.45 acp load advice

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cdb.308

cdb.308

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I am just getting into loading .45 acp and have a few questions. My components are as follows.

Once fired brass, mostly Federal and PMC headstamp.

Berry's 230 grain plated RN.

Remington 2 1/2 primers for the large primered PMC brass and CCI 500 primers for the small primered Federal brass.

IMR 700x powder.

Berry's advice for their bullets is to use lead data or low jacketed data. In most calibers I notice lead data typically calls for lower charge weights than jacketed of the same bullet weight. In .45, IMR's website and my Lyman manual call for the same or even higher charge weights for lead bullets of the same or similar weights. COAL also varies from 1.200" to 1.275".
What would be a good starting point for this load? It will be fired through a very old 1911 so I want keep the pressure and velocity just high enough to reliably feed and cycle the pistol. Any advice would be appreciated (except bad advice). Thanks.
 
start at the low end and work up 4.4 start 5.3 max in my book 950 fps w/17900CUP I would use just what it takes to work the slide then work on the grouping.Be safe!
CC
 
I'm fan of 700x with plated bullets

most of my data shows max of 5.0 with 700x. I use that with xtreme plated 230gr. One of my go to loads. Shoots well out of my Taurus 1911. I could easily drop it down to around 4.5 grains and it would probably still cycle just fine.

Whenever anyone talks about using 700x, someone has to chime in and say "It meters like corn flakes!" There. I said it first, but it still meters accurately enough for me.
 
I use 700-X almost exclusively with 230 RN bullets in my 45 ACP. I found a charge thT works great with cast, plated and jacketed.

700-X meters great for me. The main thing to do is operate the measure the same way everytime.
 
I like the Berry's bullets. Just loaded some 230 grain RN this evening. I use range brass which is separated by headstamps as much as possible . CCI small pistol primers. HiSkor 700x powder with a start load of 4.4 grains. COL 1.26. Max load of 4.9 grains.
 
Had to dig a bit to find my 700x data.

I had 4.3 230gr Lee LRN at 850fps and noted it was 'snappy/warm'. 4.1 was milder at 780fps.

I stopped using it as it felt a bit warm compared to the same FPS with other powders. PB was pretty good.
 
[QUOTEcdb.308] Berry's advice for their bullets is to use lead data or low jacketed data. [/QUOTE]

Not exactly, Here is what Barry's recommends.

We recommend using hard cast load data or start with mid-range jacketed data.
Click to expand...

http://www.berrysmfg.com/faq-q21-c1-Load_Data_for_Berrys_Preferred_Plated_Bullets.aspx


Hodgdon has 230gr Lead data and 230gr Jacketed data on thier web site.

Lead.
Code: 
 IMR	700-X	.452"	1.200"		Start 4.5	831	14,500 CUP		Max 5.0	893	17,700 CUP

Jacketed.
Code: 
IMR	700-X	.451"	1.200"		Start 4.4	758	12,700 CUP		Max 4.9	842	16,600 CUP

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol
 
FWIW, Western Powders data show an OAL of 1.237" for Berry's 230 gr. RN. I know that isn't the powder you're using, but it may help as a reference point.
 
Here are loads I've done.

700X powder, Xtreme 230 plated RN, 1.225 COL, Winchester small primer, 4.5" barrel.

4.5gn, 707fps
4.7gn, 721fps

You can expect about 30-40 fps more with large primers, and maybe 50 fps more with a 5" barrel. 800fps is, IMHO, about as fast as you would want to go with a 230gn bullet.
 
As far as metering, 700x does not meter as well as other powders. I've had the best luck with my RCBS Uniflow measure when I used the optional baffle. On my Dillon measure, I rubber-band an aquarium pump to the hopper, the vibrations help settle the powder into the charge bar more consistently.

Good luck.
 
Trailboss is a good option for light loads in 45acp. I use it exclusively with with my light 200gr loads.

IMR lists a max load of 4.5 grains for a 230 grain bullet.

I cant recall my exact charge weight but it was light. Just enough to reliably cycle the action on my R-1 Enhanced. If it was limp-wristed it wouldn't run.

Very soft, and fun shooting. Accurate too!
 
"...Hodgdon has 230gr Lead data..." Just using Hodgdon's 230 grain cast data will save you a lot of mucking about.
Manuals give the Max OAL with a bullet. That'd be the heaviest bullet tested. It'll vary a bit by bullet shape too.
They also vary the powder charge because manuals reflect conditions on the day of the test only. None of 'em are wrong. There are all kinds of variables that will affect pressures. Your pistol won't be bothered by any load found in any manual.
 
for what it's worth I use berries 230 grain plated bullet also and I always set them to 1.250 coal. that works great in my 1911
 
I load the Berrys 230 Gr RN between 1.260 to 1.265 OAL and it works in all my pistols.

700X shoots a whole lot better than it meters, but it doesn't meter as badly as some make it out.
 
Walkalong said:
I load the Berrys 230 Gr RN between 1.260 to 1.265 OAL and it works in all my pistols.

700X shoots a whole lot better than it meters, but it doesn't meter as badly as some make it out.
Click to expand...

Agree on the 700x. With some powders the velocity changes greater with a small change in charge. My opinion is that 700x is forgiving in charge variations.
 
Some of my very best 45 loads ever were loaded with 700x. Ironically the same powder charge gave me the best accuracy under both 200gr and 230gr lead bullets of any profile. I used to love it for that reason. 4.6 grains was my magic number.

It was tough to meter it but I found that it's not a super sensitive powder in relation to variations in charge weight. If shooting for 5.0 grains and you got 4.8 or 5.2 you probably wouldn't notice it on target.
 
I like the performance I got with 700-x, but it's a pain to measure and there are other powders that perform as well and measure better, so I have not bought it again. Sure, it works, but so does WST. And WSH. And Bullseye. And AA#5. And AutoComp. Just to name a few. And all meter well. I'd use it if it was all I had, though.
 
I already liked 700X in .38 Spl & .44 Spl with lead bullets, so when I saw a 5 Lb metal can of it at a gun show for $50 walking away (A good dela even then), I did just that. Just couldn't pass that up. I still have some of it. The first 700X I ever bought was in a brown paper bag left over from an old shot shell reloaders stash.

I too think AA #2 is a great powder. :)
 
I loves me 700x in 45 and 38.
In 45 my load is 3.8 grains under a 200gr swc
Gives me right about 700fps
Perfect paper puncher in my full size 1911 lightly sprung
 
Walkalong said:
I already liked 700X in .38 Spl & .44 Spl with lead bullets, so when I saw a 5 Lb metal can of it at a gun show for $50 walking away (A good dela even then), I did just that. Just couldn't pass that up. I still have some of it. The first 700X I ever bought was in a brown paper bag left over from an old shot shell reloaders stash.



I too think AA #2 is a great powder. :)
Click to expand...


I started reloading 45 ACP with 700x. First caliber and first powder. I had a couple hundred Winchester cases I had fired and a half brick of Winchester primers. It was on a Lee 25 dollar single stage. Hand weighing every charge because I couldn't afford a powder measure.

Nowadays I use AA#2 for those kind of loads. Flies through my measures so much better, burns clean, and makes very accurate ammo.

But why an I telling you this? You and I are probably the two biggest proponents of it on this site.
 
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