.45ACP Hardball Duplication Loads with Case-Filling Powder & LRN 230gr

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roo_ster

roo_ster

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Howdy:

Looking for a .45ACP hardball duplication(1) load where the powder fills most of the case under a 230gr LRN.

Components:
.45ACP brass, used (most once-fired) separated by head stamp & cleaned
230gr LRN commercial cast bullet
Primer appropriate to the load recipe
Powder TBD

I aim to teach my kids how to reload (single stage then turret) this summer. I have mild & wild revolver loads covered with Trail Boss and 2400. I need a .45ACP hardball-equivalent that has a similar safety factor, case-capacity-wise, to make powder-checking easy and less stressful. Trail Boss just won't make the velocity required for .45ACP hardball. The most popular loads use such teeny-tiny volumes of powder. An accurate load would be nice, but accuracy is not the top objective this go 'round. Learning the skill and safety trumps accuracy at this point.

In addition to the usual tools, I also have my old shooting chrony to test the loads' velocity and SD. Use of that as safety device and load-development device is part of the tutorial.

Y'all's experience is much appreciated.

=============

My kiddos are starting to shoot me out of house & home. Boy loves him some .45ACP out of my 1911 and .38spl out of my 686. And 6.5x55 out of my Swede. Girl just got the bug for centerfire rifle and is happy to burn up 6.5G by the box after serious shooting (zero-ing & training) is done. Have taught them to scrounge for brass, now we need to take it to the next level.


(1) 230gr LRN at 850fps+/- from 5" bbl 1911
 
I'll throw in one of my favorite duplication loads:

Sistema 1927 - 5 gr Red Dot - 225 gr Master Cast TC - CCI 300 - WCC Match cases
840, 841, 826, AV 835 ES 15 SD 8

You have a few more 1/10's to go, and be perfectly safe; with the 230 grain cast too. I, like Charlie think Unique is great for your application, but if my memory serves me correctly, 6 grains and a 230 grain cast got right at/very close to your desired velocity.
 
Galil5.56 said:
I, like Charlie think Unique is great for your application, but if my memory serves me correctly, 6 grains and a 230 grain cast got right at/very close to your desired velocity.
Click to expand...

Although I load that load with either cast or jacketed bullets, Galil is correct... you would probably drop that charge a bit for cast bullets. I should also state that 6.5grn Unique is a maximum book load, I would start at 5.8grn and work your way up in your pistol. Fort the record, I use CCI 300 primers in, typically, RP or WW brass, with a taper crimp. I've been loading that load since I've been loading... for 30 years.
 
Large flake powders like green dot, red dot, unique, Herco are your best bet. I don't think a double max charge of these will overflow a case but it'll be close.
 
I load 230 gr bullets with 6.1gr of Unique. The case is pretty full and it's easy to see the powder level
 
Thank you all for your input thus far.

Your developed loads are handy and appreciated, but i will certainly consult a few manuals to make sure they are reasonable and then work up a load in my 1911.

Reading the thread, unique seems to stand out. I have not yet used it but have heard of its versatility. I was unaware it was fluffier than most.
 
Red Dot/Promo give good case fill, high VMD but don't meter real well.
AA#2 works well in .45 not as "fluffy" as Red Dot VMD around .10 but meters great.
N320 works great in .45 and is "fluffy" as well.

Not as filling as some of the other but my goto powder for practice .45 loads is HP38/W231.
 
My main powder for 230 RN 45 ACP is 700-X.

If you want something that meters better then I use Accurate #5.

Follow published load data.

But, lots of good powders out there that will do the job.
 
roo_ster said:
Thank you all for your input thus far.

Your developed loads are handy and appreciated, but i will certainly consult a few manuals to make sure they are reasonable and then work up a load in my 1911.

Reading the thread, unique seems to stand out. I have not yet used it but have heard of its versatility. I was unaware it was fluffier than most.
Click to expand...

There are a lot of newer powders, too... like BE-86 (which is called the 'new Unique...' ) and W572... that might work well, too. Because they are newer powders, not a lot of data exist for them outside of the manufacturer's data, and some testing data on the forums like THR. There is a big BE-86 thread going on here, for example, and I'm actually working up loads with it in some of my cartridges, including the .45ACP. A powder like Unique is an easy 'go-to', but once you get going on it, it might be worth your while to give one of the newer powders a spin. Most new powders meter better (a common criticism of Unique is it's poor metering....) and many have both a flash suppressant, and a fouling reducer.
 
Charlie98 said:
There are a lot of newer powders, too... like BE-86 (which is called the 'new Unique...' ) and W572... that might work well, too. Because they are newer powders, not a lot of data exist for them outside of the manufacturer's data, and some testing data on the forums like THR. There is a big BE-86 thread going on here, for example, and I'm actually working up loads with it in some of my cartridges, including the .45ACP. A powder like Unique is an easy 'go-to', but once you get going on it, it might be worth your while to give one of the newer powders a spin. Most new powders meter better (a common criticism of Unique is it's poor metering....) and many have both a flash suppressant, and a fouling reducer.
Click to expand...
Regarding BE86, I've loaded up to 6.5gn with Zero 230 FMJ and got 838fps. I have not tried regular lead bullets, but have tried 200gn Bayou Hitek coated bullets and got 836fps with 6.7gn of BE86.
 
I use a lot of unique. I ordered 8 more lbs today while brownells has 1 cent hazmat. Not only is it one of the cheaper powders around 20/lb. It's pretty versatile. I use it for mid range 40/ cast 10mm/ cast 44 mag/ 45acp etc. Its not the best for any one caliber. But it's very versatile to keep around for a variety of things. It fills most cases as well. It can also be bought at Walmart in a pinch. They only stock about 5 powders.
 
Dudedog said:
N320 works great in .45 and is "fluffy" as well..
Click to expand...

I won a canister of N320 some years back, but gave it away as I could not put it to use any time soon.

I will have to check it out, especially in comparison to unique and unique's wide range of applications.

Same with BE-86 and WST. Case filling and flufy is a requirement, but nothing wrong with other utility.
 
Trail Boss at 4 gr. will get to @750, with LRN. Might be a good start for the kids. I load 5.0 gr. Bullseye or 8 gr. AA#5 @ 850, but I wouldn't call either of them fluffy. I started loading pistol with 2.5-3.0 bullseye in .38, 148 WC's, then went whole hog up to compressed loads of Blue Dot in .357 when I was 15.
 
I use Bullseye,W231 and Accurate #5 mostly for 45acp. I guess any of those could be double charged. I load on a single stage press, all of the the brass I am reloading is head stamp up in the tray until it is charged. When all of the cases are charged I give them all a good look over before I seat the bullets.
Another rule I have is the only powder on the bench is the one in the charger.
Reloading with powders that are hard to double charge could give a false sense of security.
 
I use 5.0.gr of Unique with 185, 200, and 230 cast bullets. All of them shoot great groups...Out of the three, I prefer the 185 gr SWC they are very mild recoiling.
 
Last edited:
Rule3 said:
So, in summary (not in any particular order) there are so many powders that work for the 45 ACP.o_O

Unique
BE
HP38
Red Dot
Green Dot
Herco
Promo
AA #2
AA#5
N320
700x
BE86
W572
WST
TB

Now onto the best bullet, brass, primer.
Click to expand...

Hah! And thats not even all of them. Depending on bullet weight, you can use some pretty slow burning powders to safely reach some pretty decent velocities. 45 ACP is truly a jack of all trades.
Titegroup, CFE Pistol, Power Pistol are 3 more Ive used with good success depending on bullet weight.
 
Kaldor said:
Hah! And thats not even all of them. Depending on bullet weight, you can use some pretty slow burning powders to safely reach some pretty decent velocities. 45 ACP is truly a jack of all trades.
Titegroup, CFE Pistol, Power Pistol are 3 more Ive used with good success depending on bullet weight.
Click to expand...
Yep, and add all the other non-magnum pistol powders you can think of. They will all work. However with the requirements of GI ball velocity AND large case fill, that narrows his choices down considerably.
 
1KPerDay said:
Yep, and add all the other non-magnum pistol powders you can think of. They will all work. However with the requirements of GI ball velocity AND large case fill, that narrows his choices down considerably.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I would go with Bullseye to make those requirements. Its a good mix of lower recoil, case fill, meters OK, and will get you to 900 fps pretty easily. Unique is another, but the metering on it is horrible IMHO. Lots of faster burning, bulky powders out there, just need to settle on one.

Myself? Ill stick with TiteGroup for 230s, but that definitely doesnt make the grade for case fill even though the recoil is really light.
 
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