[Nushif]

I just ordered the dies for .45 ACP and will start to reload them when they come in.

I do however have a question:

When I reload for 9mm I barely notice a change in recoil, bullet behavior or anything really. I started at the low end Hornady loads, worked my way up past the performance envelope and in the mean time have settled for a hot, but consevative load in my 9mm using a 115 grain bullet.
But it really never felt that much different when I was loading to either extreme.

Will this be different with .45?

Can I actually load a reduced recoil round and can I really load a super hot firebreathing round? Or will they both still feel kind of the same? Like any run of the mill round?

On a sidenote, for some reason it gives me the giggles to load my rounds with the lightest projectile and trying to push it the fastest. How is this for felt recoil? And what kind of grains and speeds can I expct from a 3.5 inch barrel?

Thanks a bunch, already.

[RandyP]

'feel' is a pretty difficult way to compare loads. People who take this hobby of reloading far more seriously than I do, use a chronograph.

You can obviously adjust the power level of .45ACP, or any other caliber for that matter, by following the published data min to max charge.

For the calibers I reload I notice a difference in distance the spent cases eject at different charge levels of powder. Mostly I load low-mid range plinking rounds. To kill a paper zombie higher charges only waste powder.

[bds]

When I reload for 9mm I barely notice a change in recoil, bullet behavior or anything really. I started at the low end ... way up past the performance envelope ... using a 115 grain bullet ... and it really never felt that much different when I was loading to either extreme. Will this be different with .45? Can I actually load a reduced recoil round and can I really load a super hot firebreathing round? Or will they both still feel kind of the same? Like any run of the mill round?
Yes. 9mm is a higher pressure round and even the start charges for 115 gr jacketed bullets are around 25,000 to 30,000 CUP and max out at around 32,500. In comparison, lower pressure 45 ACP start charges for various weight bullets are around 11,000 to 13,000 CUP and max out at around 16,000 to 17,000 CUP.

For the heavier 124/125 gr 9mm bullet loads, I can "feel" the difference between the start and max charges (a bit more snappy recoil). With the heavier 180 gr 40S&W bullet loads, you can definitely "feel" the difference between the start and max charges as the recoil will go from a mild "push" to firm "snap".

With even heavier 185 - 230 gr 45ACP bullets but lower pressure loads, I can definitely "feel" the difference as the recoil will go from a mild "push" to a heavy "thump".


On a sidenote, for some reason it gives me the giggles to load my rounds with the lightest projectile and trying to push it the fastest. How is this for felt recoil? And what kind of grains and speeds can I expct from a 3.5 inch barrel?
As to pushing light projectile, I use 185 gr Remington Golden Saber JHP projectile to practice for the same factory JHP and most powder load data will generate between 900-1000 fps at max load. As most published load data are tested typically with 4"-5" barrel fixtures, you would need to use a chrono to measure the bullet velocities out of a 3.5" barrel in your pistol. Maybe someone else can post some chrono measurements from 3.5" barrel pistols.

Many people like lighter recoiling target loads for practice as shooting 500-1000+ full power loads in a range session will leave your hands/wrists stiff/sore the next day. I can usually shoot near max load in 9mm all day without issues but prefer to shoot lighter target loads for 40S&W/45ACP.

My favorite 45ACP target load is 200 gr SWC with 5.0-5.5 gr of W231/HP-38 (depending on the pistol/barrel length/recoil spring rate) that produces mild/moderate recoil. If you want even lighter target load, 4.0 gr of Promo/Red Dot will produce mild recoil that even my wife likes to shoot.

[USSR]

Can I actually load a reduced recoil round and can I really load a super hot firebreathing round?

You can load whatever your reloading manual or your conscious tells you to. Suggest you stick to the reloading manual.;)

Don

[Shmackey]

If part of the question is "will I physically feel the difference between a powderpuff wadcutter round and a full-house defense load" in .45 ACP, the answer is yes. :)

[chhodge69]

With .45 ACP you will notice a big difference in felt recoil between min and max loadings, especially if you are using a lightweight pistol.

[bergmen]

stick to published loads in commonly available manuals. For autos, I tend to load just below max so I don't beat up the guns. As long as it cycles and is accurate, that is good enough for me. For revolvers, different story - I go for the published max almost all of the time, except for .38 Special I load for accuracy and comfort.

Dan

[Nushif]

Seeing as the dies will soon be here ...
looking for some recipes in this case. I use Bullseye powder and CCI primers already, brass comes from my massive hoard.
Now, which weight bullet (for plinking, so FMJ) should I go out and buy ... With twi end goals in mind:
One load which is the one dies will be set for is the plinking round. Least amount of recoil, good enouh to make stuff I hit move. That is my objective on this load.
The other load which I will either hand pour or measure with one of those screwing powder throwers needs to make a big boom and as big of a fireball as I can do without damaging my gun. Or myself.

I can read load data just fine, but since I reload 9mm only I am not too familiar with a wider performance envelope, it seems. Any tips?

[jeepmor]

Fireballs = BlueDot powder. Some beauties will transpire. For economy, Bullseye and Power Pistol are my favs.

I'd find my favorite carry load and look at finding the same feel from it. I've shot low end cowboy loads in my 45 and the midrange loads barely ejected the case. You have a lot of range to work with. Benefit of 45's low pressure is the brass lasts FOREVER.

Hope this helps.

[918v]

Alls you need to know is that Bullseye and 200gr LSWC is the best 1911 food there is.

[Nushif]

Bullseye and 200gr LSWC

Bullseye ... check
200gr LSWC ... I was thinking 185 grain anything. Why the 200gr in particular?

[Ultravox]

Both the 200gn and the 185gn SWC from Missouri Bullet feed fine in my pistol (RIA Tactical), but my friend's pistol (RIA GI) liked the 200gn better.

I think the longer nose feeds better.

[Nushif]

Berry's Bullets(sp?) has these 185 grainers that are shaped just like a 200+ grain bullet with a concave rear so they stick out more. They are cheap, too. That was my first guess, but in all fairness I'll probably end up buying the first few hundred bullets locally anyways.

[Blue68f100]

The Berry's 185gr HBRN needs to have the same overall length as the 230gr RN. It the same profile as the 230 other wise you will seat it too deep.

My favorite powder for the 45acp is WST.

[GW Staar]

Your question's been answered just fine, but I'd like to share some observations I've experienced. I have shot .45 in two types of guns: a full size 1911, and an itty biddy plastic Kahr CW45. I only shoot 230 grain bullets in FMJ and Speer Gold Dots. I also have a Kahr CW40 (.40 S&W) and my friend shoots the same model in 9mm.

Since I shoot pistols for only two reasons, self defense and practice for self defense I prefer the heaviest bullets offered, whatever the caliber.

Using 230gr bullets I find recoil quite easy to control using a full size steel 1911 in .45. using factory or reloads. Using the way smaller and super light Kahr, the recoil is a little more testy, but still nicely controllable. I can feel the difference between the Kahr and the heavier Kimber shooting .45's, but to be honest, I can't tell much of a difference recoil-wise between shooting the .9mm Kahr and the .45 Kahr.

Shooting factory 180gr. bullets in the .40 S&W Kahr is another matter. It feels (and sounds) more like a hot .357. Recoil is pretty darned snappy in .40 and takes some practice to shoot it well. Recently, I bought the new Ruger SR40 (also plastic but longer barrel, 16 rounds, bigger and a bit heavier. (but still lighter than my all steel Kimber .45) It was a nice surprise! That little Ruger tames the .40 super well. Recoil feels no different than my heavy .45. (I have a new favorite pistol :))

The point of this is just to point out that IME recoil felt depends more on the gun than the load, until you get to the 10mm, .44mag and up.

Oh BTW, my favorite .45 ACP powder is Unique.....uhhh...its the only powder I've used in .45.....for 40 plus years!:o Haven't felt the need to change what works great in my 1911's. Accurate and plenty powerful.

[918v]

I was thinking 185 grain anything. Why the 200gr in particular?


It works equally well in both revolvers and autos. But if you wanna try 185's go agead.

[Hangingrock]

The 45ACP is not a difficult cartridge to load.

I minimize the variables staying with one propellant (W231) and one charge weight (5.5-Grs) for bullet weight range (200/230-Grs). Basically (3) bullet styles are employed 200-Gr SWC, 225-Gr TC, and 230-Gr FMJ. There are several styles of 200-Gr SWC configuration so OAL may very between styles. The cartridge casing is very durable I’ve shot cases to the point that the head stamp is almost smeared off. As for primers Winchester Large Pistol are my standard that’s not to say other primers such as Federal, Remington, and etcetera aren’t good also

The standard 16-lb recoil spring is good thru the weight range (200/230-Grs) for the standard Government Model pistols of various manufactures.