LOADS FOR A 250 GRAIN .45 ACP

[RaymondMillbrae]

Hey folks,

I have a question for yall. But first, let me preface it with some information.

As yall are well aware, there are two basic camps when it comes to power vs damage. Or another way to say it is, "Small and fast, verses large and slower".

And along those lines, I have a buddy who is of the "Large and Slower" camps.

So being from that camp, he has asked me to reload a box of Hornady XTP, 250 grain HP bullets for his Springfield Operator. (In .45 ACP). He would prefer the lowest speeds - somewhere in the 800 fps range.

I noticed when I looked at the box, that the diameter is .452 - verses the .451 diameter the average .45 ACP bullet comes in.

So here are my questions:


1) Is it safe to shoot a .452 diameter bullet out of a .45 ACP barrel? (He has a Springfield Operator).

2) Does anyone have the Hornady reloading manual, or any RELIABLE information, on reloading this 250 grain bullet (.452) in a .45 ACP size?

And lastly, it must be for the .45 ACP - with a C.O.L. of 1.230".

Thanks, yall. I will await your responses.

In Christ: Raymond

 

[dmftoy1]

I don't have the info in front of me but Handloader magazine last year did an article on loading bullets upto 300 grains in the .45acp. I think those issues are available online via their website. If I get my buddy to bring back that issue I'll try to post what it says.

 

[RaymondMillbrae]

Thanks,

that is good to hear.

If you could post a link, that would be even better.

By the way, THIS HERE is the only link I have to reloading for this round. But I do ot know how reliable this one source is.

If someone could verify it for me, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks again.

In Christ: Raymond

 

[Diamondback6]

IIRC, we over @ 1911Forum discussed this a while-back, and the results seemed that out a 5" bbl., a supersized JHP with a normal-pressure load was just a super-penetrator, like very expensive hardball.

Crank up the pressures if ya got one that can handle +P regularly, or better yet a .45Super/.450SMC, and you'll see both penetration AND expansion, though.

Good if you need to punch holes in safety-glass, but a little dangerous for self-defense. Unless you get Hornady to commercialize your load...

 

[Walkalong]

Welcome to THR

I don't see the point of 250 Gr. for defense, but you can shoot 250 Gr. lead and small amounts of relatively fast powder for low recoil/muzzle flip loads. I used to shoot the made for .45 Colt Ranier 250 grainers in .45 auto all the time. I still have some(cannelure and all,which they have stopped).

I loaded a few for a contractor buddy a while back for his Ruger .45 Colt and he came back with a BIG GRIN and told me about how "they were stouter than those old factory loads I was shootin', but I liked it )

Speer #13 manual has load data for 260 Gr. JHP in the .45 ACP with a 4.4" barrel which should work fine for 250 Gr. stuff. It's old data from their older books.

260 Gr. JHP @ 1.200

6.3 to 6.9 Grs Herco for 775 to 847 FPS

5.4 to 5.9 Grs. W231 for 756 to 824 FPS

5.8 to 6.3 Grs. Unique for 752 to 821 FPS

5.3 to 5.8 Green Dot for 751 to 819 FPS



Hodgden #26 shows for a 260 Gr. JHP @ unknown O.A.L. from a 5" barrel...

8.8 to 9.3 HS7 for 816 to 853 FPS @ 15,900 CUP

7.5 to 8.0 HS6 for 801 to 849 FPS @ 16,800 CUP

7.5 to 8.0 Blue Dot for 721 to 764 FPS @ 15,400 CUP

5.8 to 6.4 800X for 730 to 790 FPS @ 17,100 CUP

Hope this helps. As always reduce 10% to start.

If I was serious I would try AA#5, WSF, Power Pistol or Enforcer to work up a load.

 

[grendelbane]

Hunter's Supply makes a 275 grain cast bullet. Intended for the .45 Colt, many have loaded it in .45 ACP and .45 Auto-Rim. The ones I bought actually measure 274 grains.

They feed well in my Gov't model when the crimp groove is seated just barely below the case. Most of the bullet is ahead of the case, so powder space is not severely compromised.

I would prefer a 230 grain JHP for SD purposes. The only place where this bullet would be better would be if you were worried about large animals also, and needed penetration. Obviously, another gun would be your best bet, but if you were limited to .45 ACP, this would just barely be viable.

I used a modest charge of Power Pistol.