.45 acp load feedback

Little Mo · April 15, 2009, 09:46 PM

I load almost exclusively with W231 and most of my loads are light target. I want to try some heavier loads and my manuals say the following is factory equivalent load:

185 JHP
5.9 gr. W231
915 fps.

Any one have experience with this loading? Any suggestions? Thank you for any suggestions.

Teuthis · April 15, 2009, 11:16 PM

Is that load listed as a max load, or is it a starting load, in your manual? That is the most serious question. Just be safe and experiment with loads for your specific firearm, using recipes from your manuals, to get the best results.

WESHOOT2 · April 17, 2009, 08:28 AM

That is a fine safe load, but if you actually want to know how fast it exits YOUR gun you must chronograph it from your gun.....

PDshooter · April 17, 2009, 09:16 AM

I use 208gr cast bullet with 5.3gr W231.

**Unclenick** · April 17, 2009, 10:27 AM

Little Mo,

Whether or not that W231 charge is safe depends entirely on how deeply the bullet is seated in the case? The .45 ACP and other short and relatively straight cases go through rather dramatic pressure increases as the bullet goes deeper into the case. With the 185 JHP, if you could seat it out to the full 1.275" maximum length of .45 ACP hardball (you usually can't; it won't feed reliably) that load would only produce only about 14,500 psi. But if you push that XTP down in until the COL is 1.12", the pressure shoots up to 25,500 psi.

21,000 psi is the SAAMI .45 ACP maximum pressure limit and 23,000 psi is the SAAMI +P limit for .45 ACP. It looks to me like with most case brands you could use that load with bullets whose base does not go more than 0.300" into a case that is the full 0.898" long. With a shorter case you have to reduce that 0.300" number by the same amount that the actual sized case length is shorter than 0.898".

Ozzieman · April 17, 2009, 11:52 AM

I use a lot of 231 myself and the load that you are quoting is a very safe load. The problem I have for loads is that it depends on how old and who’s manual you use. Some would list your load as very light, another would list it as medium. Best thing is to get every load combination you can find in as many manuals as you can and start low and work up until you get pressure signs on the primer. The following are using the same weight bullet for 45 ACP with 231.
My Hornady 7th (NEW) shows for 185 GR and W 231
Min: 5.9 850 fps
Max: 7.2 1000fps
My Sierra 2nd edition (from the 1980’s) list for 185 GR and W 231 the following
Min: 5.1 750fps
Max 6.3 950 fps
I personally don’t use a 185 bullets in my 45's but I do use a 200 GR and my Gold cup likes 6.2 GR of 231 (max:6.8) 875 fps.

**Unclenick** · April 17, 2009, 12:38 PM

Again, it is all depends what seating depth you use. None of the given load data should be followed without having a specific COL to go with the bullet being used. The weight of the bullet alone is not enough.

Little Mo · April 17, 2009, 08:48 PM

Thank you all for your thoughtful input and great advice. My reloading manuals are very old. Have not bought new ones in probably 20 years since I generally load the same thing over and over. Both my manuals list this load as max. load with W231. When I try this one will measure seating depth,etc., carefully. Thanks again. Reminds me again how little I know even after 20 plus years of loading.

April 15, 2009, 09:46 PM	#1
Little Mo Junior Member Join Date: March 9, 2007 Posts: 9	.45 acp load feedback I load almost exclusively with W231 and most of my loads are light target. I want to try some heavier loads and my manuals say the following is factory equivalent load: 185 JHP 5.9 gr. W231 915 fps. Any one have experience with this loading? Any suggestions? Thank you for any suggestions.

April 15, 2009, 11:16 PM	#2
Teuthis Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2008 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 537	Is that load listed as a max load, or is it a starting load, in your manual? That is the most serious question. Just be safe and experiment with loads for your specific firearm, using recipes from your manuals, to get the best results. __________________ Oderint dum Metuant

April 17, 2009, 08:28 AM	#3
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	regardless of the 185g bullet brand That is a fine safe load, but if you actually want to know how fast it exits YOUR gun you must chronograph it from your gun..... __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 17, 2009, 09:16 AM	#4
PDshooter Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2000 Location: Indiana Posts: 607	I use 208gr cast bullet with 5.3gr W231. __________________ Life member NRA 20yrs guard . MOS 63H 11B 43E Shoot Shovel Shut-up!

April 17, 2009, 10:27 AM	#5
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Little Mo, Whether or not that W231 charge is safe depends entirely on how deeply the bullet is seated in the case? The .45 ACP and other short and relatively straight cases go through rather dramatic pressure increases as the bullet goes deeper into the case. With the 185 JHP, if you could seat it out to the full 1.275" maximum length of .45 ACP hardball (you usually can't; it won't feed reliably) that load would only produce only about 14,500 psi. But if you push that XTP down in until the COL is 1.12", the pressure shoots up to 25,500 psi. 21,000 psi is the SAAMI .45 ACP maximum pressure limit and 23,000 psi is the SAAMI +P limit for .45 ACP. It looks to me like with most case brands you could use that load with bullets whose base does not go more than 0.300" into a case that is the full 0.898" long. With a shorter case you have to reduce that 0.300" number by the same amount that the actual sized case length is shorter than 0.898". __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

April 17, 2009, 11:52 AM	#6
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	I use a lot of 231 myself and the load that you are quoting is a very safe load. The problem I have for loads is that it depends on how old and who’s manual you use. Some would list your load as very light, another would list it as medium. Best thing is to get every load combination you can find in as many manuals as you can and start low and work up until you get pressure signs on the primer. The following are using the same weight bullet for 45 ACP with 231. My Hornady 7th (NEW) shows for 185 GR and W 231 Min: 5.9 850 fps Max: 7.2 1000fps My Sierra 2nd edition (from the 1980’s) list for 185 GR and W 231 the following Min: 5.1 750fps Max 6.3 950 fps I personally don’t use a 185 bullets in my 45's but I do use a 200 GR and my Gold cup likes 6.2 GR of 231 (max:6.8) 875 fps.

April 17, 2009, 12:38 PM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	Again, it is all depends what seating depth you use. None of the given load data should be followed without having a specific COL to go with the bullet being used. The weight of the bullet alone is not enough. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

April 17, 2009, 08:48 PM	#8
Little Mo Junior Member Join Date: March 9, 2007 Posts: 9	Thank you all for your thoughtful input and great advice. My reloading manuals are very old. Have not bought new ones in probably 20 years since I generally load the same thing over and over. Both my manuals list this load as max. load with W231. When I try this one will measure seating depth,etc., carefully. Thanks again. Reminds me again how little I know even after 20 plus years of loading.