Favorite 45 ACP loads

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Nice guns! I only have 230gr loads worked up. Target/competition loads are N320, WST or SP. Lots of powder choices for .45.
 
CQB45ACP said:
So you’ve never shot them except with factory ammo? I mean, “they don’t get out as much as they should” means you have shot them.
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The Wilson Combat was shot last year with factory ball ammo, the wife wanted to say she has shot a 1911. Besides that, it's been 4-5 years since they were to the range. I have shot them, just haven't worked up loads for reloading.
 
ballman6711 said:
230gr wasn't an option, but since others have thrown it in, I'll play.

4.7gr of W231 with a 230gr FMJ is a nice, easy shooting load in my 3" 1911. I won't say it's accurate, but it's minute of bad guy at 25 yards and is shootable all day long. It functions in my gun 100% for about 250~300 rounds. Once the gun gets dirty, it just doesn't have the "oomph" to cycle the slide.

chris
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230 gr. just not on hand, but after all the replys, I may have to place an order.
 
5.0 Grs of W-231 and any 185 to 230 Gr bullet will shoot well in almost any .45 ACP, kind of the easy button to start.

N-310 and a Zero 185 Gr JHP will likely shoot better than you can, unless you are very good.

Any coated 200 Gr SWC is a good cheap accurate option.
 
If it’s easier to find, 4.8gr of 700X under any bullet from 185gr to 230gr is also kinda magical. Just works and works well. If you are using some kind of picky autometer thing you might stick to a ball powder though. I have heard 700X doesn’t meter well. My father in law uses it in his Lee turret with a Lee Autodisk for .45 and .38/.357 - has for decades, since it was IMR 700X - but some folks do complain.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
If it’s easier to find, 4.8gr of 700X under any bullet from 185gr to 230gr is also kinda magical. Just works and works well. If you are using some kind of picky autometer thing you might stick to a ball powder though. I have heard 700X doesn’t meter well. My father in law uses it in his Lee turret with a Lee Autodisk for .45 and .38/.357 - has for decades, since it was IMR 700X - but some folks do co
mplain.
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Haven't seen 700X around here in awhile, however I put back some unique and red dot before the plandemic.
 
You'll have a fun time, and maybe a bit of a challenge working up the SWC's. The FTX's are plenty documented. If you are going to shoot those two 1911's a lot, those beauties deserve at least one 230 grain traditional load, so you really ought to dig for some other recommendations...for example, I really like the MBC coated softballs with a mid level charge of TG...great plinking round with a suppressor or without, clean, and runs in all my 45 ACPs (I think I have like 15 of them, but can never remember...1911, Macs, some striker guns, a few things).
 
I won a first place trophy in a 1911 Service Pistol Match with a 200 grain cast lead SWC , Lyman #452460 , sized .452" over 5.2 grs. Unique @ 755 fps .
This has always been an accurate load for me ... try from 5.0 grs up to 5.6 grs Unique to find your gun's "sweet spot" for accuracy . This load 100% functions standard weight recoil springs .
Gary
 
I'll be the odd man and say CFE pistol for full power loads.I use it in 45,40 and 9MM full power loads with about any bullet weight in each one.8 grains of unique with a 185 grain bullet in the 45 is a great shooting load,but in my P320 Compact's short barrel,the fireball is about the size of a watermelon.I have had a lot of fun with 230 grain hardball with 5 grains of bullseye.Accurate and mild to shoot.45's not hard to load for.I've just found CFE Pistol to be versatile enough to be worth having a lot of it on hand.
 
5.0 Grs of W-231 and any 185 to 230 Gr bullet will shoot well in almost any .45 ACP, kind of the easy button to start.
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My .45 1911s both like HP38/W231
5gr with a 200, 4.7 or 5 with a 230 all shoot well for me.
(good enough that the me part is the biggest factor)
 
Was going to post....then Dudedog said it!
W-231 @ 5.0 gr with just about any 230gr hardball is the only load ive loaded so far......and it works perfectly.
 
Jonny2guns said:
230 gr. just not on hand, but after all the replys, I may have to place an order.
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I would work with what you have. Adding more weight to target loads is sort of counterproductive, and the 200grn is no slouch.

Walkalong said:
It's one of those flake powders that shoots better than it meters, good stuff.
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Unique is like that, too. Many complain about how poorly it meters, I've not seen where the variations from a volumetric drop have made much of a difference in the past 33 years or so.
 
What kind of loads?
My accurate plinking load uses 230gr bullets and about 4.5 to 4.6gr of WST. Shoots said bullets at about 700fps. It's a start to middle range load, should be safe in everything that fires 45acp.
 
5.5 W231 under a Magnus 200 SWC. Don’t even know if Magnus is in business anymore thankfully I still have a few thousand. Same as the Lyman #452630. A great all around load that has worked in every 1911 I have tried it in. 6.0 grains of Unique works well also.
 
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