first 45 acp loads

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

Jimbo1

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2004
Messages
117
Location
Richmond, VA
Just tried my first 45 loads. Got a 1.5" group with 10 rounds at 15 yds. All rounds were touching, so I'm sure it was me doing the moving.

I am really impressed, now if I can find a cheaper way of loading these. With the initial price of bullets, powder, and primers these loads cost as much as a box of winchester from wally world. But were much more accurate and smoother (can't explain why, just felt better)

Again thanks for all the great info on here!!!!

Jim
 
So what was the load? bullet/powder? And what kind of .45 did you use?
Inquiring minds want to know. :)

Navy Vet & SWIFT Boat OIC
 
A good practice load is a 200-gr LSWC ahead of 5.8 grains of 231. About 850 from a 5". It was my old IPSC load. It made Major, but was not as "thumpy" as hardball.

If you have a Lewis Lead Remover, it doesn't matter, particularly, what quality bullets you use. :) You can go cheep, cheep, cheep.

Art
 
Consider WAP (ramshot S) 200 LSWC and federal primers. Loaded medium these burn clean and function well. They also meter well.

Savings result mostly from the cases. Consider a laundry bar to assist in the case process.
 
It seems to me that Jumbo1 has already found a good load for his particular .45 ACP. Why does he need yours? Or anybody elses...Good job Jumbo1...:)
 
W231 is pretty cost effective. It will be hard to beat for the accuracy and cost savings combination in the .45 ACP.

WST, Zip, Clays or Tightgroup would be in the ballpark here if he wanted to try something different in powders that would go a long way.(small charge amounts) I would not be suprised if he came back to W231, but one never knows.

For cheaper bullets I would suggest that Jimbo 1 try the Berry's 230 Gr. RN. It is cheaper than the Speer bullet and very accurate.
 
now if I can find a cheaper way of loading these..

Cheap solution suggestions..

Cast your own, use the least expensive fast burning powder you can find and buy primers and powders in bulk. Get together with a few shooters member at your club and buy your year's supply all at once..the savings on the primers and powders can be interesting.

You'll probably have to work a bit harder to find an accurate load combination, but the efforts will be worth it. As far as leading is concerned, most target load combos are under 950'/sec so that should not be a problem with a good lubricant.
 
I just ordered some of Berry's 230 gr RN. At a little over $.10 per round, it should put a complete load around$.14. I get all the brass I could ever want for free, so I have no cost in the brass.

This will be the last bulk I will be buying for a little while, just got 20 pounds of rifle powder in. Wife is getting upset, my reloading budget this month has been about $400.
 
20 pounds of powder, 2k primers, total of 2k bullets, and 45 acp die set.

I paid more for the dies than I've seen online, but the store that sold it walked me through pistol loading. Their help is worth the extra price I pay for equipment. I think I paid $50 for the RCBS 3 die kit.
 
Greentop by any chance? When I lived in Virginia, I loved those guys. Got a slight;y used 6" 686 for $250.00 from them.
 
I paid more for the dies than I've seen online, but the store that sold it walked me through pistol loading. Their help is worth the extra price I pay for equipment. I think I paid $50 for the RCBS 3 die kit.
Click to expand...

You're a good man. That's what's missing from internet sales- SERVICE. Local dealers can't compete on price, but their knowledge and service is what sets them apart.
 
Good on You! All loads feel better when you roll your own. Unique is a good powder and I've shot plenty of it. It is a bit dirty, though.

If you want to reduce your cost for reloading you can try some cast bullets. They are much less expensive than jacketed and if you develope your loads right lead fouling is not an issue. I can reload .45 for much less than winchester white box at Walley World. Course I do get my brass for free.

Some other good powders to try are Ramshot. Zip, Sillouette (the old Winchester WAP formulation), and True Blue will all work for .45ACP. They are usually a couple of $ cheaper than the other brands and this may lower your costs as well.
 
Greentop by any chance? When I lived in Virginia, I loved those guys. Got a slight;y used 6" 686 for $250.00 from them.
Click to expand...

Greentop is on the other side of Richmond from me. This was Bob Moats gun shop, they tell me and show me the specifics of loading. Then we sit around and bad mouth Bloomberg. Moats gun shop was one of the places caught in the "sting"

I will eventually start using cast bullets, but figure I'll get to that after I do the easier stuff first. I bought a bunch of Ramshot powder for rifles, with shipping and hazmat it came out to $11.50 per pound.
 
Wife is getting upset, my reloading budget this month has been about $400.

Get the wife interested in shooting and she won't be concerned about the costs!!:uhoh:
 
She is, she goes with me every weekend.

But to her, I could spend $50 every weekend and she wouldn't notice. But if I buy $400 or $500 worth of components, she notices that comming out of the account. But when I buy that much, I don't buy ammo for a year or more.
 
But when I buy that much, I don't buy ammo for a year or more.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I keep telling the wife that but she doesn't belive me for some reason!

Actually, she is very supportive of my hobby and often encourages me to "get some range time". I'm starting to wonder about that...
 
Yeah, I keep telling the wife that but she doesn't belive me for some reason!
Click to expand...

Yep, that how mine is. Well she forgets I need that for each caliber.
45 ACP 3k bullets, 3k primers, and 3k worth of powder
40 s&w same
9 mm same
9x18 Just buy a few boxes every so often
7.62x39 Just buy cases every so often
308 5k bullets, 5k primers, 5k worth of powder


With that, I wouldn't have to buy any ammo for at least 2 years. No $50 per week. Just about $1k total. Buying ammo each week, $50 x 52 = $2600.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top