Favorite 45ACP handloads

[Walkalong]

get a pound of VV-N105 which has been awesome in 38 Super.

Yep, as much as I loved my 3N37 .38 Super loads, after @fxvr5 turned me/us on to N-105 in .38 Super, that's the ticket, and heck, I had some all along.

Would love to try some N310 for my 45's.

Works great, N320 is a bit more versatile, and also works great, if you ever order it, or see it local, get both to try. I buy the four pounders now.

 

[Richard Jay King]

Since you already have W231 it will do everything you could ask for with JHP's as well as anything else at normal velocities...until you want to push +P+ velocities...then PowerPistol will be your friend...

 

[Rick4570]

Am I reading too much into this or is everyone intentionally omitting COL?

Just curious here. Do you start with long COL and then shorten till it feeds well? Maybe in .010 increments?

 

[Charlie98]

Just curious here. Do you start with long COL and then shorten till it feeds well? Maybe in .010 increments?

There are 2 basic reasons to change your OAL... 1) is to have the loaded cartridge fit your particular chamber. Some bullets have different ogive shapes and lengths, and won't necessarily fit a pistol with a short barrel leade when seated at max OAL; and 2) to alter burn characteristics of the particular load. I've been working with W244 in the .45ACP; I shortened the OAL by .015" and it completely changed the characteristics of the load.

First and foremost, find an OAL that will fit your chamber... the 'plunk test.' Then start working the load; if you find a load it likes, changing the OAL... .010" would be a good place to start... might give you some improvement, it might not. Every firearm is different.

A word of caution, however. When working with very fast powders, shortening the OAL... seating the bullet deeper... can also quickly alter the pressure characteristics of the load, too, and particularly in something high pressure like the 9mm.

 

[CQB45ACP]

Just curious here. Do you start with long COL and then shorten till it feeds well? Maybe in .010 increments?

Actually the opposite direction...I personally start with the verbatim reading of a manufacturer’s recipe (could be a bullet, powder, die, etc, manufacturer.).

In 45ACP I have four different brands of 1911 pistols and none of them like anything much shorter than 1.125.” So, I look for published recipes at that length and longer for the powders I have on hand. I’ve only had to monkey around with 200gr SWC COL (again making them at least 1.125”) and prefer to keep it that way.

 

[Toprudder]

For soft recoil loads, I like Clays with 200gn plated bullets. For full throttle loads, I like BE86.

 

[brutus51]

Yep, as much as I loved my 3N37 .38 Super loads, after @fxvr5 turned me/us on to N-105 in .38 Super

Interesting because fellow forum member 460Shooter turned me on to VV-N105 in a 38 Super post, it's a bit pricy but 10gr. delivers an honest 1400fps out of my DW. Plan on trying it out in 10mm but that's off topic.
Point is fellow forum members often provide really good info and suggestions.

 

[ballman6711]

N320 is a bit more versatile, and also works great

I've tried N320 and found it to burn cleaner than W231 in my 45. Accuracy was about the same but I've only loaded and shot fifty rounds so I have a lot more testing to do. It doesn't meter as well, but it's not bad at all.

My favorite load so far is 185gr coated or plated swc with W231.

chris

 

[Constrictor]

5.7g unique over 230 rn lead

 

[1976B.L.Johns.]

5.7g unique over 230 rn lead

We know what you meant............

 

[Dudedog]

I liked N320 in .45, clean and shoots well.
While I realize powder is not the main expense in loading ammo (bullets usually are but right now who knows maybe primers are at current prices),
I just don't feel like paying 50% more for it since for me was only a tiny bet better than HP38/W231.
Good stuff though.

 

[CleanDean]

I still have a small amt. of WW452 and HG 68 target bullets. Last time that I loaded them . I was told that they make Major level in competition. Still not sure about that.
They don’t shoot as accurately as some other loads from my Colt Gold Cup. Or a newer SIG P227 .
The best Target loads in those guns are powered by WW231 & surprisingly. ... AMERICAN SELECT .

I like American Select , very clean, I remember the load was 4.8 gr. Topped with 200 gr. Target bullet of the week.

 

[brutus51]

I like American Select , very clean, I remember the load was 4.8 gr. Topped with 200 gr. Target bullet of the week.

Another powder I always wanted to try but could never find.
Now if someone could invent a powder that didn't need a primer we'd all be sitting pretty.