Pet Loads for the .45 ACP

[sako_75]

I just bought my first .45 2 weeks ago. Does any body have a pet load they would like to share? I will of course be checking load manuals and working up from starting loads. I am just curious to see what bullet and powder combinations seem to be working for the other 45 shooters out there. I'm looking for Plinking, target, and full power/defense loads.

 

[Fatelvis]

For a plinking/target load, I like a 200grn #68 style lead bullet over 4.5 grns Bullseye. It is mild, and accurate, in all of my 1911s.

 

[burrhead]

For many years my "fun" load has been a cast 230gr LRN over 4gr of Bullseye. Acurate, easy on the gun and has cycled any full sized GM I've owned.

 

[onecruiser]

200 gr lead semi wadcutter over 5.4 gr Win 231. Try it you'll like it

 

[Fatelvis]

I agree with Burr, that is also a great load.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Burrhead??? Now I know what a burrhead is, but would you please explain your interpitation?

Sako_75...Because I don't load lead, my loadings are for 185 grain Remington jacketed (JHP) bullets. These are for the most part fully jacketed except for the hollow. My favorite loading for range and plinking would be 185 grain JHP Remington on top of 5.7 grains of W-231. CCI-300 primer all in a Remington or Winchester case properly trimmed to .895. OAL at 1.250. In my Colt (modified) .45 ACP I am getting 837 fps. ES 45.9. SD 19.0. AD 14.4. And a down range at 25 yards of 2". My combat loading is a 185 grain JHP Remington bullet over 6.7 grains of W-231 (This is a over maximum load according to Lyman #48, but is just under maximum load according to Winchester Components Catalog). Make sure you know what you are doing if you load this one. CCI-300 or WLP primer. It gives me 975 fps. ES 29.3. SD 12.2. AD 9.5. (Remember this is a hot load by some manuals. Approach it with extreme care). OAL is 1.200. Like it or not. Those are my favorite loadings for Colt .45 ACP.

 

[Mark whiz]

for plinking, my S.A. 1911-A1 Mil-Spec LOVES 200gr Ranier SWCs over 9.6gr of AA#5..............these will cut the same hole all day long at 15yds.

For defense, I go with either 230gr Rem Golden Sabers over 8.6gr of AA#5 or 200gr Gold Dots over 9.6gr of AA#5. Both carry a lot of punch with good penetration and expansion performance.

 

[Johnny Guest]

230 FMJ, 5.6 gr. of Win 231
230 LRN, 5.3 gr of Win 231
200 LSWC, 6.5 gr. of Unique

Best,
Johnny

 

[timuchin]

230 gr. FMJ, 4.2 gr. Hodgdon Clays. Very clean burning powder, but gets kind of dirty in the south Georgia humidity.

 

[cracked butt]

200 gr lead semi wadcutter over 5.4 gr Win 231. Try it you'll like it

ditto that.

 

[Winters]

200 gr lead semi wadcutter over 4 gr Bullseye. Cycles the action and you don't have too chase the brass too far.

Winters

 

[bakert]

Like onecruiser said, 200 gr LSWC over 5.4 gr 231. I also use this same charge with a 230 LRN bullet.

 

[Lennyjoe]

230 FMJ, 5.6 gr. of Win 231

I'll second that load!

 

[sako_75]

Thanks for all of the lead "fun loads" I'm sure I can find somthing that works for me in all of the posted loads. How about some loads for Jacketed bullets?

Thanks for all of the great info!

 

[Werewolf]

How about some loads for Jacketed bullets?

230gr FMJ over 8.2 gr AA#5 with WLP primer, OAL 1.25.

 

[Zak Smith]

200gr plated RN
5.1gr Titegroup
around 1.250"
any brass

 

[Lennyjoe]

And for some power loads try 8.2gr of Power Pistol under a 200gr Speer Gold Dot JHP.

http://recipes.alliantpowder.com/rg...=.45&cartridgedescr=ACP+P&bulletdescr=200 JHP

 

[cobb]

200 gr. swc cutter over 4.2 gr. of Clays.

Mild recoil and makes power factor for me in my 5 inch.

 

[ulflyer]

200gr LSWC 3.7gr 231
225gr LFN 4.0gr Bullseye

Cycles govt models and Defender with factory recoil springs. I shoot at 10-15 yrds.

 

[lee n. field]

4.7 grains of Bullseye behind a fmj or cast lead 230 round nose bullet.

 

[Quantrill]

H&G#68 or #130 (200gr or 185gr respectively) over 3.5gr of 700X. Quantrill

 

[Kamicosmos]

230 grain FMJ over 6.something of Power Pistol, I'll have to look it up again. Plus you can use power pistol in 40, 357, and several other calibers in that range.

 

[BigSlick]

5.0 gr TiteGroup
200 SWC
Win LP Primer
Mixed cases
1.20 OAL

4.6 gr TiteGroup
230 Berry's or Rainers ball
Win LP Primer
Mixed cases
1.260 OAL

Burns clean as a whistle, cheap to shoot and more accurate than I am capable of realizing.

HTH

BigSlick

 

[trickyasafox]

out of curiousity what kind of crimp do you guys put on your pet loads? light? heavy? none at all?

 

[P0832177]

I gave up on 231 a few years ago, seemed to have way too much unburnt powder. But, there was not load from 4.5 to 6.0gr with a 200LSWC that did not shoot good. I have went to Universal Clays with okay results, and on to Titegroup. I have economy, accuracy, and very little unburnt powder.

For wimp loads 4.0gr of TG with 200gr SWC in the 625's. OAL 1.25 Crimp .470
For ball loads 4.7gr with 230gr FMJ in the USP's. OAL 1.25 Crimp .470
I use Fed 150's exclusively with all my reloads. Mainly due to the 625's have trigger jobs.
both are in mixed brass.

Just do not waste time on AMERC brass. And, I have no problem with S&B brass.