.45acp 200gr LSWC & Bullseye... Hot Stuff?

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Saluki91

Saluki91

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I have a batch of 200gr LSWC from Brazos (https://www.brazosprecision.com/45-200gr-SWCBevel-BaseGroove-517ct-0089bullet_p_12.html), and started to work up a load with Bullseye.

The Lee manual had no data for Bullseye with a 200gr LSWC, and Alliant's website was pretty sparse. However, Lyman's 50th has 200gr LSWC that looks very similar to the Brazos (https://www.lymanproducts.com/pistol-bullet-moulds-2561), and they had data for Bullseye. In fact, Lyman says Bullseye is the most accurate powder for that bullet. So... I assumed their data was a good place to begin.

Lyman says:
OAL - 1.235"
4.9/840fps/12,900 - 6.0gr/909fps/17,000

I loaded up a 20 shot ladder at .3gr per step with an OAL of 1.250", and my chronograph revealed some surprising numbers:
5.0gr - 882fps
5.3gr - 918fps
5.6gr - I wasn't brave enough to continue.
5.9gr -

I was shooting these through a Colt 70 Series Gold Cup.

Yikes! How does this happen? Did I miss something along the way, or was my thought process flawed from the beginning?

Thanks!
 
Your results pretty well mimic mine. I'm using a 200g SWC out off a Lee mold coated with Eastwood Ford Blue. Saw the same data you did, loaded up a batch @ 5.0g BE and had velocities in high 800's to the low 900's out of a 5" 1911. After probing the THR collective conscience, I've loaded up a batch @ 4.6g, haven't been out to test them, but that seems like that should be about right for some plinking fodder
 
Saluki91 said:
I have a batch of 200gr LSWC from Brazos (https://www.brazosprecision.com/45-200gr-SWCBevel-BaseGroove-517ct-0089bullet_p_12.html), and started to work up a load with Bullseye.

The Lee manual had no data for Bullseye with a 200gr LSWC, and Alliant's website was pretty sparse. However, Lyman's 50th has 200gr LSWC that looks very similar to the Brazos (https://www.lymanproducts.com/pistol-bullet-moulds-2561), and they had data for Bullseye. In fact, Lyman says Bullseye is the most accurate powder for that bullet. So... I assumed their data was a good place to begin.

Lyman says:
OAL - 1.235"
4.9/840fps/12,900 - 6.0gr/909fps/17,000

I loaded up a 20 shot ladder at .3gr per step with an OAL of 1.250", and my chronograph revealed some surprising numbers:
5.0gr - 882fps
5.3gr - 918fps
5.6gr - I wasn't brave enough to continue.
5.9gr -

I was shooting these through a Colt 70 Series Gold Cup.

Yikes! How does this happen? Did I miss something along the way, or was my thought process flawed from the beginning?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I don’t have a chrono so can’t help there but I do load a lot of 45ACP 200 SWC lead and plated using Bullseye.

Alliant & Speer both have 4.2gr—4.6gr for lead and 5.2gr—5.8gr for plated/jacked so yours are on the stout end for sure.
 
I’ve always gone the opposite direction.
The PPC records for NRA Service gun have been held for decades with 4.0-4.3gr of Bullseye w/200gr SWC. LIKEWISE, NRA. bullseye competition with 4.5-4.9gr under a 230RN.
The WWI-WWII service load was 5.0gr BE under a 230gr FMJ-RN.
As you’ve seen, Bullseye is pretty flexible!
 
That is a copy of the h&g68. Data is available for that bullet in gobs. I use 4.6 bullseye for my RCBS 45-201-swc which is also a copy. Overall length is 1.220 or so. Just a hair of the driving band showing.

Data for it goes from 3.5-4.0 for target an up past 5.0 for defensive or heavy target loads.

I don't have a chrono yet, but the 4.6 shoots poa for my combat sighted Springfield 1911
 
I loaded some test loads using RNFP at the same 200 grain weight. I started at 4.6 and it didn’t cycle well. Pistol was new. I bumped to 5.0 with good results. I have so many 200 grain lead SWC and RNFP I don’t think I will ever need to buy anymore. I might bump it down a bit and try 4.6 grains again. I didn’t load many. Still figuring things out.
 
joneb said:
My Colt 70 ser Gov. does not like LSWC so I found plated RN works better me. I use 200gr plated RN for most of my shooting with 5.2gr of Bullseye.
Click to expand...
Have you tried a different mag. I had one mag that absolutely would not play and I got a new mag that fed them perfectly. Seems there is a feed ramp issue on older guns. Rn bullets are just so easy so if it works and your happy just keep going.
 
4.4-4.6 gr bullseye were accurate for me with 200 MBC PC LSWC, so I use 4.5 gr bullseye,. same with 200gr LSWC dardas when i still had some.
 
Saluki91 said:
Yikes! How does this happen? Did I miss something along the way, or was my thought process flawed from the beginning?
Click to expand...
There’s nothing wrong with your thought process, other than your expectation you wouldn’t exceed their velocities. With all the variables involved, it’s bound to happen. Slightly larger diameter bullets, different test setups, tighter chambers, powder with a tad more bull, or oomph, the list goes on.
If you had a velocity objective, think of all the money you’ll save on powder!
If you had a group size objective, how did that work out?
 
Soonerpesek said:
In my opinion......coated bullets will add 50 fps to uncoated lead data......that's just my opinion...
Click to expand...
That's been my experience, side by side comparison with Lee 125g RNFP coated vs traditional lube with the same charge showed a velocity advantage to coated to the tune of nearly 100fps from a 4" security six. Have not done the same with the 45 SWC's, but I will say, I do believe, across the board the barrel in my Tisas 1911 runs faster than the Colt barrel in my Sistema 1911. Have to get the chrono out and get some imperial data on that one, but all boils down to what one particular load will do in one particular gun
 
1911 + Bullseye + LSWC = recipe for success! You can load it from mild to wild as long as you work up.

(I second trying a different magazine if you have feeding problems)
 
Definitely magazines!
I use McCormick or Mecgar. Have a few Metal Form that work...

BTW; Another “over achiever” powder in the .45acp with a 200SWC is Clays.
I use 3.9 for 780fps for competition loads. 4.2 for general purpose. Gets 840fps. Just as accurate as Bullseye.
 
Alliant (Bullseye) on-line information shows a maximum load of 5.7 grains of Bullseye for a 230 grain jacketed bullet.
The U. S. .45 ACP M1911/M1911A1 load began in 1911 as a 230 grain FMJ bullet and 5.0 grains of Bullseye for a muzzle velocity of 825 fps +/- 60 (more or less) fps.

Your shown velocity readings are in line with that information, it looks as all is well.

Now. If that load intensity is more than you wanted; more recoil, more report, then you can lower the amount of powder to your liking. However, at a certain point, the recoil will be low enough to not function the pistol correctly or not at all. Lyman #50 shows a load of 3.8 grains (Not grams, for heaven's sake) for a result of 643 fps or so. (That was for the pistol they used on that day, not yours.)

Your pressures should be okay; your recoil may be more than you wanted.
 
Yeah, easy to dial up or down with bullseye. I like it for a target load, but down at 4.5 grains it can be a little sooty.

For a full power woods walking load, I use 7.0 grains of unique with this bullet. Accurate, clean burning, and plenty of whomp.
 
I've always gone with 5.0 Bullseye and never has a problem with either 200 grain SWC or 230 grain FMJ. When my grandkids started shooting my 1911s they didn't like that load so I stated reducing down until they were happy go shoot them. They ended up really like 4.0 grains with the 200 grain bullet. When shooting that load out of my Springfield TRP the slide would not stay back after the last shot. That was only true for that one gun, my other six 1911s had no problems with the load. I now load a 5.0 grain load in the magazine as the first bullet followed by the 4.0 grain load bullets when I take that Springfield out to the range. Problem solved and everyone is happy.
 
My Colt Series 70 likes 3.8 grains of BE behind a Dardas 200 gr. LSWC for the long line. IIRC, chronograph listed this load at 723 FPS.
 
Hard to beat 4.1gr WST behind a 185gr or 200gr LSWC in a 45acp. I use WST because it 100 time cleaner at reduced loads than BE. These are soft shooting BE loads and have produced 2" groups at 50 yrds if I did my part. My eye sight and aging body makes it challenging, but it's fun ringing a 8" gong at 100 yrds.
 
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