45 acp too hot?
- Thread starter badnova
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chris in va
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Probably should be in the reloading section, but my lyman manual shows a 200gr SWC as 7.5gr MAX.
A 200 JHP is 6.5gr MAX. Don't load that 9gr load, it'll probably blow up your gun!
A 200 JHP is 6.5gr MAX. Don't load that 9gr load, it'll probably blow up your gun!
9.0 grs of Unique behind a 200gr JHP in the .45 ACP is definitely above the max load levels in published data by the powder and bullet manufacturers for at least the last 40 years I've been reloading. Now it may be a load for the "super" or a +P load or something published in a non scientific tested source.
The dirty little secret on hand loading the .45 acp is it can be overloaded without danger of a KB if good or new brass is used however firing it in the regular 1911 will soon ruin the gun with the excess slamming and battering of hot loads. I once met a fellow years ago that loaded 10 grains of Unique behind the old Speer 200gr JHP. His comment was that they shot flat compared to regular loads. Never did run into him again to see how his guns where holding up to the load. He was a Longshoreman and made lots of money so it wasn't much of an issue for him financially to replace a ruined gun every year. Persoanlly I just wrote him off as being kind of reckless.
The dirty little secret on hand loading the .45 acp is it can be overloaded without danger of a KB if good or new brass is used however firing it in the regular 1911 will soon ruin the gun with the excess slamming and battering of hot loads. I once met a fellow years ago that loaded 10 grains of Unique behind the old Speer 200gr JHP. His comment was that they shot flat compared to regular loads. Never did run into him again to see how his guns where holding up to the load. He was a Longshoreman and made lots of money so it wasn't much of an issue for him financially to replace a ruined gun every year. Persoanlly I just wrote him off as being kind of reckless.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
Yeah. I'd say that's a bit much.
forindooruseonly
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Just out of curiosity, where did you find that load?
mljdeckard
Member
I have found 5.5-6 grains to be plenty. They're your fingers.
Clark
Member
When I worked up a 460 Rowland load in May 2000 in 20 ounce Patriot pistol and 185 gr bullets, I started out with Unique.
There is plenty of room in the 45acp case to get into trouble with Unique.
The brass can take it.
The chamber walls can take.
It is a matter of case support and recoil.
If the recoil springs are stiff enough, the chamber will come up empty.
The stiff springs accelerate the slide past the magazine so fast the next round does not have time to come up.
Double up on the magazine springs to push up the next round faster, and it hurts the thumb to load a magazine.
And still the slide can be slamming into the frame.
That is not good for the frame, the slide, the shooter's hand joints, or nerves.
I believe that if the empty cases are landing 5 feet from the shooter and there are no case bulges, that is a good load.
Hot enough to feed reliably, and cool enough not to have slide slam. Not so much pressure as to cause a case bulge.
There is plenty of room in the 45acp case to get into trouble with Unique.
The brass can take it.
The chamber walls can take.
It is a matter of case support and recoil.
If the recoil springs are stiff enough, the chamber will come up empty.
The stiff springs accelerate the slide past the magazine so fast the next round does not have time to come up.
Double up on the magazine springs to push up the next round faster, and it hurts the thumb to load a magazine.
And still the slide can be slamming into the frame.
That is not good for the frame, the slide, the shooter's hand joints, or nerves.
I believe that if the empty cases are landing 5 feet from the shooter and there are no case bulges, that is a good load.
Hot enough to feed reliably, and cool enough not to have slide slam. Not so much pressure as to cause a case bulge.
243winxb
Member
Steve's pages lists 8.3gr as the highest. http://www.stevespages.com/page8a.htm
vegasbillsliv
Member
Instead of 5.4 grains under a 230 grain lrn, I put 9 grains in. I was shooting over a chronograph. Shot one and immediately noticed the recoil and report. The chrony was showing 4 digits. I thought it was a fluke so I shot again. No fluke. The Kimber held up ok. The brass held up ok, just flattened primers. But I know pushing things 50% beyond the limit ain't good. I went back and looked at the scale and realized my mistake. I consider myself lucky.
mljdeckard - You run 5.5-6.0 grains in your 1911 with a 200 grain bullet? My 1911 wont even cycle with that low of a charge. I had to hit 6.2 grains before mine would even cycle the next round. I found the best shooting out of my Springfield to be 6.6 grains.
To the OP - That is way too hot of a load. It's hardly worth the risk.
To the OP - That is way too hot of a load. It's hardly worth the risk.
grumpy66
Member
9 grains of Unique is what I load in my .45colt.
6 grains is a good load for a .45acp.
6 grains is a good load for a .45acp.
dnite
Member
Hot 45 acp
A TRUE story not a cowboy tale
Bought a beautilful used SS Colt officers model, took it to the range with white box Winchester 230 grain.
The third round broke the dust cover off the slide in front ofthe frame and out came the spring and guide rod.
Boy was I sick..... Sent the pistol and parts to Colt who told me the pistol had been abused by hot loads, peening on the barrel lugs etc.
Someone prior to me had sadly abused this pistol.
I load 5.5 to 6 grains Unique or 4.5 of Bullseye under a 230 grain with no problems and that makes a nice shooting round.
Colt fixed the pistol and it was an expensive but cheap lesson at the same time.
dnite
A TRUE story not a cowboy tale
Bought a beautilful used SS Colt officers model, took it to the range with white box Winchester 230 grain.
The third round broke the dust cover off the slide in front ofthe frame and out came the spring and guide rod.
Boy was I sick..... Sent the pistol and parts to Colt who told me the pistol had been abused by hot loads, peening on the barrel lugs etc.
Someone prior to me had sadly abused this pistol.
I load 5.5 to 6 grains Unique or 4.5 of Bullseye under a 230 grain with no problems and that makes a nice shooting round.
Colt fixed the pistol and it was an expensive but cheap lesson at the same time.
dnite
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