45 ACP load question

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ABL0916

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I have looked at a few different load data books but have found that "mimicking" someone's load is a safer way to start loading a new caliber.

I'm loading:

230gr FMJ (Berry's)
CCI Large Pistol primers
Alliant's Bullseye powder

I read in one of the books that 3.6 grains is a good starting load. Has anyone used this load? Is the "suggested start charge" the lowest charge I should do? Could I start with 3.4 grains? This load would be my plinking around load so I'm interested in a soft load.

I would be shooting out of a Kimber Pro Carry II with a 4" barrel.

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3.6 is too light, much less 3.4. That would be OK with lead, but not plated.

4.0 to start is more like it.

Welcome to THR
 
45 acp & 230gr Plated Bullet

If for a 1911/plated bullet, you need more powder. Bullsye 4.4gr to 4.6gr. with 230 should work. My guess, as i dont use plated bullets. If you were loading a 200 gr lead swc, then a very light load is 3.5 gr, but will not work a lot of actions unless the recoil spring is cut. Edit: i have to type faster, Walkalong beat me again.:)
 
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Alliant powder guide lists 5.7 MAX Bullseye with a Speer plated TMJ 230 RN seated 1.260" OAL giving 840 FPS.

Reduce 10% for starting load.
That would be 5.1 grains.

So, 5.0 grains should be good with the Berry 230-RN plated bullet if it will function your gun.

rc
 
I used to do alot of police matches with a 200 gr SWC cast bullet. It hit the required power factor for the matches.

I would load 5 grs of Bullseye which should be accurate and operate your action. Be Safe
 
"have found that "mimicking" someone's load is a safer way to start loading a new caliber."

I haven't found that to be true, the popular idea of "pet loads" is largely baseless.

Guns, reloads and women are individuals. You using your buddy's reload is no more likely to be effective than using his pick up line. You have no idea what will work best for you until you try it.
 
ranger335v said:
"

Guns, reloads and women are individuals. You using your buddy's reload is no more likely to be effective than using his pick up line. You have no idea what will work best for you until you try it.
Click to expand...

I agree with that, and besides it is so much fun to experiment with your own loads, when I load my own I usually load 10 rounds of different grain weights, set up 10 targets, take my note pad out with me and compare them all to what feels the best/ has best groups.

Just my 2 cents



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Berry's 230 Gr. bullet is my go-to bullet for the 45 ACP. For recreational target shooting, plinking and lower recoil I have settled in on:


Berrys 230 Gr. RN
4.0 Gr. Bullesye*
1.230 OAL
Taper crimp to .470 diameter


*This is a minimal load that I have arrived at through some incremental testing with one particular 1911. You may want to start at 4.5 Gr. and go up or down from there. I personally wouldn't ever go below 4.0 Gr. Bullseye.
 
45 ACP Rounds

With a 4 Inch barrel you may want to think about a lighter bullet.
When I switched to 4 Inch Sig 220s in IDPA from a 5 Inch 1911, I started
playing with lighter bullet weights and different powders.
I have been shooting the following combination for the past 7+ years.
Using it in everything from 4 & 5 Inch Sig 220 Match Guns to my SASS 1911s.
Oregon Trail 180 Gr SWC Bullets with with 5 Gr of American Select Powder.
The Round exceeds Power Floors for SASS, USPSA & IDPA with room to spare.
Hagen
 
I have a full size S&W 1911 and I use 230gr FMJ (remington), lg pistol winchester primers and 5.0 gr of Bullseye (1.230 OAL). Nice snappy loads (not overly) that cycles the gun just fine. Sends nice groups downrange at 50'.
 
I load with a Lee Classic Cast Turret Press using the Auto Disk Pro. With Bullseye Powder two of the holes on the Auto Disk are just about perfect. The .53 & .57. My my loads are 230gr Berry's RN, mix brass, CCI Primer, and 4.8 (.53) or 5.2gr (.57) of Bullseye powder.
 
I went to Alliant's website and used the "Ask an Expert" option and emailed one of their staff my loading question. Here was my question...

"I need some start/max info on reloading .45 ACP with Green Dot powder.
The bullets are 230g FMJ, Winchester primers. Thanks. I used 5.4
grains on 5 loads and they worked, but now I am second guessing myself."

Their response came a couple days later...

"I recommend from 5 to 5.5 grs. Thanks for your note.

Ben Amonette
Consumer Service Manager
Alliant Powder Company"

Pretty good service I thought.
 
Makes sense. 5 to 5.5 Grs is where W-231 shines with 230 Gr plated as well.

And Ben should know if anybody does. ;)
 
OP just to clarify, my question to Ben at Alliant was regarding Green Dot powder so I don't want you to get misinformed here.
 
Safest way to develop a load is with either the powder manufacturer's most recent data sheet or with the latest Lyman or other loading manual. Use exactly the components listed for the "starting" load and go from there.

Best way to have a disaster is to use someone else's pet load that you have not verified from a manual. With the exception of black powder loads I'll not share powder weights for my pets..great way to hurt yourself or someone else. I'll share bullet, case, primer and powder type and then say, "book recommended weight".

Too many guns turned to shrapnel with someone else's load.

BTW, I loaded commercial for 20 plus years and know a little about the science, though I don't consider myself a true expert or guru.
 
ABL0916 said:
I have looked at a few different load data books but have found that "mimicking" someone's load is a safer way to start loading a new caliber.



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Click to expand...


....as long as that load you're mimicking can be verified by a published manual. Asking for someplace to start or someones favorite loads is a good way to get a GENERAL idea of what MAY work, but unless it's been tested with the right equipment and can be verified to fall within SAAMI specs, I'd shy away.
 
ABL0916, the load I use in my Kimber Royal II and my Colt Gold Cup National Match is 3.5 grns of Bullseye under an Armscor 230 Grn jacketed round nose bullet. The load is listed in Lymans 45th manual as a "accuracy load"....and it is very accurate. It is also the starting load. The main thing here is that the load has enough "umph" to cycle your pistol consistantly as well as being accurate.

I found this out when working up a load for my Browning Hi-power. I started with the suggested starting load for the bullet I was using and they would not cycle in spite of the fact that they were extremely accurate from that pistol.
 
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PapaG: Best way to have a disaster is to use someone else's pet load that you have not verified from a manual.
Click to expand...

I agree. Always check a manual, and maybe two. Pet loads are often good ideas, but you need to work up to them just as you would any load.
 
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