Recommend wt. LSWC 45acp

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drband

drband

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I've been loading RMR match plated RN 230gr bullets in 45acp for quite a while with great success but I've decided I want to go with a coated LSWC like I use for my 44mag SBH for future loads. My reloads are for range use and I really like the clean punched holes that the swc leaves.

My questions are:

Will LSWCs feed properly in most 1911s?

What weight gives the best combination of feeding, power, & accuracy? (Not looking for velocity)

Is there a certain COAL with LSWCs that ensures feeding success?

I load for a DW Heritage, my son's Ruger SR1911, CZ97B, and a RIA 4" commander size. I know I may have issues with the cz, but I'd really like LSWCs in the others for sure.

Any thoughts would be appreciated because I know many folks on THR have a great deal of reloading experience. (Sure wish RC was still with us!)

Thanks.

(Pet loads/bullet combinations are welcome!)
 
I've loaded 200 gr SWCs for years. They account for nearly all my 45 ACP loading. I've found leaving about 1/32" of the bearing surface above the case mouth allows feeding in all my 45 including an unaltered 1911 made in 1918. This is due to variations in freebore.

My 200 SWC load chronos at about 950 fps. It's well under maximum. This is pretty much my standard 45 load.
 
I've seen considerable variation in seating depth in other forums. Good to hear what has consistently worked for you.
 
Seat by the amount of shoulder sticking out of the case as GRIZZ22 pointed out. I aim for .030" (roughly 1/32"). Generaly that ends up being around 1.250" OAL.

I like 200 grain coated SWC's from Blue Bullets and SNS Casting.

4.2 grains Bullseye cycles a stock HK and 1911 and gives a little less recoil than 230 ball ammo.
For really light loads I stick with the 200 grain bullets, but switch to a really fast powder, either Clays or N310. The you can start around 4.2 grains and work down .2 grains at a time until it fails to cycle the gun to find the low end. Clays and N310 are about the only powder than burn consistently and cleanly down at the low end.
 
A 200 gr H&G #68 lswc is an accurate bullet. I load these with 4.0 Bullseye @ 1.250" COAL. Missouri's 200 gr Bullseye #1 Hi-Tek coated work well for me.
 
I notice MBC has a Bullseye #1 grooveless. Is there a reason to prefer a grooved coated swc over a grooveless version?
 
I wouldn't think a difference in grooved or grooveless. I've stayed with grooved just because they have always worked for me.
 
185gr or 200gr SWC (MBC 12bhn) over 4.1gr WST is a classic BE load. Shoots real soft extremely accurate out of my gun, 2" at 50yrds using rest. As far as length I have a thumb nail thickness showing, approx 0.030" showing.

As to whether these will feed in your gun you will only know by trying. Some guns choke on them some have no problem.

I have not tried the coated bullets yet. Apparently there is some accuracy hit since the BE shooters never did switch over to them. I dought I would see a difference with my old eyes.
 
I imagine many bullseye shooters cast their own might be why they're not used much there. That, and they are a little more expensive (still cheaper than plated).
 
Getting some good load data and seating info in these posts!
I gather that the .030" shoulder dimension is more important than COAL?
 
The .030 shoulder dimension is an excellent place to start. Some say their 1911's are finicky and some say not. My two 1911's are a bit finicky about COAL with .010" causing some feeding problems.

You can check the .030" shoulder dimension by measuring from the bottom of the case to the top of the shoulder with calipers. On my loads this dimension is .933" which works out to a COAL of 1.250".
 
I used to shoot 200 Gr SWC in .45 ACP, but recently tried some 175 Gr ones from ACME. They shot well, and I just got my order of 500 more.

Shot at 7 yards getting number through the chrono set at five yards. I pulled the 7th shot down.
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Walkalong, That looks awfully good! What powder did you use for the 175gr bullets? (The dreaded lipsticks)
 
4.2 Grs of Competition. It's written at the top, it's just small and hard to see.
 
As a bullseye shooter I shoot lots of 185 grain SWC. A favorite is the zero SWCHP. I also use Missouri bullet 185 SWC.

My powder of choice is WST. It burns super clean, shoots soft, and makes very accurate loads.
 
Competition is almost identical to WST (A little higher Nitro % IIRC). My lot was about .1 Gr faster than my lot of WST. When WST disappeared, I bought some Competition. I would have bought WST if I could have found it, but am happy with the Competition.
 
I see several folks use 200gr swc's and now I see some great results with 185gr swc's. Is there a compelling reason to choose one over the other? Or is it just personal preference?
 
Walkalong said:
Competition is almost identical to WST (A little higher Nitro % IIRC). My lot was about .1 Gr faster than my lot of WST. When WST disappeared, I bought some Competition. I would have bought WST if I could have found it, but am happy with the Competition.
Click to expand...


On your recommendation I bought a pound of competition. I haven't had the time to work with it, I've been shooting three NRA matches and a police match every month, and that's on top of my two leagues. With fall rolling around things will slow down for me and I'll get some time to work with some loads.
 
drband said:
I see several folks use 200gr swc's and now I see some great results with 185gr swc's. Is there a compelling reason to choose one over the other? Or is it just personal preference?
Click to expand...


I use the 185 for a couple reasons. First, I run a very low power recoil spring and am loading for light recoil along with accuracy. Second, the 185 LSWCHP I'm using is just incredibly accurate at 50 yards.
 
Walkalong said:
4.2 Grs of Competition. It's written at the top, it's just small and hard to see.
Click to expand...
Ramshot powders are impossible to fine where I live and Accurate Powders are almost as hard to find. Is there anything that Hodgdon or Alliant has that is close to Competition? I have been using W231/HP-38 for most if my 45 ACP ammo because I can get it. It's accurate but not like in those targets above. (not that I can shoot that well anyway)
 
ArchAngelCD said:
Ramshot powders are impossible to fine where I live and Accurate Powders are almost as hard to find. Is there anything that Hodgdon or Alliant has that is close to Competition? I have been using W231/HP-38 for most if my 45 ACP ammo because I can get it. It's accurate but not like in those targets above. (not that I can shoot that well anyway)
Click to expand...


WST is the best thing in the hodgdon/Winchester lineup for target 45acp IMO. It's used by probably half the bullseye shooters I shoot with.
 
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