First time loading .45

[Steve H]

I have been reloading for 15+ years but tonight was my first ever for 45ACP.
I'm going to try this recipe:
6.2 grs. Unique
230 gr. Hornady FMJ round nose
CCI 300 primer
OAL 1.265
Brass once fired Winchester

It will go thru (I hope) my 3" Kimber

Now I have to wait until Tuesday to try it out.........................

 

[JDGray]

Good luck!

 

[The Real Wyatt]

That's a medium stout load. Accuracy might not be so good.

My most accurate load with a 230 grain bullet is with 5.1 grains of Bullseye.

 

[Steve H]

Thanks for the info. This really wasn't meant to be so much of an accuracy load as it is me just "learning" the .45. Most of my years of loading are rifle. I have some extra unique so I thought I'd start to use it up and get used to the new dies (this is my first set of Redding dies).

 

[earplug]

Your doing fine

I loaded 6.8 Unique under a 230 LRN for years.
Recently I switched to a 200 grain bullet to cut costs and recoil.

 

[joneb]

Hi Steve, Why Unique ?
I have a Redding Mod. 3 powder throw with a micro pistol meter, and it takes awhile for Unique to settle down and throw accurately. I use this powder with a 185gr jhp for my Marlin camp carbine, it works well.

 

[Steve H]

Why Unique

I have about 1 1/2 pounds of it here............I opend the Lyman book and there was a recipe for it so I thought what the heck.

 

[marlin.357]

If 6.2 feels a little too hot.....

If you want to try a little milder load, back off to 5.5 grains of Unique.

 

[Bacchus]

I love unique for 45 loads, it's fairly clean and easy to meter.

 

[byf43]

I used to load w/Unique in the .45 acp, but, found W-231 to be more consistent and better accuracy.

Favorite load for the .45 acp:

5.7 gr. W-231
Win Large Pistol primer
Win or Fed brass
200 gr. Hardcast LSWC

This load shoots the X-ring out of the target at 25 yds and stays within the 10-Ring at 50 yds in my Gold Cup NM.

 

[LotI]

6.2gr. should be about the same or a little hotter than GI hardball. With that COL, you should be fine.

I use 6.0gr. @ 1.250" and get 801fps through my 5" Kimber. WWB 230gr. ball runs 815fps and Blazer Brass is 797. I don't feel the need to go more than 6.0gr. of Unique for range use. I actually like it a little lighter.

 

[Steve C]

Your 6.2gr of Unique load will be right at military ball spec of 850 fps, at least that's what my chrono reads with the same load using WSP primers. Most commercial ammo runs in the low 800's. Alliant lists 6.0 grs as their maximum FWIW. Good load but definitely full power.

 

[Redhat]

You guys think it will get to 850 out of a short barrel?

 

[Sunray]

"...will get to 850 out of a short barrel..." Nope. Most manual loads are for 5" barrels. You'll have a nice big muzzle flash. Remember the .45 uses a taper crimp only.

 

[ERIC M.]

byf43,

I have just sent a private message to you on your .45 ACP loads.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Eric

 

[Walkalong]

You guys think it will get to 850 out of a short barrel?

You can get it, but it is not for the inexperienced. Get comfortable with it first.

 

[ball3006]

I am also a big fan of W231....

It is a bit softer in recoil for my bullseye loads, than Bullseye powder, and slightly more accurate. Start on the low side of the chart and work up to the most accurate load. Did you remember to pick up a taper crimp die? chris3

 

[sb350hp]

Unique was the first powder I bought when beginning reloading. Unfortunatly I think I have a pound of it I will never use up. At min load at 10 yds w/ 200 gr Hornady XTP and a 5" barrell (EAA witness) is shot extremely low. Went up a few grains still low. At max load it was still low compared to equal factory loaded ammo.
Bought a bottle of bullseye, use less powder and accuracy is greatly improved. Still working on best load but 5.7 of bullseye with same bullet seems to be good.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Good load byf43...I use the same loading except under a 185 grain JHP.

 

[byf43]

byf43,

I have just sent a private message to you on your .45 ACP loads.

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Eric

Eric,

Reply sent.

Good load byf43...I use the same loading except under a 185 grain JHP

Bushmaster, thanks.
I've never loaded any 185 gr. bullets in all my years behind my Gold Cup and Combat Commander.
The 200 gr. load is just so darned accurate.
The only thing to 'trick out' the pistols for the load was to put Wolf 18-1/2 lb. recoil springs in them.
The factory #14 spring from the GC and the #22 from the CC are 'somewhere' in my loading room. (They went into hiding years ago!)

 

[The Bushmaster]

Hummm...I have a 10#, 16# and an 18# springs...The 16# spring is in my Colt...