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

[243winxb]

SWC Shape

Easier to score the target.

The swc cuts a better larger hole in the target then a round nose. If the next higher scoring ring is cut in Precision pistol target, its scored at the higher value. The bullet only needs to nick the line.

When 22 lr & 45 scores are compared, fired by the better shooters, the 45 will produce the higher score.
Simply because the bigger bullet makes a bigger hole, cutting the next higher scoring ring.

Rule Books links Overlay for scoring hole near the higher scoring ring. Matches have been won & lost by 1 X difference.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Got 2 bottles of WST. $45+Tax OUCH
Got Speer 200 grains coming in from MIdWay

Anybody got a load with that Combo? Reloading is getting expensive

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

I don't know anything about the Speer. But I load the Zero 200gr to 0.920" from base of case to top of SWC shoulder and charge with 3.9-4.0gr for short line and 4.1-4.2gr for long line (WST). If using CCI instead of Win primers I add a tenth. This is in a 1911 nm hardball gun with 19lb mainspring and 14lb action/recoil spring. For 185gr I add two tenths to those numbers

 

[Mark_Mark]

I don't know anything about the Speer. But I load the Zero 200gr to 0.920" from base of case to top of SWC shoulder and charge with 3.9-4.0gr for short line and 4.1-4.2gr for long line (WST). If using CCI instead of Win primers I add a tenth. This is in a 1911 nm hardball gun with 19lb mainspring and 14lb action/recoil spring. For 185gr I add two tenths to those numbers

this is the bullet.. Were do I measure?

 

[Blue68f100]

You seat the bullet with just a thumb nail of the shoulder showing. The OAL is what it is.

 

[Mark_Mark]

You seat the bullet with just a thumb nail of the shoulder showing. The OAL is what it is.

So just measure normal. What about that cantilever? ignore it?

 

[ballman6711]

The cannelure should put you close to where you want to be. Like Blue68f100 said, you want about a thumbnail of the shoulder showing above the brass.

I don't know anything about the Speer. But I load the Zero 200gr to 0.920" from base of case to top of SWC shoulder

I've read different things, but basically the base of the case to the top of the shoulder should be in the .920-.935 range IIRC. Make a dummy round or two and see how they feed from the magazine using the slide stop to release the slide.

My Acme 185gr swc work for me in my guns at an OAL of 1.245", but the base to top of shoulder is really the important thing for good feeding.

chris

 

[Mark_Mark]

The cannelure should put you close to where you want to be. Like Blue68f100 said, you want about a thumbnail of the shoulder showing above the brass.

I've read different things, but basically the base of the case to the top of the shoulder should be in the .920-.935 range IIRC. Make a dummy round or two and see how they feed from the magazine using the slide stop to release the slide.

My Acme 185gr swc work for me in my guns at an OAL of 1.245", but the base to top of shoulder is really the important thing for good feeding.

chris

Got it! Base to Shoulder for good feeding!

 

[StrawHat]

Now, when you want a challenge, you can try Bullseye with one of these.




That is a Model 1950, 45 ACP, Target revolver on the top and a Model 1955, 45 Target revolver below it.



The bullet on the left, is my main load, edc, hunting, NOT, Target although it is very accurate. That is the SAECO 453, a 235 grain full wadcutter. For everyday day use, I load it over a hardball dose of powder. And it is very accurate.

The middle bullet is a 260 grain RNFP and the bullet on the right is a 260 grain wadcutter. Both were sent to me by fellow casters to see if I would prefer them to the 453.

Kevin

 

[Mark_Mark]

Now, when you want a challenge, you can try Bullseye with one of these.

View attachment 1188795


That is a Model 1950, 45 ACP, Target revolver on the top and a Model 1955, 45 Target revolver below it.

View attachment 1188797

The bullet on the left, is my main load, edc, hunting, NOT, Target although it is very accurate. That is the SAECO 453, a 235 grain full wadcutter. For everyday day use, I load it over a hardball dose of powder. And it is very accurate.

The middle bullet is a 260 grain RNFP and the bullet on the right is a 260 grain wadcutter. Both were sent to me by fellow casters to see if I would prefer them to the 453.

Kevin

you know I absolutely LOVE Smith!

I have more than a few Colt Targets but not any Smiths! I swear off gun until July, you got me THIKing !

 

[SingleActionAndrew]

this is the bullet.. Were do I measure?

View attachment 1188768

To be safe I like to understand if I'm changing the internal chamber volume in the cartridge when switching bullets. This picture I took for you shows what these cartridges completed look like and the base to shoulder measurement of the bullet itself to compare to yours.



Taper crimp into the bullet, not the lube groove. Recommendations range from 0.463-0.467 for the soft lead, measured at the very tip of the case mouth

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Winchester listed the following:
200 gr. Lead Cast SWC
Start 4.4gr, 830fps @ 15,400PSI
Max: 5.1gr, 910fps @ 19,900PSI

That manual is from 1997 so take that into consideration. They were using solid fixtures and cast bullets, not swaged antimonial lead. Each of those things will make a difference, possibly slight and possibly dramatic.

 

[Mark_Mark]

To be safe I like to understand if I'm changing the internal chamber volume in the cartridge when switching bullets. This picture I took for you shows what these cartridges completed look like and the base to shoulder measurement of the bullet itself to compare to yours.

View attachment 1188820

Taper crimp into the bullet, not the lube groove. Recommendations range from 0.463-0.467 for the soft lead, measured at the very tip of the case mouth

this is very cool stuff you guys are giving me! I can’t wait to try these techniques

 

[Mark_Mark]

Winchester listed the following:
200 gr. Lead Cast SWC
Start 4.4gr, 830fps @ 15,400PSI
Max: 5.1gr, 910fps @ 19,900PSI

That manual is from 1997 so take that into consideration. They were using solid fixtures and cast bullets, not swaged antimonial lead. Each of those things will make a difference, possibly slight and possibly dramatic.

at this rate. I better be making one hole at 10 yard with 7 rounds!

20 yards is were I struggle

THANKS

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

So just measure normal. What about that cantilever? ignore it?

See where the shiny turns dull? That line is your cannelure - or cantilever, canonical, cockadoodle doo, or whatever you feel like calling it. Words don’t matter anymore evidently.

Don’t measure. Seat to the shoulder break. It’s pretty basic.

 

[Mark_Mark]

View attachment 1188821
See where the shiny turns dull? That line is your cannelure - or cantilever, canonical, cockadoodle doo, or whatever you feel like calling it. Words don’t matter anymore evidently.

Don’t measure. Seat to the shoulder break. It’s pretty basic.

DUDE you crack my up in a Simple way!

100% got it!

 

[MarshallDodge]

I don't know anything about the Speer. But I load the Zero 200gr to 0.920" from base of case to top of SWC shoulder and charge with 3.9-4.0gr for short line and 4.1-4.2gr for long line (WST). If using CCI instead of Win primers I add a tenth. This is in a 1911 nm hardball gun with 19lb mainspring and 14lb action/recoil spring. For 185gr I add two tenths to those numbers

I'm at 4.3 WST behind a 200 grain Blue SWC. I've gone a little lighter for some of my 1911s but may not run in a stock 1911

 

[Walkalong]

See where the shiny turns dull? That line is your cannelure -

Lube groove

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Lube groove

Huh?? Is he loading.45ACP or Colt? Maybe I missed a loop?

 

[Blue68f100]

Min posted in manuals are 4.4 gr for 185gr or 200gr. I did a reverse work up/down and my 1911 will fully function at 3.9gr without changing to a lighter recoil spring. I currently use 4.1 gr for the 185gr at 25 yrds and 4.2 gr for the 200gr LSWC for the 50 yrds and further. I have a slide mounted cmore on my 1911, since I can no longer see iron sights.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Huh?? Is he loading.45ACP or Colt? Maybe I missed a loop?

.45 AcP bulleye load!

 

[Mark_Mark]

Min posted in manuals are 4.4 gr for 185gr or 200gr. I did a reverse work up/down and my 1911 will fully function at 3.9gr without changing to a lighter recoil spring. I currently use 4.1 gr for the 185gr at 25 yrds and 4.2 gr for the 200gr LSWC for the 50 yrds and further. I have a slide mounted cmore on my 1911, since I can no longer see iron sights.

that’s what I’m looking at
4.1 with 200gr LSWC with a thumbnail of shoulder showing!

Simple and direct! LOVE IT

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

.45 AcP bulleye load!

Okay, maybe @Walkalong didn’t see where I put the arrow pointing to the line just below the shoulder. Or maybe he’s saying seat to the lube groove?
You’ll figure it out.

 

[Charlie98]

Taper crimp into the bullet, not the lube groove.

+1. You seat to the lube groove and those will likely not chamber.

Weirdness with .45ACP reloads

I recently loaded about 325 .45ACP's with some really nice 200grn cast SWC's a friend sent to me. What I liked about these was the fairly large driving band, and it was my intention to try some of the powder coated ones in my .45 Colt H&R (higher velocity...) and run the plain lead ones in the...

www.thehighroad.org

 

[Mark_Mark]

+1. You seat to the lube groove and those will likely not chamber.

Weirdness with .45ACP reloads

I recently loaded about 325 .45ACP's with some really nice 200grn cast SWC's a friend sent to me. What I liked about these was the fairly large driving band, and it was my intention to try some of the powder coated ones in my .45 Colt H&R (higher velocity...) and run the plain lead ones in the...

www.thehighroad.org

Should I put some Lube on that?