use Xtreme 200gr flat points which gave excellent accuracy. My pistols feed the 200gr round noses better and accuracy is comparable so I switched to those. I've had good results with Universal, Clays, 700X and N320.

std7mag · November 28, 2015, 09:11 AM

Mine has been Hornady 200gr. LSWC 12108, and the C/T LSWC 12208.
Both of those over 5.6gr. of Unique.
Mixed brass.
Winchester WLP for the large primer pocket, and Federal 100 for the small pockets.

zanemoseley · November 28, 2015, 07:01 PM

Most of the bullseye shooters I shoot with use 185 grain SWC bullets, use the shorter button nose with larger bearing surface of you pistol will feed them well. I started with bullseye powder but switched to WST powder at the recommendation of a bullseye vet, it's a bit less snappy. I have issues with recoil anticipation but the 185 grain bullets and WST have been helping me a bit.

zanemoseley · November 28, 2015, 07:02 PM

I will say though that we shoot at 25 yards only, if you go out to 50 yards you'll want to step back up to 200 grain bullets.

ka9fax · November 28, 2015, 08:08 PM

200g Berry's flat point over Silhouette. R&P brass with S&B primers. Close range indoors I could not tell a difference between the Sellier & Bellot and a name brand primer. There on sale most of the time at the BBS close to my house for 20.00 per 1000. Any good, bad input on S&B?

Kosh75287 · November 28, 2015, 08:42 PM

4.0/Red Dot/200 gr. SWC for PPC-type stuff & falling-plate matches.
4.0/Red Dot/225gr. TC or 230gr. LRN for falling plate match with obstinate plates.
4.6/Red Dot/225gr. TC or 230gr. LRN for IDPA, practice, general purpose.

November 26, 2015, 11:31 AM	#1
Brutus Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 1,023	Very bestest .45ACP target loads Just curious as to what other folks deem to be their most accurate and favorite reload is for the .45ACP. Used to love shooting 200gr. lead SWC's with Bullseye but I shoot at an indoor range so I've switched to 200gr. plated flat points to reduce lead fumes, even though I still shoot lead out of my revolvers. My favorite to date has been 200gr. Rainier flat points on top of 6.0gr. of HP-38 or WW231. Gets me 845fps with a spread of 49fps. __________________ Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, Winston Churchill.

November 26, 2015, 11:47 AM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,088	200 grain Hornady JSWC over 4.2 grains of Bullseye. Federal brass and Federal 150 primer. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 26, 2015, 12:30 PM	#3
Brutus Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 1,023	Nice shooting, haven't quit using Bullseye just been unable to find some for the last several years. __________________ Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, Winston Churchill.

November 26, 2015, 03:50 PM	#6
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,088	Bullseye's got enough graphite on it that it blows around a bit. But it works and has a lengthy history. A lot of folks like OBP231 (sold as Winchester 231 and Hodgdon HP38; same stuff; same load data at Hodgdon's site). It meters more consistently than Bullseye, but it's still not really clean. For cleaner go to Hodgdon Universal. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 26, 2015, 06:43 PM	#8
Brutus Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 1,023	Don't know why but Alliant powders, with the exception of some rifle offerings, just aren't making it to the local store shelves in my area. Haven't seen bullseye, unique or 2400 in several years. Fortunatly Hodgden powders have made something of a come back as well as some from Accurate. Not going to pay a hazemat fee if I don't have to. Love Universal clays but it's my goto powder for .357, .44mag. and .45 Colt target rounds where I do shoot lead SWC's. It has for all intents and purposes replaced Unique in those applications and I don't think I'll be going back to it unless Universal dries up and Unique becomes abundent. __________________ Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, Winston Churchill.

November 26, 2015, 12:50 PM	#4
Snobal Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2009 Location: Arizona Wilderness Posts: 121	Midway had Bullseye powder in stock this morning.

November 26, 2015, 01:39 PM	#5
cw308 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2010 Location: Plainview , Long Island NY Posts: 3,863	Everybody seems to be on the same page with bullseye, haven't reloaded for 45's for awhile, but I remember it was on the dirty side. I think winchester 231 was the powder that worked for me.

November 26, 2015, 04:57 PM	#7
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	I shot 200 gr SWC with 5.7 grs of Winchester 231 for years with excellent results.

November 26, 2015, 11:53 PM	#9
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Currently my target load is 4.2 grains of Bullseye under a Blue Bullets coated 200 grain SWC. Works great in my HK. No smoke, no smell, no leading. My old standard was the Hornady 200 grain jacketed SWC. They haven't been available for almost 3 years now. I still have ~1000 stashed. ETA, I've also had great luck with Clays and VV N310. Last edited by Hammerhead; November 27, 2015 at 02:30 AM.

November 27, 2015, 12:46 AM	#10
RWNielsen Senior Member Join Date: March 23, 2009 Posts: 116	Missouri 200g RNFP over 5.3g HP38 @ 1.205 Col... IIRC. Very accurate in every 1911 I've used it in. __________________ NRA Lifer

November 27, 2015, 12:57 AM	#11
mmb713 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 421	I used to use Xtreme 200gr flat points which gave excellent accuracy. My pistols feed the 200gr round noses better and accuracy is comparable so I switched to those. I've had good results with Universal, Clays, 700X and N320.

November 28, 2015, 09:11 AM	#12
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Mine has been Hornady 200gr. LSWC 12108, and the C/T LSWC 12208. Both of those over 5.6gr. of Unique. Mixed brass. Winchester WLP for the large primer pocket, and Federal 100 for the small pockets.

November 28, 2015, 07:01 PM	#13
zanemoseley Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2014 Posts: 163	Most of the bullseye shooters I shoot with use 185 grain SWC bullets, use the shorter button nose with larger bearing surface of you pistol will feed them well. I started with bullseye powder but switched to WST powder at the recommendation of a bullseye vet, it's a bit less snappy. I have issues with recoil anticipation but the 185 grain bullets and WST have been helping me a bit.

November 28, 2015, 07:02 PM	#14
zanemoseley Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2014 Posts: 163	I will say though that we shoot at 25 yards only, if you go out to 50 yards you'll want to step back up to 200 grain bullets.

November 28, 2015, 08:08 PM	#15
ka9fax Member Join Date: August 19, 2015 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 79	200g Berry's flat point over Silhouette. R&P brass with S&B primers. Close range indoors I could not tell a difference between the Sellier & Bellot and a name brand primer. There on sale most of the time at the BBS close to my house for 20.00 per 1000. Any good, bad input on S&B?

November 28, 2015, 08:42 PM	#16
Kosh75287 Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2007 Posts: 820	4.0/Red Dot/200 gr. SWC for PPC-type stuff & falling-plate matches. 4.0/Red Dot/225gr. TC or 230gr. LRN for falling plate match with obstinate plates. 4.6/Red Dot/225gr. TC or 230gr. LRN for IDPA, practice, general purpose. __________________ GOD BLESS JEFF COOPER, whose instructions, consultations, and publications have probably saved more lives than can ever be reliably calculated. DVC, sir. انجلو. المسلحة. جاهزة. Carpe SCOTCH!