Sanity check on 45 acp load

Sounds like a pretty hot load to me.

I see the load you're talking about but that is the only load over 5.6gr Bullseye I can find across 7 different sources. I think 6.0gr is only safe with that exact bullet and I would proceed with caution.

brewer12345 said:

I tried out my new xdm with some factory ball and a couple ladders based on bullseye. With my home cast 200 grain swc the most accurate load.was with 6 grains. That is the top of the lyman 4 cast bullet manual range. I saw no obvious pressure signs, although with brass flying everywhere I could not really look at it to check the primers. Does this strike anyone as a foolhardy load to use? It is in a manual and not marked as +p, so likely safe, but I usually stay away from top end loads.

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Is there a reason you couldn’t go pick some up to inspect them?

brewer12345 said:

I tried out my new xdm with some factory ball and a couple ladders based on bullseye. With my home cast 200 grain swc the most accurate load.was with 6 grains. That is the top of the lyman 4 cast bullet manual range. I saw no obvious pressure signs, although with brass flying everywhere I could not really look at it to check the primers. Does this strike anyone as a foolhardy load to use? It is in a manual and not marked as +p, so likely safe, but I usually stay away from top end loads.

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IMO if you feel even the slightest bit apprehensive about shooting a load, and you dont NEED to shoot it dont. Its hard to shoot well when you get that niggling little doubt in the back of your mind.

Just as a note, Ive run full .45 super class loads thru a regular XD with nothing more than a 20lb spring. The pistol was working harder than I liked, ejections were in the 10ft range, but it digested the ammo with no issues. Compensated, and sprung heavier, ive taken them to much higher that and had zero issue besides the gun trying to squirm around pretty good.
I was using Super brass, but even regular .45 acp brass is pretty tough. I dont recommend TRYING to get high output on regular brass, but i dont think your way out of line.

brewer12345 said:

5.6 shot well, too, so perhaps that is a better choice.

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again if that load shoots well and you dont need (REALLY want) the extra energy, id suggest using that.

I get worried about hot loads, they may seem okay one day and over the top the next. Sometimes a rise of 5 deg F can do that.

Playing at the top end with fast powders is a game I don’t like to play.

Alliant reports a 6gr load for 45ACP, with a Speer 230 gr CPRN. For a 13% reduction in bullet weight, and cast ilo of jacketed, I think you're warm but fine.

I would try a mag full that's been baking in a hot car all day, just to see if there's a difference.

In the 80s, when IPSC was coming into its own in Canada, I was dragged into this sport where you could run around, on a range, with a Colt 45 in a holster? I thought I had died and gone to heaven.
The powder I used was a shotgun powder? DuPont 700X. Bought in Buffalo, in 12 lb cans.

My load, 5.2 of 700X with a 200g semi-wadcutter lead projectile, I cast on the balcony of my apartment. No, not in the Winter! Hensly and Gibbs #68? Don't remember.
This load made major, no signs of overpressure.

brewer12345 said:

Didn't get a look at the brass because I did not think to do so until it was several feet behind me in a mixed pile.

Guess I will try again and work around the 4.5 to 5 grain area. I got some leading as well, so I need to fool with the lube anyway.

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To give you some idea of actual recorded velocity when I checked my Bullseye/200 grain loads, I got:

5.5 grains/commercial H&G 68 style "hardcast" 200 grain SWC

1911A1 = 960 fps avg
SIG P220 = 920 fps avg


5.5 grains/Lee 200 grain TL SWC (alloy used was about 204 grains)

1911A1 = 980 fps avg
SIG P220 = 940 fps avg


4.5 grains/commercial H&G 68 style "hardcast" 200 grain SWC

1911A1 = 780 fps avg
SIG P220 = 745 fps avg

These were recorded 24 years ago with fairly current for the time Bullseye, but I seem to recall that even when testing Bullseye from the late 60's, results were very in-line... Been getting the job done well, for well over a century. Might consider giving your bullets a nice roll around in Lee Liquid ALOX - just a thin coat, I have found helps with what you mention. Good luck.

Another thought; Hefty loads while they might be "safe to shoot" can/will batter a gun apart much faster than lighter more "sane" loads (I've read of 1911 frames cracking and some slides cracking). I experienced this with my first 44 Magnum, a 629. I had a good case of "Magnumitis" and used near max and some max loads and shot it a lot (I guess I like the muzzle blast and recoil, and mebbe the looks from the other shooters at the range). I had to send it back to the factory after 6-8 months of extra heavy loads to have the barrel clocked and the gun "tightened up"...

A improperly fit barrel will crack a slide and receiver. Weak springs will beat them up as well, as well as to strong recoil spring. The only function of the RS us to feed a round from the magazine. The main/hammer springs does all the work on recoil slowing things down. There are many ways to slow a slide down, the best is with the square bottom/small radius FP retainer. This does more to slow the slide down more than anything else. There was also a time period where there were some junk improperly heat treated slides and receiver.

I don't believe in punishing a gun with a continuous diet of heavy/hot loads. I normally don't shoot 1 mag/cylinder every 1000 rounds these day. In my younger years I would do 1 mag/cyl every 50-100 rounds.