45 acp loading questions

[lonewolf5347]

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I been reloading for some time 40 plus years but pistol reloading it been a long time think I stop back in the 80's .
I am going to get back into it for the 1911 SA mil-spec and have a few questions? need help on.
I see a few bullets of choice I would like to use
OREGON TRAIL LASER CAST 230 GRAIN RN BB .452 DIA
BERRY'S PLATED BULLETS 230 GRAIN RN .451
RAINER BULLETS 230 GRAIN RN .451 DIA
I like to here from guys who use the above and what is the better choice,I also see.451 or 452 dia:
Powder selection
ACCURATE NUMBER 2
BULLSEYE
WINCHESTER WST
I have a few reloading books but they date back to the 70's

 

[trueblue1776]

Diameter depends on composition, bare lead is .001" bigger than the plated or jacketed.

 

[Archie]

I've had good results from Oregon Trail bullets, and Berry's as well. I'm not sure I've ever used Rainer, but they're about the same as Berry's, as far as I can tell.

I'd go with the least expensive for a first choice. I'm pragmatic that way.

Bullseye is still just fine for normal pressure/velocity 45 loads. Accurate #2 is about in the same zone; I've never used WST. I've used lots and lots of WW231 and some amount of Clays in 45 ACP; but the Clays mostly for light target loads.

Yeah, it's more confusing that it used to be. But not overwhelmingly so. Welcome back to pistol loading.

 

[Walkalong]

All three of those powders work well in the .45. I would try Bullseye first with lead. AA#2 and WST work very well with plated bullets such as the Berry's and Raniers. The Ranier 200 Gr. SWC is very accurate. For the 230 Gr. RN I much prefer the Berry's. W231 and Clays, as suggested, do very well too. W231 and lead in the .45 is hard to beat.

 

[captain54]

I am very happy with the Laser Cast bullets. If your gun will feed SWC, I would suggest you try the 200 grain LSWC from Laser Cast. They were noticably more accurate than the 230gr that you are looking at. I use W231 for the lead bullets at various weights depending on what I am shooting at (paper, steel, bowling pins. etc.)

 

[philbo]

I have used both Berry's and Rainer's with very good results. Prefer the plated to lead as much of my shooting is indoors, but Oregon Trail has a good reputation if you prefer lead. Any of the powders would do fine. For updated info without the cost of buying new manuals, try the following links:

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/Index.htm
http://www.accuratepowder.com/reloading.htm

 

[kellyj00]

not to hijack, but the best prices I've seen are at Gardener's Cache.com (google it)

Anyone know if this guy's stuff is decent?

 

[trueblue1776]

Powdervalley and Midway have good prices for powder, due to hazmat shipping I usually buy locally for about the same price.

 

[Kevin108]

I'm fairly new to reloading. I've banged out maybe 500 rounds. Do the other two burn any cleaner than Win231? That's what I've used so far but it gets the gun filthy in short order.

 

[BsChoy]

I like berry's in my glock 21....nota single hiccup.