Light load for .45 ACP revolver...

LSP972 · September 27, 2006, 07:16 PM

I'm looking for a powder-puff load to use in a S&W M-25 (with clips). I have 231 and HP-6, but am not above buying a third powder type if that's what it takes.

It appears that the lightest plated bullet available is 185 grain. Anyone know of a source for lighter-weight, moly-coated .452 bullets? I do NOT want to deal with cast/lubed bullets. Simply too much mess to clean-up. BTDT back in the day...

I'm wide open for suggestions here; uncharted territory for me.

JoeHatley · September 28, 2006, 11:22 AM

I use 200 grain Rainier plated bullets and 4.5 grains Bullseye.

Very soft shooting load in all my model 25/625's. If you want something even lighter, the powder can be dropped to 3.5 grains.

In a heavy gun like an N Frame, and no slide functioning to worry about, the above loads will feel almost like .38 specials.

Good Luck...

Joe

Nephilim-777 · October 10, 2006, 11:06 AM

I don't have any experience with the powders that you have in inventory. I have found that Clays works quite well for me and the .45 ACP. 3.5-3.6g produces powder puffs but I normally load up to 3.7-3.8g using a 200g LSWC.

Scorch · October 10, 2006, 12:16 PM

I use the same load for my 1911 and my 1917 Colt. 7.7 gr of Unique with a 185 gr bullet. You can drop all the way to 5.5 gr if you want to, but in my 1917, there is almost no recoil with that load.

Sarge · October 10, 2006, 12:57 PM

I am using four grains of 231 and a 200 SWC, loaded to 1.250", for my 'cat sneeze' .45 ACP load. It'll just eject the case when fired in my Auto Ord WWII model, it is fairly accurate and I see no reason why it wouldn't serve well in a wheelgun.

JDG · October 10, 2006, 08:35 PM

I use 3.8gr Clays, with Rainier 230gr rn. 1.250 oal, .470 crimp. Very clean, soft load. Cycles my P345, with a 18# recoil spring, gives me 730fps.

LSP972 · October 11, 2006, 09:32 AM

invssgt,

One of the loads I tried yesterday was 4.0/231 under a 185gr RN. Exactly what I was looking for in terms of accuracy and recoil; but too much unburned powder. I was constantly having to brush out the area under the extractor star.

Joe,

What do think about 3.5 of BE with a 185gr plated pill? I know BE is relatively "dirty" but will 3.5 burn completely? The unburned powder is a show stopper on this 25-12; especially with the moon clips. I hope I warm up to those things; but right now, I've half a mind to toss the lot...:barf:

JoeHatley · October 11, 2006, 09:48 AM

That should be a soft shooting load. Bullseye does have a reputation for being dirty, but I've found with plated bullets (no cast bullet lube) it burns quite clean. Just leaves a little soot, that is easily wiped off.

A firm crimp will also help get complete powder burn. I use Lee dies, which are actually a combination roll and taper crimp. I adjust them so the case mouth just starts to turn into the plated bullet side, about half the thickness of the brass.

This semi-rolled crimp really helps with fast/easy reloads. The clips almost seem to jump into the cylinder, no matter how poorly they are lined up.

Bullseye + plated bullets + moonclips = my favorite combo!!

Good Luck...

Joe

LSP972 · October 15, 2006, 05:55 PM

The Bullseye (3.6, 3.8, 4.0 with the 185gr plated Berry RN) loads didn't impress me, Joe. They were okay up close, but hit quite a bit low and left at the 25 yard line; and the groups were less than stellar... the 3.8 load did five inches, and my notes for the other two simply say "ugly".

So far, 3.9 of Clays has given me closest to what I'm looking for. I'm going to load another 50 of these and work some more with them.

rnovi · October 17, 2006, 01:43 AM

3.3-3.5 gr. Clays with a 230 hardcast does me well. Sorry, I don't shoot moly or jacketed - I'm a cheap bastige and love my cast leads.

BTW, I'm surprised you had clean up issues. I get 3 nights or 700 rounds of shooting before I'm even bothered to clean my 625JM...

September 27, 2006, 07:16 PM	#1
LSP972 Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Posts: 189	Light load for .45 ACP revolver... I'm looking for a powder-puff load to use in a S&W M-25 (with clips). I have 231 and HP-6, but am not above buying a third powder type if that's what it takes. It appears that the lightest plated bullet available is 185 grain. Anyone know of a source for lighter-weight, moly-coated .452 bullets? I do NOT want to deal with cast/lubed bullets. Simply too much mess to clean-up. BTDT back in the day... I'm wide open for suggestions here; uncharted territory for me.

September 28, 2006, 11:22 AM	#2
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	I use 200 grain Rainier plated bullets and 4.5 grains Bullseye. Very soft shooting load in all my model 25/625's. If you want something even lighter, the powder can be dropped to 3.5 grains. In a heavy gun like an N Frame, and no slide functioning to worry about, the above loads will feel almost like .38 specials. Good Luck... Joe __________________ Go NRA

October 10, 2006, 12:16 PM	#4
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I use the same load for my 1911 and my 1917 Colt. 7.7 gr of Unique with a 185 gr bullet. You can drop all the way to 5.5 gr if you want to, but in my 1917, there is almost no recoil with that load. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

October 10, 2006, 12:57 PM	#5
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	I am using four grains of 231 and a 200 SWC, loaded to 1.250", for my 'cat sneeze' .45 ACP load. It'll just eject the case when fired in my Auto Ord WWII model, it is fairly accurate and I see no reason why it wouldn't serve well in a wheelgun. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

October 11, 2006, 09:48 AM	#8
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	That should be a soft shooting load. Bullseye does have a reputation for being dirty, but I've found with plated bullets (no cast bullet lube) it burns quite clean. Just leaves a little soot, that is easily wiped off. A firm crimp will also help get complete powder burn. I use Lee dies, which are actually a combination roll and taper crimp. I adjust them so the case mouth just starts to turn into the plated bullet side, about half the thickness of the brass. This semi-rolled crimp really helps with fast/easy reloads. The clips almost seem to jump into the cylinder, no matter how poorly they are lined up. Bullseye + plated bullets + moonclips = my favorite combo!! Good Luck... Joe __________________ Go NRA

October 10, 2006, 11:06 AM	#3
Nephilim-777 Member Join Date: October 10, 2006 Location: A nation in distress Posts: 79	I don't have any experience with the powders that you have in inventory. I have found that Clays works quite well for me and the .45 ACP. 3.5-3.6g produces powder puffs but I normally load up to 3.7-3.8g using a 200g LSWC.

October 10, 2006, 08:35 PM	#6
JDG Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2005 Location: West Michigan Posts: 673	I use 3.8gr Clays, with Rainier 230gr rn. 1.250 oal, .470 crimp. Very clean, soft load. Cycles my P345, with a 18# recoil spring, gives me 730fps.

October 11, 2006, 09:32 AM	#7
LSP972 Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Posts: 189	invssgt, One of the loads I tried yesterday was 4.0/231 under a 185gr RN. Exactly what I was looking for in terms of accuracy and recoil; but too much unburned powder. I was constantly having to brush out the area under the extractor star. Joe, What do think about 3.5 of BE with a 185gr plated pill? I know BE is relatively "dirty" but will 3.5 burn completely? The unburned powder is a show stopper on this 25-12; especially with the moon clips. I hope I warm up to those things; but right now, I've half a mind to toss the lot...:barf:

October 15, 2006, 05:55 PM	#9
LSP972 Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Posts: 189	The Bullseye (3.6, 3.8, 4.0 with the 185gr plated Berry RN) loads didn't impress me, Joe. They were okay up close, but hit quite a bit low and left at the 25 yard line; and the groups were less than stellar... the 3.8 load did five inches, and my notes for the other two simply say "ugly". So far, 3.9 of Clays has given me closest to what I'm looking for. I'm going to load another 50 of these and work some more with them.

October 17, 2006, 01:43 AM	#10
rnovi Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2005 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 401	3.3-3.5 gr. Clays with a 230 hardcast does me well. Sorry, I don't shoot moly or jacketed - I'm a cheap bastige and love my cast leads. BTW, I'm surprised you had clean up issues. I get 3 nights or 700 rounds of shooting before I'm even bothered to clean my 625JM... __________________ Robert N. "Remember, Eagles may soar but Weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!"