First 45acp loads

CrankyCraig · Sep 14, 2016

I just loaded a few rounds of 45acp with Winchester brass, Winchester large pistol primers & 5.3gr of win231.

I used Hornady 230gr FMJ RN which I seated to an OAL of 1.260. Now I got the charge info from the Hornady loading Manual. Which showed that charge & 1.210 OAL. I checked the powder manufacturers website and it appears this is a max charge @ 1.200 OAL?

I guess my question is should I take these apart and scale it back some?
I'm going to be using a sig1911 with a 5" barrel. I'm very new to reloading and would like some feedback since there are several conflicting loading data sources.

Thanks in advance,
Craig.

RugerBob · Sep 14, 2016

The only problem will be is - will they cycle?
45acp has so many different bullets available with many different oal options.

I would shoot em and see if they cycle, and even if they do I'd seat it deeper next time.

Reloadron · Sep 14, 2016

You will be fine. Actually the Speer #12 Manual uses your 1.260 C.O.A.L. and for Win 231 has a Minimum of 5.6gr and a maximum of 6.2gr. They should cycle and feed fine in any 1911 frame. It isn't unusual to find such variation in load data between published data. I would just go ahead and shoot them. By my count they are actually a little light.

Ron

Walkalong · Sep 14, 2016

I used Hornady 230gr FMJ RN which I seated to an OAL of 1.260.

Which is perfect. I load various RN bullets for .45 ACP so they fall between 1.260 and 1.265 OAL.

5.3 Grs of W-231 is a good choice as well. Many people either choose 5.0 or 5.5 depending on use and what they like in felt recoil.

Speer #12 Manual uses your 1.260 C.O.A.L. and for Win 231 has a Minimum of 5.6gr and a maximum of 6.2gr.

Yep, but that is kind of hot, especially by today's W-231 data. I have worked up to 6.2, and it is not particularly pleasant to shoot. I never chronoed it.

I have shot a great many .45 ACP reloads with various lead, plated, and jacketed 225 and 230 Gr bullets usig 5.0 grs W-231. It works fine for 200 Gr as well.

Reloadron · Sep 14, 2016

Yep, but that is kind of hot, especially by today's W-231 data. I have worked up to 6.2, and it is not particularly pleasant to shoot. I never chronoed it.

Uh yeah, you may want to heed that. I never got that high with Win-231 powder. Most of my .45 ACP loading has been with Unique and the loads in that old Speer #12 can be hot by today's standards and manuals. Thank you Walkalong for bringing that up.

Ron

Walkalong · Sep 14, 2016

From an old post: I see no need to go over 5.5, and even that is over some data these days.

I have gone over 6.0 Grs W231 and a 230 Gr bullet. 6.0 is getting stout, 6.1 is downright sharp, and anything over that is no fun for a range load. Not to mention being in the +P range according to the Midway Load Data book. I believe it, cause they are stout.

5.5 Grs is just plenty.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9313909&postcount=9

CrankyCraig · Sep 14, 2016

Reloadron said:
You will be fine. Actually the Speer #12 Manual uses your 1.260 C.O.A.L. and for Win 231 has a Minimum of 5.6gr and a maximum of 6.2gr. They should cycle and feed fine in any 1911 frame. It isn't unusual to find such variation in load data between published data. I would just go ahead and shoot them. By my count they are actually a little light.

Ron

Thanks Ron! Speer is one of the few manuals I don't have yet. I may try to pick it up this weekend.

LUCKYDAWG13 · Sep 14, 2016

5.3 of 231 under a 230 gr bullet is my load

CrankyCraig · Sep 14, 2016

Walkalong said:
Which is perfect. I load various RN bullets for .45 ACP so they fall between 1.260 and 1.265 OAL.

5.3 Grs of W-231 is a good choice as well. Many people either choose 5.0 or 5.5 depending on use and what they like in felt recoil.

Yep, but that is kind of hot, especially by today's W-231 data. I have worked up to 6.2, and it is not particularly pleasant to shoot. I never chronoed it.

I have shot a great many .45 ACP reloads with various lead, plated, and jacketed 225 and 230 Gr bullets usig 5.0 grs W-231. It works fine for 200 Gr as well.

Thank you Walkalong I really appreciate the feedback. I'm just getting started and wanted to make sure I was not setting myself up for an ugly surprise.

CrankyCraig · Sep 14, 2016

LUCKYDAWG13 said:
5.3 of 231 under a 230 gr bullet is my load

Cool, Thank you!

CrankyCraig · Sep 14, 2016

RugerBob said:
The only problem will be is - will they cycle?
45acp has so many different bullets available with many different oal options.

I would shoot em and see if they cycle, and even if they do I'd seat it deeper next time.

I ran a few dummies at that length manually and it seemed to be fine but I'll find out

thanks for your input.

Dudedog · Sep 14, 2016

I use RMR 230s which need to be seated deeper (less pointy nose 1.21 OAL)
I like 4.7 or 5gr HP38.
Lyman 49 shows 230 TMJ (Speer) @1.275 start 5.2 max 5.8
so 5.3 sounds ok to me at the longer OAL.

ArchAngelCD · Sep 14, 2016

I'm one if those loaders who use 5.5gr W231 and with a fmj bullet my OAL is 1.255" because that's what my gun likes. With LRN bullets my OAL most times is 1.265".

The 5.5gr is not a heavy load and not over charged since my OAL is much longer than the 1.200" Hodgdon lists. Older Winchester manuals show loads that are well over 6.0gr.

CrankyCraig · Sep 14, 2016

Dudedog said:
I use RMR 230s which need to be seated deeper (less pointy nose 1.21 OAL)
I like 4.7 or 5gr HP38.
Lyman 49 shows 230 TMJ (Speer) @1.275 start 5.2 max 5.8
so 5.3 sounds ok to me at the longer OAL.

Thanks!

CrankyCraig · Sep 14, 2016

ArchAngelCD said:
I'm one if those loaders who use 5.5gr W231 and with a fmj bullet my OAL is 1.255" because that's what my gun likes. With LRN bullets my OAL most times is 1.265".

The 5.5gr is not a heavy load and not over charged since my OAL is much longer than the 1.200" Hodgdon lists. Older Winchester manuals show loads that are well over 6.0gr.

thanks

LiveLife · Sep 15, 2016

CrankyCraig said:
230gr FMJ RN ... 5.3gr of win231

I checked the powder manufacturers website and it appears this is a max charge @ 1.200 OAL?

Hodgdon website used Flat Point (FP) FMJ bullet which normally gets loaded shorter but gets seated deeper in the case, which requires smaller powder charge to produce similar chamber pressures/velocities.

1999 Winchester load data used Round Nose FMJ bullet - http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=159609&stc=1&d=1329800605

230 gr Hornady FMJ FP W231 1.200" Start 4.2 gr (751 fps) 13,800 CUP - Max 5.3 gr (832 fps) 16,800 CUP

230 gr FMJ W231 Start 4.9 gr (695 fps) 14,900 PSI - Max 5.7 gr (830 fps) 19,200 PSI

OAL of 1.260 ... using a sig1911 with a 5" barrel

My Sig 1911 barrel has short leade (almost none), so I need to load some FMJ/RN plated bullets shorter or the nose will hit the start of rifling. So use your barrel to determine the max OAL - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=506678

With 230 gr bullet at 1.250"-1.260", 5.2 gr will reliably cycle most pistols but blow back some unburnt powder with some bullets and barrels with longer leade and I prefer to use 5.3 gr charge of W231/HP-38 (same powder as W231).

Comparison pictures showing factory CCI/PMC/Remington OALs

RMR 230 gr RN at 1.230" will work with SA/RIA 1911/M&P45 but for Sig 1911, I need to use 1.200"

Steve C · Sep 15, 2016

I guess my question is should I take these apart and scale it back some?

No reason to scale back. The data from Winchester lists 5.7 gr as the max load. I've chrono'd my loads of 5.5 gr of W231 lit by a Win LPP in a Winchester case bhind a Remington 230 gr FMJ at 795 fps fired out of a Colt Government model with 5" barrel. Very accurate load with a STDev of 6.86 fps.

I load 200 gr lead SWC with the same charge wt. of 5.5gr and get a 812 fps average velocity from the same gun. If I want higher velocities Unique is used.

CrankyCraig · Sep 15, 2016

bds said:
Hodgdon website used Flat Point (FP) FMJ bullet which normally gets loaded shorter but gets seated deeper in the case, which requires smaller powder charge to produce similar chamber pressures/velocities.

1999 Winchester load data used Round Nose FMJ bullet - http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=159609&stc=1&d=1329800605

My Sig 1911 barrel has short leade (almost none), so I need to load some FMJ/RN plated bullets shorter or the nose will hit the start of rifling. So use your barrel to determine the max OAL - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=506678

With 230 gr bullet at 1.250"-1.260", 5.2 gr will reliably cycle most pistols but blow back some unburnt powder with some bullets and barrels with longer leade and I prefer to use 5.3 gr charge of W231/HP-38 (same powder as W231).

Comparison pictures showing factory CCI/PMC/Remington OALs

RMR 230 gr RN at 1.230" will work with SA/RIA 1911/M&P45 but for Sig 1911, I need to use 1.200"

BDS Thank you for take nag the time to post all that. Lots of good information & I appreciate it.

CrankyCraig · Sep 15, 2016

Steve C said:
No reason to scale back. The data from Winchester lists 5.7 gr as the max load. I've chrono'd my loads of 5.5 gr of W231 lit by a Win LPP in a Winchester case bhind a Remington 230 gr FMJ at 795 fps fired out of a Colt Government model with 5" barrel. Very accurate load with a STDev of 6.86 fps.

I load 200 gr lead SWC with the same charge wt. of 5.5gr and get a 812 fps average velocity from the same gun. If I want higher velocities Unique is used.

Steve C Thank you for the information.

Hangingrock · Sep 15, 2016

Precision Delta 230Gr FMJ with a charge weight of 5.6Grs of HP38/W231. With no problem in regards to recoil thus management there of. Fifty-two years of shooting equivalent Mil-Spec Ball duplication loads FMJ and cast 230Gr bullets government, commercial and hand-loads equivalent.

Joshboyfutre · Sep 15, 2016

For my Springfield 1911 I load .45 w/ 5.1 hp-38(same as win231). My c.o.a.l. is 1.27. I get really good accuracy from 230g fmj & plated with that load. I just started reloading also, this summer I've loaded .380, 9mm, 45, 44mag for pistol and rifle, 223, & .308 without incident or injury lol. This is my go to website for good advice on shooting, reloading, and general firearm info. Its a wealth of knowledge with some smart ass mixed in to keep u on ur toes lol. In short u came to the right place

CrankyCraig · Sep 16, 2016

Joshboyfutre said:
For my Springfield 1911 I load .45 w/ 5.1 hp-38(same as win231). My c.o.a.l. is 1.27. I get really good accuracy from 230g fmj & plated with that load. I just started reloading also, this summer I've loaded .380, 9mm, 45, 44mag for pistol and rifle, 223, & .308 without incident or injury lol. This is my go to website for good advice on shooting, reloading, and general firearm info. Its a wealth of knowledge with some smart ass mixed in to keep u on ur toes lol. In short u came to the right place

Joshboyfutre cool good to know & thanks!

Nappers · Sep 16, 2016

Mine is:

5.5 W231, 230gr Hornady round nose, Winchester case, Remington Large Primer and set at 1.230 or I say 12:30 - lunch time!

Thanks to ArchAngelCD, my Colt Commander and Colt 1911A1 Government love the load. It's got a little kick, but groups awesome.

ArchAngelCD · Sep 16, 2016

Nappers said:
Mine is:

5.5 W231, 230gr Hornady round nose, Winchester case, Remington Large Primer and set at 1.230 or I say 12:30 - lunch time!

Thanks to ArchAngelCD, my Colt Commander and Colt 1911A1 Government love the load. It's got a little kick, but groups awesome.

I would love to take credit for that load but it has been around maybe longer than me. I appreciate the kind words though.

Guilty · Sep 16, 2016

My trusty load for my HK45 using Hornady 230gr FMJ RN with WIN231 and/or HP38 is:
Standard Load: 5.5 gr powder with 1.230 OAL
Soft Load: 5.3 gr powder with 1.230 OAL
As others have already stated, the OP's OAL of 1.260 should work fine as long as it passes the plunk test and cycles the action in the firearm, however, the 1.260 OAL might be soft shooting load or it might be perfect, only testing will confirm.

First 45acp loads

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