45 ACP Recipes

[stodd]

Hello Everyone.

I just wanted to put this question out there. I have a Kimber Warrior 1911 45 ACP. This past weekend I was able to locate some W231 powder.

My hornady book starting gr is 5.0 and max gr is 5.7 gr. I'm using the Rocky Mountain Reloading 45 ACP 230 Gr RN plated bullets.

If any of you use this bullet and powder or have used it and might be able to help out with a good target load that would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Stodd

 

[Walkalong]

5.0 or 5.5 Grs W-231 with that 230 Gr RN loaded at 1.260 to 1.265. If your gun won't shoot that well, get another gun.

 

[Tom488]

If it's a Pro, or even an Ultra, in my experience, that might be just a bit too long to feed reliably. I settled on 1.230" OAL for my Kimber Pro (4"), as rounds at 1.260" would sometimes hang up (the angle of the feed ramp is a little steeper on the shorter barrels).

And, of course, in going with a shorter OAL, it's important to start at the minimum, and work up your load to a satisfactory charge. A chronograph is immensely helpful here. I loaded to an average velocity of 900fps, which shoots well for me.

 

[rcmodel]

I would think if it won't feed standard GI issue hardball 230 FMJ-RN at the standard length of 1.265" - 1.271" OAL?

It's a gun problem, not a reload OAL problem.

rc

 

[Lennyjoe]

W231 is a great powder for the .45. All of mine love the powder.

 

[Nappers]

5.5 W231, 1.230 - OAL

works great in my Colt Commander.

 

[stodd]

I got the full size government kimber warrior 5" barrel.

I was loading the 230gr RN bullets with 5.8 grains of unique and they were shooting, grouping pretty good and ejecting good, but I did notice a few times it failed to chamber a round. The slide locked back and when I looked there was still a round in the mag. It looked like the round in the mag went forward a little bit about 3/16" not really much in the mag, but I guess enough to lock the slide back.

Is this possibly due to too short or too long of an OAL? My OAL is currently at 1.258.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

5.0 or 5.5 Grs W-231 with that 230 Gr RN loaded at 1.260 to 1.265. If your gun won't shoot that well, get another gun.

I agree... I use almost nothing but W231 for my 45 Auto ammo. I charge 5.5gr W231 under and 230gr bullet and it's an extremely accurate load in every pistol I've shot it in.