255 LSWC in 45 acp, What powder???

[Brian Williams]

Anybody load 45 ACP with 255 Gr LSWC or 250 gr LRNFP, I was thinking about 5.5 gr of 231.

I already load 230 LRN and it is a great load, but a 250 or 255 gr bullet would be a kick in the pants.

 

[HSMITH]

I have done it with a big dose of Unique, there is data for Unique on the net too. My manuals are out on loan right now so I can't look up the load I used, sorry.

With that big pill make darn sure setback is not going to happen and keep the OAL out there as long as you can. Heavy bullets and setback are really bad together, but mitigated somewhat by slower powders.

Don't be surprised to have your gun hit quite high with the starting loads and POI come down with added powder. I would also be surprised if you could get a fixed sight gun to shoot to POA before pressures got pretty stout with the 255's.

 

[WESHOOT2]

NO WAIT!

That much W231 might dismantle your launch platform rather abruptly.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND starting with new cases (sized, IMI, W-W, Federal), CCI300, 3.8g W231 (starting load, but work up in .1g increments and CHRONO!), OAL 1.180"-1.aslongasyouwant, based on your gun and its ability to reliably feed.

Caution is key as the short OAL's required for these stubbies to feed can have an interesting effect on pressure.
In my gun, using Meister 250g LRN-FP intended for 45 Colt (actual 252g) I go with 1.183".

 

[Bob C]

I used Blue Dot for this experiment a few years ago, and it did well in a S&W 4506, not so well in a 1911.

Use data from a reoading manual, start low, and work up carefully.

In my experiments, the OAL that allowed the case mouth to come about 1/32" below the shoulder gave the best feeding.

 

[stans]

I used to use WSL (discontinued) in light charges under a 255 gr LSWC in 45 ACP during my last days as an IPSC shooter. It worked well, but I would not mess with bullets heavier than 230 grains in 45 ACP now.

 

[griz]

For max loads I used AA #5 and for practice I used Titegroup. I was a bit surprised but those big 255's feed through my Ruger without a problem. I never tried them in a 1911.

 

[dandean316]

5.5 of 231 seems quite hot.

I have the 255 gr with 4.5 of 231 for pins that seem to work well.

Am I right in saying you want a faster powder for the 255 gr because of pressure concerns with the slower powders?

 

[HSMITH]

Am I right in saying you want a faster powder for the 255 gr because of pressure concerns with the slower powders?

Nope, actually it is just the opposite. Slower powders will help you lower pressures when used in appropriate quantities.

 

[Cortland]

I use 5.0 gr. of Unique with a 250 gr. LRNFP (.45 Colt bullets) in some .45 ACP I load for my Ruger P90. It really slaps those bowling pins off the table

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Heavy loads in a 45

I am not comfortable hearing about heavier bullets than the standard 230 gr bullet and experimenting with it in hot loads whether it is done elsewhere or not. The least that can happen is to create undue wear on your pistol and depending on the quality of the pistol, how long it is stressed and the accuracy of the ammo powder measuring, weapons can come apart.

I discontinued use of shotgun 700X in 45's because of its high and fast pressure curve that wore out brass as the first indication that I did not like whether it was an economical powder to use or not

General Thompson of the Tommygun fame developed the round from a cut off 30-06 casing to be a trench clearing gun in WW1. He tested the Browning 45acp pistol design adopted by Colt to distruction with 8-10 grains of bullseye and that was with a standard 230 gr .451 bullet and a new Colt 45. The pistol flew apart from where it was tied down I was informed by my National Guard rifle team captain General Hardy.

Men that test the limits for "kicks" can get kicked thereby giving business to emergency rooms. I have heard many sad stories.

 

[Riphalman]

Don't be afraid......

the 1911 will handle a 255 gr bullet. Slower burning powders are the way to go with heavier than normal projectiles. Unique would be my first choice. Do your homework with regards to charge levels and work up slowly.

 

[zeke]

5.0 gns Unique , under 255 lrnfp gives about 750 fps from 5 incher, extremely accurate. The COL is 1.240, used in a chamber that accomodates this length.

COL may depend on the diam bullet used and how a pistol's chamber is cut. Many 250 lrnfp's appear to be from molds sized for older chamber mouths of the 45 LC. These leaves a full diameter in front of the cannelure, and may jam into your chamber if seated too long (cannelure in front of case mouth). You may be able to deal with this by seating the bullet so case mouth is in front of the cannelure, or by resizing the bullet to .451 or .452.

Lee's 255 lrnfp mold has a reduced diam in front of the cannelure (approx .448), which allows it to be seated out further. It also has a very large meplat.

If attempting to drive a hard lead 255 gn lrnfp up to any speed, advise considering sizing them down to .451.

 

[Quantrill]

I used 4.0gr of 700X under a 240gr RNL (Lyman #452400) bullet and considered that absolute max. I would be very careful of heavier bullets in the .45acp. In early reloading books (circa 1940s) there were people who said that auto cartridges should not be reloaded at all. I don't agree with that but think that extra care would be merited. Quantrill

 

[BobC]

For my S&W 625 revolver with a 5 inch barrel, I use 45 acp brass with 6.0 grains of Unique behind a 255 lead SWC from T&T Reloading and a Win large pistol primer. It’s quite accurate in the revolver and pleasant to shoot.

I am hard pressed to remember the inspiration for this load. I did work up from lower loadings. No adverse pressure effects were noted when shooting this combination in the revolver. I have not tried it in an auto. (For a 45 acp, the Speer #13 manual lists 5.8 – 6.3 grains of Unique for a 260 grain JHP with velocities of 752 to 821, but comparing cast to jacketed is apples & oranges.)

For other powders:
the Accurate web site includes the following loads for a .45 auto rim with a 255 lead SWC (and Modern Reloading by Lee repeats these loads for a 250 gr lead bullet in 45 acp) :
AA #2 4.7 – 5.2 vel = 710 – 807
AA #5 6.2 – 6.9 vel = 733 – 833
AA #7 8.6 – 9.5 vel = 744 – 846
AA #9 10.8 – 12.0 vel = 769 – 874
(I intend to investigate these options soon, but can not confirm anything at this time.)

Expect a heavy bullet to hit high. Slower velocities mean the bullet is still in the barrel when the gun is starting to recoil and the barrel will be pointing up when the bullet exits.

Please post a thread back to the forum, advising us of your range results.

- Bob C

 

[Edward429451]

I experimented with that load awhile back, after reading a gunrag article about it.

I used 5.0g Unique and they were very accurate. I didn't shoot many of them cuz the article described a C.Commander that cracked the frame by the slidestop hole from using them. (A lot of them)