Reduced 45apc loads and ?

tonyz · February 6, 2002, 10:26 AM

I am looking for some low pressure 45apc loads that are reliable and accurate, the lighter the better. I need a low recoil load. As far as powders go, I have most of the preferred handgun powders, as for bullets I use west coast plated bullets 200Gr SWC's.
Also what LB recoil spring would you recommened.
I use a Kimber Custom Eclipes as my lanch platform.

I recently purcased a 12LB recoil spring from wolff's.

Thanks Folks

Tony

Norm Lee · February 6, 2002, 05:35 PM

Hey Tony:

My favorite light load uses 3.9 gr of V V N310 under a 200 gr bullet. I use any of a variety of SWC. Best one has been the precision "black" bullet, but haven't seen any bad ones. You need the reduced recoil spring. 12# worked for me. 10# was OK too. 4.0 gr will usually operate a stock spring. But the action is sluggish. 4.1 will do so reliably. If you have N320, you can try 4.8 gr and probably work down from there.

I believe there are some good loads available based on bullseye, w231, and AA#2 but I have never tried BE and have only limited experience with the other 2.

Cheers,

Norm

Northwest Cajun · February 7, 2002, 05:24 AM

My "gamer "load for my .45 is 3.5-3.7 gr Bullseye and 200 gr Berry's plated bullets. If you stand by my side you can actually watch them go down range. It's just enough to cycle the slide. Really accurate too! I havent chrono'd them yet but they should be in the 600-700 fps range

Khornet · February 7, 2002, 06:58 AM

My Gold Cup with light Wulff springs from Brownells, I think 10 or 12 lb, shoots just fine with as little as 3.3 grs Bullseye and 185, 152, or 200 gr lead bullets. This is the approach Col. Askins recommended in his fine 'The Art of Handgun Shooting'. But you need the light springs, and before you shoot anything more like normal power you need to go back to the heavier spring or you'll beat up your frame.

VTR996 · February 7, 2002, 09:39 AM

I stumbled on CLAYS and I really like it. I use 3.0gr with a 200gr lead swc, quite accurate, clean, and just cycles the action on my stock Charles Daly, don't know what # the spring is.

tonyz · February 7, 2002, 09:56 AM

My 4 favorite 45ACP powders are Vihtavuori powder N340-Bullseye-Universal Clays, and Bullseye. I am using a 12LB Wolff's spring, and do know to put the original 16LB spring back in before shooting regular loads.

Thanks for the Loads keep um comming.

Tony

grunewaj · February 7, 2002, 12:17 PM

Hey 'Cajun!

Nice to hear from somebody down there. I used to live in New Orleans. I tell you, it really spoiled me for food!

Anyway, I'm surprised you were able to load so lightly with Berry's 200 gr. It seemed like I needed a bit more (4.0 gr. seemed to work well with their 185 gr. SWC). I'll try some lighter loads again.

BTW, I may have had a bad batch, but a bunch of my 185s were smaller than spec. They replaced them with their double stuck 185s and that made a dramatic difference. I'd advise you to use their double struck bullets if available. They told me they are working to have double strike dies for all their bullets before the end of the year. Also, I should mention they are super to work with. I feel they went the extra mile to make me a happy camper.

Jim

MADISON · February 7, 2002, 03:42 PM

I never had a 12 pound recoil spring but, people with a Gold Cup told me that 3 or 4 grains of BULLSEYE was very accurate. Weather it will work your action is another question.

grunewaj · February 7, 2002, 04:50 PM

Three grains is lighter than I've heard of. About the lightest I know of is 3.5 gr. for a 185 gr. lead SWC and 4.0 for a 200 gr. lead SWC. They will definitely work your action. I think you would need in the neighborhood of 10 - 12 # recoil spring.

tonyz · February 13, 2002, 10:54 AM

Thanks guys with your suggested loads and some experimenting on my own I now have several great low recoil loads.

Tony

Doug 29 · February 14, 2002, 07:41 PM

The load most used by bullseye competition has always been 3.8 to 4.2 gr. of Bullseye. You need to play with the load to develop one for your particular gun. That is with a H&G #68 bullet (200 gr. SWC). My gun likes 3.8 gr. and works fine with a normal (16lb.) recoil spring.

C.R.Sam · February 14, 2002, 09:22 PM

I have used 3.5 Bullseye with 200gr for 25yd and 4.5gr for 50yd bullseye matches.

Every gun is different.....might have to go +or- till you find the sweet spot.

Sam

February 6, 2002, 10:26 AM	#1
tonyz Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Location: Wa Posts: 922	Reduced 45apc loads and ? I am looking for some low pressure 45apc loads that are reliable and accurate, the lighter the better. I need a low recoil load. As far as powders go, I have most of the preferred handgun powders, as for bullets I use west coast plated bullets 200Gr SWC's. Also what LB recoil spring would you recommened. I use a Kimber Custom Eclipes as my lanch platform. I recently purcased a 12LB recoil spring from wolff's. Thanks Folks Tony __________________ Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained

February 7, 2002, 05:24 AM	#3
Northwest Cajun Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 1999 Location: Spanaway Wa. &Lafayette La,(Cajun Country) Posts: 189	My "gamer "load for my .45 is 3.5-3.7 gr Bullseye and 200 gr Berry's plated bullets. If you stand by my side you can actually watch them go down range. It's just enough to cycle the slide. Really accurate too! I havent chrono'd them yet but they should be in the 600-700 fps range __________________ Laizzes Les Bon Temps Rouler!

February 7, 2002, 06:58 AM	#4
Khornet Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2001 Location: NH Posts: 585	45ACP My Gold Cup with light Wulff springs from Brownells, I think 10 or 12 lb, shoots just fine with as little as 3.3 grs Bullseye and 185, 152, or 200 gr lead bullets. This is the approach Col. Askins recommended in his fine 'The Art of Handgun Shooting'. But you need the light springs, and before you shoot anything more like normal power you need to go back to the heavier spring or you'll beat up your frame. __________________ The M1 does MY talking!

February 7, 2002, 12:17 PM	#7
grunewaj Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2001 Location: North Carolina Posts: 133	Hey 'Cajun! Nice to hear from somebody down there. I used to live in New Orleans. I tell you, it really spoiled me for food! Anyway, I'm surprised you were able to load so lightly with Berry's 200 gr. It seemed like I needed a bit more (4.0 gr. seemed to work well with their 185 gr. SWC). I'll try some lighter loads again. BTW, I may have had a bad batch, but a bunch of my 185s were smaller than spec. They replaced them with their double stuck 185s and that made a dramatic difference. I'd advise you to use their double struck bullets if available. They told me they are working to have double strike dies for all their bullets before the end of the year. Also, I should mention they are super to work with. I feel they went the extra mile to make me a happy camper. Jim __________________ The government consists of a gang of men exactly like you and me. They have, taking one with another, no special talent for the business of government; they have only a talent for getting and holding office. Their principal device to that end is to search out groups who pant and pine for something they can't get and to promise to give it to them. Nine times out of ten, that promise is worth nothing. The tenth time is made good by looting A to satisfy B. In other words, government is a broker in pillage, and every election is sort of an advance auction sale of stolen goods. -- H. L. Mencken

February 7, 2002, 03:42 PM	#8
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Reduced 45apc loads I never had a 12 pound recoil spring but, people with a Gold Cup told me that 3 or 4 grains of BULLSEYE was very accurate. Weather it will work your action is another question.

February 6, 2002, 05:35 PM	#2
Norm Lee Member Join Date: January 3, 2001 Location: Nassau Bay Posts: 81	puff loads Hey Tony: My favorite light load uses 3.9 gr of V V N310 under a 200 gr bullet. I use any of a variety of SWC. Best one has been the precision "black" bullet, but haven't seen any bad ones. You need the reduced recoil spring. 12# worked for me. 10# was OK too. 4.0 gr will usually operate a stock spring. But the action is sluggish. 4.1 will do so reliably. If you have N320, you can try 4.8 gr and probably work down from there. I believe there are some good loads available based on bullseye, w231, and AA#2 but I have never tried BE and have only limited experience with the other 2. Cheers, Norm

February 7, 2002, 09:39 AM	#5
VTR996 Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2001 Location: OKLAHOMA Posts: 195	I stumbled on CLAYS and I really like it. I use 3.0gr with a 200gr lead swc, quite accurate, clean, and just cycles the action on my stock Charles Daly, don't know what # the spring is.

February 7, 2002, 09:56 AM	#6
tonyz Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Location: Wa Posts: 922	My 4 favorite 45ACP powders are Vihtavuori powder N340-Bullseye-Universal Clays, and Bullseye. I am using a 12LB Wolff's spring, and do know to put the original 16LB spring back in before shooting regular loads. Thanks for the Loads keep um comming. Tony __________________ Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained

February 7, 2002, 04:50 PM	#9
grunewaj Senior Member Join Date: June 9, 2001 Location: North Carolina Posts: 133	Three grains is lighter than I've heard of. About the lightest I know of is 3.5 gr. for a 185 gr. lead SWC and 4.0 for a 200 gr. lead SWC. They will definitely work your action. I think you would need in the neighborhood of 10 - 12 # recoil spring.

February 13, 2002, 10:54 AM	#10
tonyz Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Location: Wa Posts: 922	Thanks guys with your suggested loads and some experimenting on my own I now have several great low recoil loads. Tony __________________ Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained

February 14, 2002, 07:41 PM	#11
Doug 29 Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2000 Posts: 217	The load most used by bullseye competition has always been 3.8 to 4.2 gr. of Bullseye. You need to play with the load to develop one for your particular gun. That is with a H&G #68 bullet (200 gr. SWC). My gun likes 3.8 gr. and works fine with a normal (16lb.) recoil spring.

February 14, 2002, 09:22 PM	#12
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	I have used 3.5 Bullseye with 200gr for 25yd and 4.5gr for 50yd bullseye matches. Every gun is different.....might have to go +or- till you find the sweet spot. Sam