Bowling Pin Handloads

[bnelson2943]

I have just started pin shooting and am looking for recomended loads for my CZ 75 .45 auto. I have been having trouble finding anything on a good pin load. PLEASE HELP!! My gun is a full steel frame with a 3 port comp. so should handle a good power load. I have heard that the SXT are good pin grabbers. True? Any others?

 

[~z]

Wow, I havent been pin shooting in about 10 yrs. I need to get back into it. When I did, I usually ran a 44. Occasionally, I ran a .45. My bullet choice was a truncated cone 225 gn lead. Had good results with a 200 gn SWC. From what I saw, and I tried ALOT of bullets for "pin grabbing characteristics" including Winchesters Black Tallons. I learned that ALL bullets will flip a pin off the table if hit properly (neck and head shots). I spent my $ on cheap bullets and alot of them. Practice accuracy and speed will follow. 5 shots, 5 pins off the table always beats trying to clean up the table top with an extra shot.
Sorry, I realize I'm not EXACTLY answering your question, but you get that around here from time to time, welcome aboard.
~z
PS Heavy bullets will help, but accuracy will win.

 

[model 649]

I go with the heavier bullet for more momentum. I load a 230gr.ball over 5.8 gr. of Win 231, standard CCI primer, OAL of 1.260. Bullet configuration has very little to do with knocking the pin off the table. Hollowpoints are made to expand in SOFT things, my experience shows little if any expansion in pins. This loading JUST ABOUT blows through the fat part of the pin so it transfers the most "push" to the pin, taking it off the table reliably. Where you shootin', bnelson? I'm in MI shootin' mostly st Top Gun in Taylor. Have fun!
Josh

 

[Norm Lee]

Pin Loads

45 ACP 235 SWC VVN350 7.1 870.00 fps 204 PF

The bullet is from R&R, it's called a "pinbuster" and lives up to its reputation.

OAL is 1.20" in my loads. You may need to adjust for best feeding.

R&R phone is 800-865-1312

Cheers,

norm

 

[bnelson2943]

Pin Shooting Loads

Thanks everyone for your comments and suggestions so far. One of the things I love about this sport is the people in it. Please keep the suggestions comming. I love to try new thing until I find just what works for me. Norm, I have called R & R and will make a order when they call back. Thanks!

 

[HRT]

200 gr LSWC, 8.7 AA#5 WLP primers, over 1000 fps out of commander sized DW Bob Tail. Less riccochets than with ball. GOod point that most any full power round with a good hit will work, that is until the pins get heavy and gnarly. That is when 190 to 200 PF, with a bullet with some grab comes into play.

 

[knzn]

Loved pin shooting and miss it. Just kind of died off around here in the early to mid 80's. Anyway I used to use lead 255 gr. swc's, but your auto may or may not feed them. Can't remember the load data off hand.

 

[ACP230]

I used to use 230 grain LRN bullets at around 900 fps. (I started lower and worked up to that velocity, of course.)

The powder was Unique and I often used whatever cases I had.
If I had enough TZZ or WCC cases I'd make a bunch of pin loads in them.
SWCs would have been a bit better, but I wanted to make sure my loads would feed well.