.45 ACP Loads for Carbines

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GarandMan94

GarandMan94

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hi,
I was wondering if anyone had a .45 ACP load recommendation that is strong enough to work in a blow back carbine but light enough to shoot a 1911 comfortably. My current load is 230gr FMJ with 4.7 grains of Bullseye Powder would that work? I really dont want to have a squib stuck in the barrel.
I am asking this in anticipation of a potential release of a .45 ACP Ruger PCC
Im ok with personal recommendations but id be more comfortable if the data came with a source.
 
If I had to guess I would say the Ruger PCC in .45 ACP is a pipe dream. Nothing about it at SHOT. Darn it anyway, I really wanted one.

Your standard load should work just fine in a carbine length barrel though.
 
I shoot the same load in my 45 ACP carbine that I shoot in my Colt's and Glocks. If it's reliable in your pistol it'll be fine in a carbine with no problems with a bullet stuck in a longer barrel. One load I shoot in my carbine is 6.0 grains of Unique and 230 FMJ's and shoots great. It would take a very slow bullet to stick in a carbine barrel.
 
I would probably head for the slower powders... like Unique and BE-86. My standard .45 load, 6.5grn Unique under a 230grn FMJ, would probably work well... but like RG says, I would probably start at 6.0grn and work up... depending on the action. The longer barrel would benefit from a slower burning powder... I found that out with my .41MAG carbine vs my pistols.
 
Charlie98 said:
I would probably head for the slower powders... like Unique and BE-86. My standard .45 load, 6.5grn Unique under a 230grn FMJ, would probably work well... but like RG says, I would probably start at 6.0grn and work up... depending on the action. The longer barrel would benefit from a slower burning powder... I found that out with my .41MAG carbine vs my pistols.
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I agree about the slower powder in a carbine barrel. I have some 45 Auto loads with 230 gr. FMJ using AA-5. Just waiting for the chance to get out and try them. I have some ol' geezer loads (literal name given them), using WST, that are soft. They run well out of a handgun, and may well make it out of the carbine barrel. But I suspect that at some point in the barrel, the bullet would start slowing down.
 
I will add that there's no need to wait for Ruger - Hi Point, whose carbines are excellent by the way -rugged, reliable, accurate and very affordable, offers carbines in .380, 9mm. .40, .45ACP and their newest version in 10mm.

I shoot the same 9mm reloads in my handguns and MY 995 Hi Point carbine - the old planet-of-the-apes model - lol
 
kcofohio said:
I agree about the slower powder in a carbine barrel. I have some 45 Auto loads with 230 gr. FMJ using AA-5. Just waiting for the chance to get out and try them. I have some ol' geezer loads (literal name given them), using WST, that are soft. They run well out of a handgun, and may well make it out of the carbine barrel. But I suspect that at some point in the barrel, the bullet would start slowing down.
Click to expand...
I found that to slow is a no go for my Marlin camp 45, the blow back action in the Marlin has it's limits. I can run Accurate #7 in my 1911's but not in the Camp without a lot of unburnt powder in the action.
I have had very Good results with Accurate #5 and Unique in my Camp 45.
 
rg1 said:
I shoot the same load in my 45 ACP carbine that I shoot in my Colt's and Glocks. If it's reliable in your pistol it'll be fine in a carbine with no problems with a bullet stuck in a longer barrel. One load I shoot in my carbine is 6.0 grains of Unique and 230 FMJ's and shoots great. It would take a very slow bullet to stick in a carbine barrel.
Click to expand...

I do the same, my pistol loads work just fine in my carbine. I use 230 RN bullets and 5.0 grains 700-X powder.

(Note, this is max per Hodgdon's data so approach carefully)
 
The slower powders get the most velocity regardless of barrel length, but they also bring more recoil etc, and sometimes it isn't worth it. As has also been posted some blow black actions suffer from heavy charges of slow powder.

Back when I had a blow back .45 ACP carbine (Mech Tech), I ran my normal W-231 loads. I did not try to hot rod it.
 
Walkalong said:
Back when I had a blow back .45 ACP carbine (Mech Tech), I ran my normal W-231 loads. I did not try to hot rod it.
Click to expand...
Same here. Standard Win 231 loads for the 1911 run well in carbines. I use the same loads in subguns with 10” barrels and carbines with 16” barrels. Not much velocity increase in the longer barrels from the fast powders, but it still does what I need.

If I want more power, I go to a different gun / cartridge.
 
My son has a Kriss Vector 45acp and according to Kriss they recommend a velocity of 900 fps for proper cycling of the weapon., that being said we've shot some 850 fps rounds with no issues. BTW that weapon will definitely put a smile on your face, very accurate and fun to shoot.
 
Big Wes said:
My son has a Kriss Vector 45acp and according to Kriss they recommend a velocity of 900 fps for proper cycling of the weapon., that being said we've shot some 850 fps rounds with no issues. BTW that weapon will definitely put a smile on your face, very accurate and fun to shoot.
Click to expand...

900 fps is a pretty stout .45 ACP load if you're using 230 ball.
 
900 FPS isn't hot when you consider the longer barrel. I've got 210 grain lead SWCs over 1,200 using Blue Dot with out any issues. Using a max load I got 1,250 but the gun started to really kick and the case head started to get marred from the ejector.
 
I got a Hi-Point 45 ACP carbine and when I made some handloads for it I figgered the gun was designed around a handgun cartridge, so it will probably work quite well with handgun level ammo (except the H-P isn't +P rated). I haven't gotten the chrony out yet to check any loads, but the gun has worked 100% with the same loads I use in my RIA 1911 and my Ruger P90. I have a "just in case" load of a 230 gr FMJ over a "classic" load of Bullseye and I keep a bunch handy to grab and go, just in case (tsunamis earthquakes and forest fires in my area). This load works successfully and accurately in all 3 of my 45s
 
I don't know about a 45 acp carbine but my regular 9mm loads (and basic factory loads) work just fine in the 9mm Ruger Carbine
115 gr and 124 grain.

Kind of the cart before the horse, without the actual "carbine" it is impossible to tell what will or will not work in it. If Ruger makes it I am sure it would be able to use standard velocity ammo.
 
Last edited:
reddog81 said:
900 FPS isn't hot when you consider the longer barrel. I've got 210 grain lead SWCs over 1,200 using Blue Dot with out any issues. Using a max load I got 1,250 but the gun started to really kick and the case head started to get marred from the ejector.
Click to expand...

True. I was stuck in 5" mode.
 
I did not have a chrono back when I had the .45 carbine, it would be interesting to know what FPS it gave vs 5" pistol barrels. After testing a lot of 9MM in barrels from 3" to 16" with fast and slow powders, I can guess at it, and a 50 FPS increase from 5" to 16" with say a W-231 to AA #5 burn rate sounds reasonable.
 
Walkalong said:
I did not have a chrono back when I had the .45 carbine, it would be interesting to know what FPS it gave vs 5" pistol barrels. After testing a lot of 9MM in barrels from 3" to 16" with fast and slow powders, I can guess at it, and a 50 FPS increase from 5" to 16" with say a W-231 to AA #5 burn rate sounds reasonable.
Click to expand...
if I remember correctly 16" barrel 45 acp blow back will see little gain in velocity with a 230gr bullet maybe 50 fps. But with a 185gr bullet the gain is around 200-250 fps over a 5" locked breech action.
 
joneb said:
if I remember correctly 16" barrel 45 acp blow back will see little gain in velocity with a 230gr bullet maybe 50 fps. But with a 185gr bullet the gain is around 200-250 fps over a 5" locked breech action.
Click to expand...
I had a lot of people tell me that 9mm in carbine would not see much increase, but I saw 250 fps with mine. But, I was using 115gn bullets, light for caliber, so there may be something to your statement about the 185gn bullets.
 
Toprudder said:
I had a lot of people tell me that 9mm in carbine would not see much increase, but I saw 250 fps with mine.
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Fast powders gain little to none, while slower powders can take better advantage of the longer barrel. My 124 Gr/N320 load it gets no more FPS, but full power loads with slow powders do. I have posted some of the numbers before.
 
These are 9MM and not .45 ACP, but should give some indication of what to expect with slower vs faster powders in different barrel lengths, While the slowest powders will always give us the fastest velocities in shorter barrels, they can really take advantage of the longer barrels vs the fast powders.

3.9 Grs N320 and a Powerbond 124 gr HP @ 73 Degrees 83% RH
3" EMP 4.5" XDm 5" Colt Series 80 5" S&W Pro 16" RRA AR
HI 947 HI 1057 HI 1082 HI 1058 HI 1079
LO 934 LO 1039 LO 1056 LO 1044 LO 1040
AVG 939 AVG 1050 AVG 1068 AVG 1051 AVG 1055
ES 13 ES 18 ES 26 ES 14 ES 39
SD 5 SD 6 SD 8 SD 4 SD 14

7.2 Grs 3N37 & a Sierra (Overrun, looks like Sig VCrown) 90 Gr JHP @ 1.018 OAL @ 80 Degrees 22% RH
3" EMP 4.5" XDm 5" Colt Series 80 5" S&W Pro 16" RRA AR
HI 1303 HI 1438 HI 1488 HI 1468 HI 1660
LO 1263 LO 1366 LO 1429 LO 1416 LO 1612
AVG 1283 AVG 1404 AVG 1463 AVG 1446 AVG 1630
ES 40 ES 72 ES 59 ES 52 ES 48
SD 14 SD 26 SD 22 SD 17 SD 17

5.5 Grs Silhouette & an RMR 124 Gr JHP MPR @ 1.070 to 1.075 OAL @ 90 Degrees 32% RH
3" S&W Shield 5" Colt Series 80 16" RRA AR
HI 1034 HI 1172 HI 1195
LO 1008 LO 1133 LO 1167
AVG 1021 AVG 1157 AVG 1179
ES 26 ES 39 ES 28
SD 7 SD 12 SD 10

9.2 Grs 3N37 and a LeHigh 65 Gr @ 1.100 OAL @ 56 Degrees 63% RH
3" S&W Shield 4.5" XDm 5" Colt Series 80 16" RRA AR
HI 1606 HI 1857 HI 1893 HI 2136
LO 1559 LO 1804 LO 1841 LO 2076
AVG 1587 AVG 1824 AVG 1863 AVG 2111
ES 47 ES 53 ES 52 ES 60
SD 17 SD 17 SD 21 SD 24

These numbers are for information purposes only, may have typos, should be considered max, especially the 90 Gr JHP & LeHigh 65 Gr with 3N37, and worked up very carefully if you try them.
 
I shoot a Lee powder coated 200 gr. SWC in my Ruger P90DC and my Hi Point 45 ACP carbine using 6.9 grs. of Power Pistol which I throw with a #10 rotor in my RCBS Little Dandy. It's an accurate load in both the handgun and carbine. I get an average of 1010 fps. with 10 shots in the carbine.
FgNrzl7.jpg
 
joneb said:
if I remember correctly 16" barrel 45 acp blow back will see little gain in velocity with a 230gr bullet maybe 50 fps. But with a 185gr bullet the gain is around 200-250 fps over a 5" locked breech action.
Click to expand...

I experimented with a 1911 and a Hi-Point .45 carbine a few years ago. The best bullet I found was Berry's plated, hollow-base 185 grain round nose projectile. Extremely accurate and could be loaded to a high velocity without high pressure.

I've never sat down and calculated out BBTI's numbers to identify trends, but I've always felt there's some kind of relationship between caliber and efficiency in straight-walled cases shot out of rifle barrels. Rounds around .35 caliber--.38 Special/.357 Mag /9mm--seem to realize bigger gains of velocity in carbines than the .45 Auto and even .44 Magnum. The latter is much higher pressure though so the effect isn't as large. But I concluded that for a pistol-caliber carbine, nothing beats the .357 Magnum for velocity. .44 Magnum has bigger bullets, so has more power on impact, but the .357 shoots flatter.
 
WVGunman said:
I experimented with a 1911 and a Hi-Point .45 carbine a few years ago. The best bullet I found was Berry's plated, hollow-base 185 grain round nose projectile. Extremely accurate and could be loaded to a high velocity without high pressure.

I've never sat down and calculated out BBTI's numbers to identify trends, but I've always felt there's some kind of relationship between caliber and efficiency in straight-walled cases shot out of rifle barrels. Rounds around .35 caliber--.38 Special/.357 Mag /9mm--seem to realize bigger gains of velocity in carbines than the .45 Auto and even .44 Magnum. The latter is much higher pressure though so the effect isn't as large. But I concluded that for a pistol-caliber carbine, nothing beats the .357 Magnum for velocity. .44 Magnum has bigger bullets, so has more power on impact, but the .357 shoots flatter.
Click to expand...
I think you are right about 357 vs 9mm or 45acp, and I think it all has to do with case volume. You can fill up the 357 case with a slower burning powder than you can use in 45acp. For me, 357 and 44 both really shine in long barrels when using 300-MP
 
WVGunman said:
I've never sat down and calculated out BBTI's numbers to identify trends, but I've always felt there's some kind of relationship between caliber and efficiency in straight-walled cases shot out of rifle barrels.
Click to expand...

There is a correlation between bore size and barrel length efficiency. A 358 Winchester doesn't gain as much in a 26" vs a 16" compared to a 243 Winchester. The wider bullets allow for much more volumetric space for the power to expand per inch of barrel the bullet travels.
 
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