45ACP 230gn JHP 231 powder

[Afterburner]

I'm getting back into reloading after a long hiatus and I found a box of Winchester 230gn JHP that I had ordered many years ago. I never used that style bullet when I was reloading 45 so I went through the three manuals I have and I can't seem to get a good concensus on a starting load. They seem to be all over the place. I've been looking online and haven't found much. I'm using 231 and even on Winchesters site, they don't have any data using that bullet which was made by them. I'm just looking for a target load that will be used in a Kimber with a three inch barrel. Also would like data on OAL as well if anyone has any experience using these components. Thanks.

[rc]

I think if you cut a 230 grain FMJ load by about .5 grains you should be OK to start. You can always back down from there, but I really don't think there is anything to worry about. Try those and if you have access to a chronograph check velocity and work up to about 850fps. Should shoot about like factory as 231 is a good choice in 45. rc

[Afterburner]

Thanks RC. I loaded about twenty rounds with 5.0 grains of 231. Also picked up a box of Winchester 230gn JHP at Walmart. Went to the range yesterday and my loads were a tad lighter than the factory but the gun cycled them fine.

[rc]

Perceived recoil is at best a marginal indicator of velocity. Often powders that produce a lot of flash and blast don't produce higher velocities. Find somebody to let you shoot a few rounds of factory and handloads over their chronograph so you have some ballpark numbers to work with. 5 rounds of each should give you a good idea of average, standard deviation and extreme spread. . rc

[Slamfire]

I would not worry about your 230 FMJ being "Winchester", "GI", or whatever. A 45 ACP is not a high pressure load, as long as you are not loading max, the bullet brand is not that critical.

Below is data with 230 L and 230 FMJ with W231. My standard load with a GI 230 is 5.5 grains W231. It is just under 800 fps, depending on the day and the pistol. My Colt, it is right at 800 fps.

If you look at my data, you can cut the W231 load by a lot, and still have decent function.

My reduced loads are with lead, the FMJ I drive to 800 fps to shoot the leading out.

Kimber Custom Classic

230 LRN  4.6 grs W231 Mixed Brass WLP
4-Sep-05 T = 92 °F	
OAL 1.250" taper crimp .469"		
Ave Vel =	732.5					
Std Dev =	10.72				
ES	40.15	
High	752.1					
Low	712					
N =	32				 	
						
230 LRN  4.8  grs W231 Mixed brass WLP 
10-Jul-05 T = 84 °F	
OAL 1.250" taper crimp .469"	
Ave Vel =  767.3			
Std Dev =  14.03			
ES=  52.69			
High =  793.4			
Low =  740.7			
N=  32
							
						
230 LFN 5.5 grs W231 Mixed brass CCI300 primers
OAL 1.250" taper crimp .469			
30-Dec-04 T = 60 °F						
Ave Vel =	797.8					
Std Dev =	32.2					
ES	154.2					
High	858.2					
Low	703.9					
N =	32					
						
						
230 FMJ RN  5.0  grs 231 R-P cases WLP 				
10-Jul-05 T = 84 °F						
Ave Vel =	755.7					
Std Dev =	17.23					
ES	64.39				 	
High	784.8				 	
Low	720.4				 	
N =	22				 	
						
						
230 FMJ (GI)  5.5 grs W231 Mixed Brass WLP			
OAL 1.265" taper crimp .469					
4-Sep-05 T = 92 °F						
						
Ave Vel =	782.5					
Std Dev =	22.64					
ES	87.93					
High	822.9					
Low	735					
N =	28

[Afterburner]

Thanks for the info.

Just for the heck of it, I pulled one of the Winchester 230gn JHP's that I bought at Walmart and weighed the powder. It was 6.7 gns. I thought I read somewhere recently that Winchester is one of the few manufacturers that uses the same 231 that we can buy. I guess that migh not be the case.

Anyway, I just wanted a load for the JHP's that I had that would be reliable for practice and will start using 230gn FMJ in the future for the range. For carry I prefer manufactured ammo.

[Walkalong]

My standard load with a GI 230 is 5.5 grains W231

Excellent load too.

I pulled one of the Winchester 230gn JHP's that I bought at Walmart and weighed the powder. It was 6.7 gns. I thought I read somewhere recently that Winchester is one of the few manufacturers that uses the same 231 that we can buy. I guess that migh not be the case.

They rarely use powders we use, and you can't go by what weight they used. 6.7 Grs of W-231 would be very stout, trust me. (Over any W-231 data I have seen, way over some)