Let’s talk .45 ACP target loads.! (Load report)

Blue68f100 said:
I use WST so I can't help you on the load but. I use it mainly because it's about 10x cleaner than BE. The Flat Bottom Base is what you want for the most accurate load. The Beveled base is easier to load but you give up some accuracy though I was able to get 2" groups at 50 yrd using a rest over a decade ago. I'm no where near that good now even using a rest, arthritis in the hands.

Your 1st post says 240gr, I think you mean 230 gr.
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yes… 230! I had to double check myself, Flat bottom! THANKS!

now… bulleye shooters. They are shooting 50 yards off hand and standing? 50 yards is like a mile!
 
Mark_Mark said:
I seen WST everywhere! I’ll add that to my new powder shopping list
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WST was designed for use in shotguns, not quite as popular these days and can be easier to find. It's made to operate at lower pressures which is ideal for the 45acp. Win has hinted that they may stop making it due to cost. Apparently it's generates a lot of waste in the process and takes a little longer to mfg.

My most accurate load is with the 200 gr LSWC. I normally use the cheap MBC BE #2 185gr LSWC ( Beveled base) these days for practice, same load in both. I can't shoot the difference so I go cheap.
 
Mark_Mark said:
I don’t have the skills for that kindda shooting.

3.4” @ 50 yards… WOW! that humbling

View attachment 1188018
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In the OP the target was placed at 10 yards. The results of his testing only show 10 yard accuracy. Not optimum for measuring the absolute accuracy of guns, ammo or shooter! :)

Your barrel will tell you what ammo it likes not the internet! :)
 
Mark_Mark said:
from a long ago post. We concluded that a good over all load for (edit) 230 grain Lead Round Nose was:

5.1 Gain of HP38
1.240 COL
10 yard Standing, Moderate speed shooting

and here are the results: Thanks Everyone

But Let’s Step it Up with the whole Kitchen Sink (cont… read Next post)

Night Hawk T3
View attachment 1188010
Roberts Defense Edge Pro
View attachment 1188009
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Thats some pretty good shooting! I like the 1911's too! I badly want a Nighthawk but at my age I probably would be buying it for the next guy! (one of my Sons)

Target wise, I shoot more 200 grain bullets (H&G 68) than anything else, followed by 185 grain (H&G130). I cast both of these out of straight clip-on wheelweights. I favor 231 over Bullseye but have used both.

I've been to our State Championship Matchs a few times and have seen some Military Shooters shoot a clean on the 50 yard target! I was impressed!!!
 
JJFitch said:
In the OP the target was placed at 10 yards. The results of his testing only show 10 yard accuracy. Not optimum for measuring the absolute accuracy of guns, ammo or shooter! :)

Your barrel will tell you what ammo it likes not the internet! :)
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just trying to get a starting point. That 230 LRN load was a overall load the reloading section talked about a year back. Good General target load, but I’m looking for better but cheap! 😂
 
lightman said:
Thats some pretty good shooting! I like the 1911's too! I badly want a Nighthawk but at my age I probably would be buying it for the next guy! (one of my Sons)

Target wise, I shoot more 200 grain bullets (H&G 68) than anything else, followed by 185 grain (H&G130). I cast both of these out of straight clip-on wheelweights. I favor 231 over Bullseye but have used both.

I've been to our State Championship Matchs a few times and have seen some Military Shooters shoot a clean on the 50 yard target! I was impressed!!!
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thanks, that NightHawk is a carry gun, not really a target gun. But it was a deal I couldn’t let get! Took me 60 days to get it out if Layaway. Paper work says it was made in 2009, old gun, but works.

50 yards???!! I need to go see a match, sounds fun
 
Mark_Mark said:
THANK YOU SIR!

My goal is to eventually shoot my unfired 1982 GC, but I want to train 1st. The Colt GC has a quality these new guns don’t understand

3” at 20 yards! 1-3 years and I might get there! can’t wait
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The Speer swaged bullets he’s talking about are currently on sale at Midway. $62.13/500 + S/H. They are good.
 
ballman6711 said:
My most accurate handload was with the Speer 185gr TMJ-SWC with a light load of W231. Haven't been able to find them though for the last couple of years so I've been using Acme's 185gr coated SWC instead. Almost as accurate and a bit cleaner than plain lead.

chris
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I think the plan is 185’s & 200’s !
 
Blue68f100 said:
WST was designed for use in shotguns, not quite as popular these days and can be easier to find. It's made to operate at lower pressures which is ideal for the 45acp. Win has hinted that they may stop making it due to cost. Apparently it's generates a lot of waste in the process and takes a little longer to mfg.
Click to expand...

That was 231/HP-38, not WST:

Hogdon HP-38 & Win 231 discontinued.... ? - The Firing Line Forums

Hogdon HP-38 & Win 231 discontinued.... ? Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting
thefiringline.com
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
It’s a Speer 200gr swaged LSWC on sale for $62.13/500 isn’t it? 🤨

Sometimes all there is to do is shake one’s head and mourn for the future.
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you have no idea! ever talk with a Millennial or a Gen 18-25 yo’s (they don’t talk with voices)

We R DOOM!
 
Mark_Mark said:
you have no idea! ever talk with a Millennial or a Gen 18-25 yo’s (they don’t talk with voices)

We R DOOM!
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Go buy those 200’s and run them at 700-800fps. Around 4gr of Ramshot Competition will get you there. There’s your cheap target load. Competition is a lot cheaper than anything else in the range and it’s actually available.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Go buy those 200’s and run them at 700-800fps. Around 4gr of Ramshot Competition will get you there. There’s your cheap target load. Competition is a lot cheaper than anything else in the range and it’s actually available.
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U’m on it! I need reduction springs for my GP100MC anyways. Add to the order!

anybody got any Midway codes?
 
243winxb said:
My loads are for iron sight guns. If you hang an Aim Point type sight on the slide, more powder may be needed?

Seen a Clark Custom 45 acp years ago, that needed hotter loads to work the action. Very tight fitting.
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that Roberts Defense 1911 I got is very tight but smooth, wish the company was still in business. My eyes need to get use to the black on black sights
 
Through the years I have had 4 Colt 1911s. None of them would feed reliably with the Speer swaged 200gr LSWC. I thought it to be because of the softer lead and the lube.
I switched to cast 200gr LSWC and the problem was cured. Been using Brazos bullets for a bunch of years, always loaded with Bullseye. My ATI Commander eats them up.
 
nofendertom said:
softer lead
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Good point. No issue with the 1970s Speer lswc.

But a test with near pure cast Lyman 200 lswc bb, did produce stopage when the nose contacted the feed ramp. Very few, but noted. My cast may have been softer then the Speer?

Swaged bullets contain about 2% antimony as does some match grade 22 lr ammo.


Swaged
analyzed for metal content and had the following metal content:

______________________________________
metal wt. %
______________________________________
Copper 0.038
Arsenic 0.16
Antimony
3.0
Tin 0.25
Zinc 0.0001
Cadmium 0.0001
Nickel <.0001
Bismuth 0.018
Silver 0.0038
Tellurium
0.0015
Sulfur 0.0005
Iron <.0001
Lead Balance
______________________________________
 
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