"famous" .45 ACP Unique / Bullseye loads

[Sig_Dude]

I am under the understanding that there are some VERY commonly used Unique and Bullseye .45 ACP loads. For 230 and 200 grain Berry bullets, what would such loads be? I am looking for accuracy at the range. Sorry if this a vague question!

While I am at it, same question for American Select...?

Thanks so much.

[Edward429451]

Well, I used 6.5 gr of Unique for a long time with a 225 gr LRN.
5.0 gr of Bullseye is the load for 230 gr ball.

[m&p45acp10+1]

Have not used the Berry's in .45 acp. A good load I use with 200 grain LSWC (Lazer Cast, and now my own home cast) is 4.3 grains of Bull's Eye with a COL of 1.19. That load has proven acurate, and to feed in every thing I have loaded them in reliably.

[StrawDog]

The common target load I'm most familiar with is 4.0g of bullseye with 200g SWC. This has enough power to operate most 1911s with a standard spring.

[Sig_Dude]

Now if I shot a jacketed bullet I assume I need more powder?

Also, I've heard that Bullseye is soooo dirty....is this true?

[m&p45acp10+1]

For jacketed bullets you should follow loading info for jacketed bullets, as a rule of thumb. The only jacketed bullets I use are JHP for practice with my carry rounds.
As far as Bull's Eye being dirty. Well that is what cleaning kits are for. Nothing a little solovent and a few patches will not take care of.

[chris in va]

I bought a 4# jug of Bullseye, and have regretted it ever since. Dirty, fine powder just gets *everywhere*, and for some reason leaves black junk on my arms after a range trip.

I'm switching to Universal, the stuff I started with.

[Jimmy10mm]

The common target load I'm most familiar with is 4.0g of bullseye with 200g SWC. This has enough power to operate most 1911s with a standard spring.

Been 30 years since I shot NRA bullseye matches using Bullseye powder but seems to me we used 3.5 to 4.0 depending on the bullet and the pistol.

[GeauxTide]

I've used 7gr of older Unique under 200SWC lead. Shoots the black out of a 50' NRA target. Newer Unique is a little faster, so start at 6gr. A lot of people complain about dirty, but Unique is my go to for 1000fps lead loads in 41, 44, 45LC, and ACP.

[HighValleyRanch]

I shot a lot of bullseye and reloaded tons of .45 but will have to look up the loads I used somewhere.
I do remember that I used bullseye, and i am pretty sure that it was around 4.8 gr. I know that it never was above 5 grs. for soft loads.

Most of the guys in the indoor tiny 50 foot range shot with bullseye, and so usually on the competition night, it would look like black powder smoke in the club house, before they got a better ventilation system.

[StrawDog]

Yes it is. And in general lighter loads are dirtier. But it is easier to clean than it appears.

But the good news is that it meters so well. The consistent load from one drop to the the next is the best part period.

[kraigwy]

I shoot a lot of 45, I either use 3.8 grns of Bullseye or 4.5 grns of Unique and 230 grn cast bullets (except EIC matches where FMJ bullets are required)

I know, they are light loads, but function in all my 1911s. They are accurate to 50 yards, not much sight changes needed between 25 & 50 yards.

Also I never hit any steel plates that failed to fall with these loads.

Mild, easy on the gun and shooter, (kind of important if you are shooting 90 rounds 45, 90 rounds CF and 30 rounds for the EIC match.

None are so dirty that they interfere with function, (of course I clean my 1911s every now and then).

I don't carry 45s for SD, even if I did, I dont think full blown Hardball is necessary.

[noylj]

.45ACP, 200gn L-SWC, 6.0 grains of Unique (a "universally" good load
.45ACP, 200gn L-SWC, 3.6-3.7gn Bullseye (Bullseye competition wad gun matches)
.45ACP, 230gn FMJ, 6.5gn Unique (Bullseye competition load for hard ball matches)
.45ACP, 230gn FMJ, 4.6gn Bullseye (Bullseye competition load for hard ball matches)

[Kevin Rohrer]

6.0gr. Unique w/ 225gr. SWC is a medium load.