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

[SingleActionAndrew]

now… bulleye shooters. They are shooting 50 yards off hand and standing? 50 yards is like a mile!

IMO the 50 yard target at 50yd feels more generous than the 50 foot scaled target at 50ft, but no wind and changing sunlight practicing indoors. You just gotta get out there and try it. 98%+ of my shooting and loading is Bullseye/PP

In the 45 automatic (1911), bullets in regular use these days are 185 SWC or SWCHP, 200gr SWC, 185gr JHP or 160gr button nose SWC. The SWCs come from Zero (swaged) or cast by Brazos, maybe Bayou. The JHP are Zero or older stock Nosler. Powders in use are typically Bullsye, VV N310 and WST.

 

[Kaldor]

I've found that a 185 SWC from Acme shoots the best for me at about 1100 fps with CFE-P.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I've found that a 185 SWC from Acme shoots the best for me at about 1100 fps with CFE-P.

1100! that’s some POWER

 

[N555]

WST

 

[Mark_Mark]

WST

WST burn clean?

 

[N555]

WST burns clean at shot gun pressures.
It burns cleaner than most powders at their start load.
But I do need to try nitro100nf now that load data has dropped.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

WST burn clean?

I find 4.1gr or higher with a tight crimp on soft lead burns almost as clean as VV N310. I also like the smell of WST but not everyone does

 

[N555]

WST was my first reloading powder.
Started out loading shotgun shells.
Smells like 1998.

 

[Mark_Mark]

WST was my first reloading powder.
Started out loading shotgun shells.
Smells like 1998.

1998 smelled RIGHT! good ole days

 

[blackhawk44]

Mark Mark, you need to go to the Bullseye L web site and review their sticky "Loads of the top shooters". Several things should become obvious. Preferred powders are Bullseye, VV N310 and WST. They never use plated bullets and very few beveled base bullets. And finally, accuracy testing begins at 25yds and ends at 50yds. A group of about 2.5in at 50yds off sandbags is roughly equal to about 1.5in from a Ransom Rest. That is where bullseye shooters live.

 

[Kaldor]

1100! that’s some POWER

Hits like a hammer on the steels. Fun to shoot at a 100 yards too. I keep the shock buffs in my 1911s to keep them from getting beat up. But mostly I just putz along with 230s at like 800 fps

 

[Mark_Mark]

Mark Mark, you need to go to the Bullseye L web site and review their sticky "Loads of the top shooters". Several things should become obvious. Preferred powders are Bullseye, VV N310 and WST. They never use plated bullets and very few beveled base bullets. And finally, accuracy testing begins at 25yds and ends at 50yds. A group of about 2.5in at 50yds off sandbags is roughly equal to about 1.5in from a Ransom Rest. That is where bullseye shooters live.

quick question, at matches, you shooting off hand & standing?

 

[fxvr5]

quick question, at matches, you shooting off hand & standing?

Bullseye is shot standing, offhand with one hand only.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Bullseye is shot standing, offhand with one hand only.

one hand too! I’m going to look up some Bullseye videos

 

[MarshallDodge]

that some expensive target bullets shooting (the cheap in me saying)

You own a Nighthawk and can't afford to feed it?

At least your groups are solid.

Clays and WST have always performed well for me behind a cast LSWC.

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

one hand too! I’m going to look up some Bullseye videos

This is one that I find inspiring

AMU Rapid fire string

m.youtube.com

 

[Mark_Mark]

You own a Nighthawk and can't afford to feed it?

At least your groups are solid.

Clays and WST have always performed well for me behind a cast LSWC.

If I ever buy a Corvette, I would still go buy gas at the discount place.

OR… I have a Corvette but I live in a trailer

 

[Mark_Mark]

This is one that I find inspiring

AMU Rapid fire string

m.youtube.com

that looks HARD!

 

[LV Gun]

I will be the one with the different powder/bullet choice my favorite combination is 4.8 grains of Hodgdon Hi-Skor 700X and a Missouri 185 gr SWC Button bullet it is so accurate it is scary.
My only issue right now is there is no 700X powder available, so I have been testing Titegroup , Bullseye and W244 so far I am really liking W244.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I will be the one with the different powder/bullet choice my favorite combination is 4.8 grains of Hodgdon Hi-Skor 700X and a Missouri 185 gr SWC Button bullet it is so accurate it is scary.
My only issue right now is there is no 700X powder available, so I have been testing Titegroup , Bullseye and W244 so far I am really liking W244.

wonder why those bullets with the streamline of a square plane are so accurate, you would think a round shape would be more accurate

 

[kidneyboy]

I use a less than book load of 4.0gr of 231 under a 200gr SWC. Very accurate but I did change the recoil spring to something lighter.

You might find this thread interesting -

Bullseye Pistol

Shot my first Bullseye match with a borrowed gun and I sucked. But let me tell you, I love it. I'm ready to do it more. What are some good entry level 1911's? What ammo is preferred for each of the different stages? Where can I find training plans?

www.thehighroad.org

 

[DMW1116]

that looks HARD!

It is. I can generally hold the aiming black now most of the time but I’ve never cleaned a target like that, especially in rapid fire. Between this and the 38 Wadcutter semiauto you posted a while ago, we’ll make a bullseye shooter out of you yet.

 

[Mark_Mark]

It is. I can generally hold the aiming black now most of the time but I’ve never cleaned a target like that, especially in rapid fire. Between this and the 38 Wadcutter semiauto you posted a while ago, we’ll make a bullseye shooter out of you yet.

I love that 52-2!

next week, range time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday!

 

[Mark_Mark]

To answer my own SWC Shape answers. The shape is so that the bullet only lightly touches the rifling, making it more consistent??

correct?

 

[LV Gun]

wonder why those bullets with the streamline of a square plane are so accurate, you would think a round shape would be more accurate

All I know is they are very accurate with 700X , they are a Classic Hensley & Gibbs #130 style , BHN of 12 and are flat based , it does not matter which one of my 45’s I shoot them in from my S&W 625 revolver, Ruger K97DC , Springfield Range Officer Elite or my Springfield V-16 Longslide they just work at least for me. I have found over the years that softer 45 bullets are more accurate at target velocity.