.45 acp handload problem

akshooter · May 16, 2000, 08:22 PM

I know this is a reload question (but it IS a handgun), and asked a million times probably. I'm having difficulty shooting my reloads with Bullseye: 230gr rn jacketed, with 4.3 and 4.6 gr Bullseye. The powder is so dirty and fouling that after 40-50 rounds, it starts jamming on the feed, not closing completely.
What do you know to be a good, CLEAN powder and target load for the 230gr rn jacketed?
Thanks for your input!!!

sjones · May 16, 2000, 08:53 PM

Hi,try using 4.5 grains tite group,thats what I use in my kimber. It is real accurate and it also burns real clean. sj

Steve Smith · May 16, 2000, 11:08 PM

I have no troubles with Winchester 231.

Banzai · May 16, 2000, 11:14 PM

W231 and TiteGroup are all better choices when it comes to cleanliness and economy. Although I must admit, I have a new SA 1911A1 which digests loads with Bullseye just fine. I don't have all that much buildup at all, and it always wipes clean.

Tom

------------------
A "Miss" is the ultimate overpenetration!
You can never be too rich, too skinny, or too well armed!

[This message has been edited by Banzai (edited May 17, 2000).]

Grayfox · May 16, 2000, 11:23 PM

Give AA#5 a try. Works very well in my guns.

char923 · May 16, 2000, 11:35 PM

Try VihtaVuori N340 it burns real clean with cast or jacketed for me.

deguello · May 17, 2000, 01:19 AM

i haven't reloaded any 45acp yet, but with 45lc there's a lot more dirty buildup if your loads are really light. i used unique, which is supposed to be pretty dirty, and compared to store-bought ammo my starting loads were similar and my middle-of-the-road loads burned cleaner. i don't know if the different type crimp would have the same results, you should ask in the reloading forum.

**Mal H** · May 17, 2000, 01:25 AM

4.6 gr of Bullseye is on the mild side. The casings are probably not sealing completely in the chamber.

As for a different powder, I'm with Grayfox. AA #5 is very clean and there is no better metering powder around.

[This message has been edited by Mal H (edited May 17, 2000).]

Mike Davies · May 17, 2000, 01:45 AM

I found that WW231 meters beautifully, and gives excellent results with the .45ACP cartridge, and leaves very little residue.
AA#5 gives excellent results as well, although I found it 'sooty' in my .45Colt Blackhawk.

45King · May 17, 2000, 05:15 AM

I've tried Unique, WW SuperLite, WW 231, and VV N350 in .45ACP, and I like the 231 and N350 best. I've heard from some old-timers (one in particular whose knowledge of reloading is vast) that the Titegroup gives excellent results, also.

------------------
Shoot straight & make big holes, regards, Richard at The Shottist's Center

goat · May 17, 2000, 08:24 AM

I have the same problem with Bullseye.I still continue to use it though.I had swithced to Hogdon HS7 because it burns very clean but it requires such a large charge.Twice as much as Bullseye.The "dirtiness" of Bullseye does not bother me.I love to clean guns.Hogdon does seem to work better in auto powder measures though.

Casey · May 17, 2000, 08:44 AM

W231 is an excellent powder for use in .45ACP. I am currently using Clays. Both are really good, but I seem to be able to get more accurate target loads with Clays.

Casey

Patrick Graham · May 17, 2000, 12:17 PM

If a 1911 is jamming after 50 rnds of Unique there is something else wrong. Being able to function in a dirty enviroment is one of the positive attributes of the 1911.

Try 7 grains of Power Pistol with a 230 gr FMJ.

M1911 · May 17, 2000, 12:46 PM

You might try replacing your recoil spring with a fresh one. Bullseye does seem to be dirty. Win 231 seems to be a bit better for me. But it was a fresh recoil spring that fixed my failure to feed problems, not changing my powder.

Jared

Coinneach · May 17, 2000, 02:16 PM

Odd, I use Bullseye in .44 Special, 9mm, and .45ACP and have never had problems with it being dirty. But then, I load pretty hot. I'll second Mal's opinion.

akshooter · May 17, 2000, 08:50 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies. Side notes and questions: It's not with a 1911...it's with a new gun that doesn't warranty using reloads. Coinneach and MalH, how much Bullseye do you recommend/use? My Midway guide says start around 4.3/6, then work to a max of 5.6/8. Could the tolerances of the gun (wish I could say which one) be so tight to cause jamming with this fouling? Thanks again!!

[This message has been edited by akshooter (edited May 17, 2000).]

El Rojo · May 17, 2000, 08:56 PM

Goat! You love to clean guns eh? You wouldn't happen to be single/female/23 years old/ Christian/know how to cook and clean/like to clean game and firearms/and an expert shooter would you? If so please send me an e-mail!

SKR · May 17, 2000, 11:33 PM

http://www.again.net/~steve/page8.htm and go to Table #1 then travel on over to Table #3

**Mal H** · May 17, 2000, 11:49 PM

akshooter - I can't give any advice on using Bullseye. I bought a can many years ago and still have half of it left. I don't use it for any loads. It's dirty, doesn't meter well and is too fast for most of my applications. Other than that, it's a fine powder. I know lots of folks use it and like it. I just think its day has come and gone with all the modern powders available today.

But since you say you have the Midway guide (LoadMap?), just use the data from it and go a little further up the chart, checking for overpressure signs. The LoadMap is a very good and complete publication.

goat · May 18, 2000, 08:56 AM

El Rojo,I do have long hair,but I have a goatee that would probably turn you off.And if it cant be cooked in a microwave I dont eat.Sorry!

Nekron · May 18, 2000, 12:54 PM

Another vote for Winchester 231. Meters well and burns clean.

John

Coinneach · May 19, 2000, 10:52 AM

AKShooter, I use 5.2 grains behind 230gr FMJ. My li'l Springfield V10 loves this load, but as always, YMMV.

WalterGAII · May 19, 2000, 11:37 AM

So what guns do offer free warranty repairs for reload screwups????

May 16, 2000, 08:22 PM	#1
akshooter Junior Member Join Date: January 23, 2000 Posts: 11	I know this is a reload question (but it IS a handgun), and asked a million times probably. I'm having difficulty shooting my reloads with Bullseye: 230gr rn jacketed, with 4.3 and 4.6 gr Bullseye. The powder is so dirty and fouling that after 40-50 rounds, it starts jamming on the feed, not closing completely. What do you know to be a good, CLEAN powder and target load for the 230gr rn jacketed? Thanks for your input!!!

May 16, 2000, 08:53 PM	#2
sjones Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 1999 Location: waxahachie,Texas Posts: 337	Hi,try using 4.5 grains tite group,thats what I use in my kimber. It is real accurate and it also burns real clean. sj

May 16, 2000, 11:08 PM	#3
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	I have no troubles with Winchester 231.

May 16, 2000, 11:14 PM	#4
Banzai Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Posts: 275	W231 and TiteGroup are all better choices when it comes to cleanliness and economy. Although I must admit, I have a new SA 1911A1 which digests loads with Bullseye just fine. I don't have all that much buildup at all, and it always wipes clean. Tom ------------------ A "Miss" is the ultimate overpenetration! You can never be too rich, too skinny, or too well armed! [This message has been edited by Banzai (edited May 17, 2000).]

May 16, 2000, 11:23 PM	#5
Grayfox Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 1998 Posts: 1,885	Give AA#5 a try. Works very well in my guns.

May 16, 2000, 11:35 PM	#6
char923 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2000 Location: Anchorage AK Posts: 237	Try VihtaVuori N340 it burns real clean with cast or jacketed for me.

May 17, 2000, 01:19 AM	#7
deguello Member Join Date: September 12, 1999 Location: tx, usa Posts: 43	i haven't reloaded any 45acp yet, but with 45lc there's a lot more dirty buildup if your loads are really light. i used unique, which is supposed to be pretty dirty, and compared to store-bought ammo my starting loads were similar and my middle-of-the-road loads burned cleaner. i don't know if the different type crimp would have the same results, you should ask in the reloading forum.

May 17, 2000, 01:25 AM	#8
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	4.6 gr of Bullseye is on the mild side. The casings are probably not sealing completely in the chamber. As for a different powder, I'm with Grayfox. AA #5 is very clean and there is no better metering powder around. [This message has been edited by Mal H (edited May 17, 2000).]

May 17, 2000, 01:45 AM	#9
Mike Davies Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 376	I found that WW231 meters beautifully, and gives excellent results with the .45ACP cartridge, and leaves very little residue. AA#5 gives excellent results as well, although I found it 'sooty' in my .45Colt Blackhawk.

May 17, 2000, 05:15 AM	#10
45King Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 1999 Location: Columbia, SC Posts: 1,033	I've tried Unique, WW SuperLite, WW 231, and VV N350 in .45ACP, and I like the 231 and N350 best. I've heard from some old-timers (one in particular whose knowledge of reloading is vast) that the Titegroup gives excellent results, also. ------------------ Shoot straight & make big holes, regards, Richard at The Shottist's Center

May 17, 2000, 08:24 AM	#11
goat Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2000 Posts: 161	I have the same problem with Bullseye.I still continue to use it though.I had swithced to Hogdon HS7 because it burns very clean but it requires such a large charge.Twice as much as Bullseye.The "dirtiness" of Bullseye does not bother me.I love to clean guns.Hogdon does seem to work better in auto powder measures though.

May 17, 2000, 08:44 AM	#12
Casey Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2000 Location: Delaware, OH, USA Posts: 279	W231 is an excellent powder for use in .45ACP. I am currently using Clays. Both are really good, but I seem to be able to get more accurate target loads with Clays. Casey

May 17, 2000, 12:17 PM	#13
Patrick Graham Junior member Join Date: January 18, 1999 Location: Kokomo, Indiana USA Posts: 674	If a 1911 is jamming after 50 rnds of Unique there is something else wrong. Being able to function in a dirty enviroment is one of the positive attributes of the 1911. Try 7 grains of Power Pistol with a 230 gr FMJ.

May 17, 2000, 12:46 PM	#14
M1911 Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2000 Posts: 4,055	You might try replacing your recoil spring with a fresh one. Bullseye does seem to be dirty. Win 231 seems to be a bit better for me. But it was a fresh recoil spring that fixed my failure to feed problems, not changing my powder. Jared

May 17, 2000, 02:16 PM	#15
Coinneach Staff Alumnus Join Date: February 23, 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,272	Odd, I use Bullseye in .44 Special, 9mm, and .45ACP and have never had problems with it being dirty. But then, I load pretty hot. I'll second Mal's opinion.

May 17, 2000, 08:50 PM	#16
akshooter Junior Member Join Date: January 23, 2000 Posts: 11	Thanks everyone for your replies. Side notes and questions: It's not with a 1911...it's with a new gun that doesn't warranty using reloads. Coinneach and MalH, how much Bullseye do you recommend/use? My Midway guide says start around 4.3/6, then work to a max of 5.6/8. Could the tolerances of the gun (wish I could say which one) be so tight to cause jamming with this fouling? Thanks again!! [This message has been edited by akshooter (edited May 17, 2000).]

May 17, 2000, 08:56 PM	#17
El Rojo Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2000 Location: People's Republik of Kalifornia Posts: 2,057	Goat! You love to clean guns eh? You wouldn't happen to be single/female/23 years old/ Christian/know how to cook and clean/like to clean game and firearms/and an expert shooter would you? If so please send me an e-mail!

May 17, 2000, 11:33 PM	#18
SKR Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 68	http://www.again.net/~steve/page8.htm and go to Table #1 then travel on over to Table #3

May 17, 2000, 11:49 PM	#19
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,955	akshooter - I can't give any advice on using Bullseye. I bought a can many years ago and still have half of it left. I don't use it for any loads. It's dirty, doesn't meter well and is too fast for most of my applications. Other than that, it's a fine powder. I know lots of folks use it and like it. I just think its day has come and gone with all the modern powders available today. But since you say you have the Midway guide (LoadMap?), just use the data from it and go a little further up the chart, checking for overpressure signs. The LoadMap is a very good and complete publication.

May 18, 2000, 08:56 AM	#20
goat Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2000 Posts: 161	El Rojo,I do have long hair,but I have a goatee that would probably turn you off.And if it cant be cooked in a microwave I dont eat.Sorry!

May 18, 2000, 12:54 PM	#21
Nekron Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 1999 Location: Kansas Posts: 139	Another vote for Winchester 231. Meters well and burns clean. John

May 19, 2000, 10:52 AM	#22
Coinneach Staff Alumnus Join Date: February 23, 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,272	AKShooter, I use 5.2 grains behind 230gr FMJ. My li'l Springfield V10 loves this load, but as always, YMMV.

May 19, 2000, 11:37 AM	#23
WalterGAII Junior member Join Date: November 7, 1999 Posts: 1,516	So what guns do offer free warranty repairs for reload screwups????