Quick .45 ACP question

Not .541" are they? .451" right?

Load em up. I use fmj data. Shoots great with 231 or HP38.

.451 is for .45 ACP. Lee 2nd Edition only has data for the 200 Gr XTPs.

I use 4.8gr HP38 for target load if that helps.

Straight from the Hornady book, specific to 230 XTP's

These are MAX:

Power Pist, 7.6
HS-6, 8.7
VIHT N-340, 6.7

COL 1.230

In the dialog, Hornady recommends N-340 & HS-6.

I'm condensing considerably. You should get the full data from Hornady.

Those are what I call 'Flying Ashtrays' and shoot well out of my S&W M&P .45auto.

It is noted that HP 38 and Winchester 231 are the same powder simply with different company labels. You can use Win 231 data and work up from starting charges. Hornady 7th lists an oal at 1.230" for the 45ACP 230 gr. XTP-HP. They tested with Hornady brass and Win LP primers using 5.0 grains of Win 231 for a start and 5.7 grains as a maximum. I like Unique or AA#5 with the 230 XTP's. HP 38 is a little bit fast but will shoot fine. Be careful and work up. You can do a google search for "Win 231 versus HP38" to see that they are reported to be the same powder.

They will be exceptionally accurate but will not open up too well at normal velocity for the 45ACP. Some of my friends have done tests on Lexan. Not even when they hit that stuff did they open up!

Now, crank them up and use them in the 44Mag rifle (using the right caliber of course) and they work just fine. 2 hogs and 2 rams never knew what hit them!


p.s. HP-38/W231 is one of my favorite powders for the 45ACP. Visit data.hodgdon.com and you will find all the data you need for those bullets. I would use the 230gr HDY (Hornady FP) data.

My copy of Hornady's 5th Edition loading manual shows: #45160 230 gr
HP-XTP and suggest:
Titegroup....4.3gr...at 700 fps for min..And 5.2gr...at 850 fps for max.
Win231.......5.0gr...at 700 fps for min..And 5.7gr...at 800 fps for max.
Unique.......5.1gr....at 700 fps for min..And 6.4gr...at 850 fps for max.

That should get you started. If you have a certain powder in mind let me know which one it is and I'll try to find it for you

Some of my friends have done tests on Lexan. Not even when they hit that stuff did they open up!

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They are not supposed too.

HP bullets expand because fluid inside the HP cavity creates hydraulic pressure inside the bullet which expands it.

Shooting dry media such as Lexan should not open any decent JHP bullet.
If it did, it wouldn't work worth beans through winter coats, wood doors, or car window glass.

If you want to see expansion, test the bullets on wet phone books, water jugs, mud, etc.

rc

Shooting dry media such as Lexan should not open any decent JHP bullet.
If it did, it wouldn't work worth beans through winter coats, wood doors, or car window glass.

Click to expand...

Shooting JHP through dry wall fills the HP cavity and the bullet will act like RN.

A shooting incident where 45ACP HydraShok was accidentally discharged inside an apartment went through the walls of two apartment buildings (drywall/stucco) and lodged inside a wooden couch frame. There was no expansion of the bullet other than deformation when it hit the couch frame.

+1 to rcmodel. With so much water conent, our body is more like jello and act like a bag of water when hit by something moving fast like a bullet.

okespe04 said:

I bought some 230 grain Hornady HP XTP .451 bullets at bi-mart here in Oregon. Can these be used to reload .45 acp?

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5.6 gr of HP-38/W231 @ 1.230 OAL is one of my most accurate loads outta my 5'' Colt Government.

I really like the XTP line. I load the 185 gr with AA #5 (XX.X grains) for 1175 fps a +P load, the 200 gr XTP with the same load of AA#5 for 1050 fps. The 230 gr with Titegroup 5.2gr. All of the above function perfectly and are very accurate in my XD-45.

Imagine, smart bullets!

rcmodel said:

They are not supposed too.

HP bullets expand because fluid inside the HP cavity creates hydraulic pressure inside the bullet which expands it.

rc

Click to expand...

Stupid me! I just naturally thought the bullet was stupid too and didn't know what it hit!

I guess I will just keep using LSWCHP and JSPHP bullets for social work then, they are as dumb as I am and will expand as soon as they hit something!