I used to shoot a lot of lead in .45 ACP with W-231 and 225 & 230 Gr bullets. 5.0 Grs for plinking, 5.5 Grs for "full power". Some people like 5.2/5.3 Grs. Hodgdon online data stops at 5.3 for a 230 Gr lead round nose as well as the Hornady 230 Gr FMJFP these days, but folks over the last few decades have shot a lot of W-231 at 5.5 Grs with 225 Gr TrFP & 230 Gr RN lead bullets.My favorite 45 ACP load is a hard cast LRN 230gr bullet over 5.5gr W231/HP-38 with a CCI-500 primer.
You could have gotten 0.46", so there's definitely room for improvement.
Try 230s. My 1911 never liked any 185gr ammo, factory or reload.
I used to shoot a lot of lead in .45 ACP with W-231 and 225 7 230 Gr bullets. 5.0 Grs for plinking, 5.5 Grs for "full power". Some people like 5.2/5.3 Grs. Hodgdon online data stops at 5.3 for a 230 Gr lead round nose as well as the Hornady 230 Gr FMJFP these days, but folks over the last few decades have shot a lot of W-231 at 5.5 Grs with 225 Gr TrFP & 230 Gr RN lead bullets.
These days I shoot coated vs plain lead, but I suspect W-231 would still work well. Yes, load testing is time intensive and it needs to be when you are not distracted and in the right frame of mind. I imagine most folks could throw a 200 Gr coated SWC in a case with 5.0 Grs W-231 and be happy knowing it will out shoot them on all but their best days, but finding an accurate load in .45 ACP is child's play. Of course it takes work to fine tune it, just saying the .45 ACP is easy compared to say 9MM, or at least was for me.
I have been trying with 230gr fmj bullets also. My best grouping so far is a .54", but I have not validated the load yet by retesting it.
Yes my 230gr silencer load with near max charge of HP38 shoots very well.
It does a bit over 800fps and opens up hollow points on the milk jug test.
0.54" is already awesome! I think you're probably good to go.
Yeah, the reason the Hodgdon data stops at 5.3gr W231 is the OAL of only 1.200" they list. My OAL is between 1.255" to 1.270" depending on which cast bullet I'm loading. I use the same charge with 230gr FMJ bullets with an OAL of 1.255" most times.These days I shoot coated vs plain lead, but I suspect W-231 would still work well. Yes, load testing is time intensive and it needs to be when you are not distracted and in the right frame of mind. I imagine most folks could throw a 200 Gr coated SWC in a case with 5.0 Grs W-231 and be happy knowing it will out shoot them on all but their best days, but finding an accurate load in .45 ACP is child's play. Of course it takes work to fine tune it, just saying the .45 ACP is easy compared to say 9MM, or at least was for me.
I’m following and waiting with bated breath…Any recommendation regarding which powder will provide the best accuracy will be appreciated.
That’s the old flat point Hornady made, which is part of why it’s 1.200Yeah, the reason the Hodgdon data stops at 5.3gr W231 is the OAL of only 1.200" they list. My OAL is between 1.255" to 1.270" depending on which cast bullet I'm loading. I use the same charge with 230gr FMJ bullets with an OAL of 1.255" most times.
Now.with coated bullets I don't feel the need for jacketed bullets unless they are for SD ammo. I never did care for plated bullets in the 45 ACP.
I am planning my next loads for this bullet. It will be on load that already grouped very good, and I want to to try and verify, and another 6 loads/ladder with a different powder.
The load I will try and verify will be:
Case: Federal, COL: 1.200", Zero, 185gr, JHP, TiteGroup, 4.6gr, FED155 (large pistol magnum primer)
The next powder I will test will be one of these powders:
700X, HP38/W231, Bullseye and WST. (I don't have Clays or N310 in my inventory)
Any recommendation regarding which powder will provide the best accuracy will be appreciated.
Yeah, the reason the Hodgdon data stops at 5.3gr W231 is the OAL of only 1.200" they list. My OAL is between 1.255" to 1.270" depending on which cast bullet I'm loading. I use the same charge with 230gr FMJ bullets with an OAL of 1.255" most times.
Now.with coated bullets I don't feel the need for jacketed bullets unless they are for SD ammo. I never did care for plated bullets in the 45 ACP.
I’m following and waiting with bated breath…
The only other powder I didn’t see mentioned is discontinued, IMR Target. It did well for 200gr coated SWCs, but I’ve not loaded 185’s. If burn rate is one of the factors, it’s right up there with TG.
I would not use Mag primers in a 45acp. The case is so small the primer can dislodge the bullet not giving you a consistent burn.
I would not use Mag primers in a 45acp. The case is so small the primer can dislodge the bullet not giving you a consistent burn.
The 'consistency' thing reminded me of something else. I dug around and found this:
Consistent velocity (sd and es) is not correlated to group size. And the best part is, it was written by that same author.
https://americanhandgunner.com/handguns/exclusive-consistent-velocity-accuracy/
It has been discussed on this forum many times, that the best measure of accuracy is the size of the groups on the target, not the chronograph.
I'm a little slow lately, does that mean there is a different reason? If so I would like to know because I don't want to pass on bad information.That’s the old flat point Hornady made, which is part of why it’s 1.200
this is my last step when i work up a load.change the COL to try and improve accuracy