Longshot and 45acp....nope

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wvfarrier

wvfarrier

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I did a few experiments today with Longshot and 45 acp (200gr JFN). I started 10% below the listed max and LORDY was it surprising. Loud with a huge fireball. The recoil felt more like 10mm than 45 acp. The load data had me seating at 1.10" which is really short when my other loads are 1.21-1.22

It also required a pretty substantial crimp.
I believe I'll stick to using it in 357 and 10mm


Tomorrow Im hoping to try some loads with Sport Pistol.
 
Longshot would NOT be a good standard pressure .45acp powder...However..with 255 grain cast bullets it is an excellent performer in .45 Super...I use PowerPistol with lighter bullets but found Longshot to be my fav with the heavy bullets.
 
wvfarrier said:
Tomorrow Im hoping to try some loads with Sport Pistol.
Click to expand...

I didn't have much luck with SportPistol in .45ACP, with either 200 or 230grn bullets. It always gave me odd results over the chronograph (I have a lot of '???' in my comments, meaning the readings didn't make sense) and mediocre accuracy. I actually fared better with it in 9mm. I'll burn up the rest in the can and banish it from the bench for evermore.
 
wvfarrier said:
I did a few experiments today with Longshot and 45 acp (200gr JFN). I started 10% below the listed max and LORDY was it surprising. Loud with a huge fireball. The recoil felt more like 10mm than 45 acp. The load data had me seating at 1.10" which is really short when my other loads are 1.21-1.22

It also required a pretty substantial crimp.
I believe I'll stick to using it in 357 and 10mm


Tomorrow Im hoping to try some loads with Sport Pistol.
Click to expand...
Longshot is my go to powder for .460 Rowland though. It works very well in that...case.
 
Bfh_auto said:
Did they at least shoot well? I'll deal with some blast if it gives better velocity with accuracy.
Click to expand...

I’m the guy who bought a 45 GAP cheap a while back. Yes I even “eye roll” at myself sometimes!:confused::D Anyway, I believe the gap is +p pressure for a 45ACP (with a short case and COAL) This load shot well and wasn’t near as hot as factory 45GAP. I’ll go hotter and test more in the future. I believe Longshot could be a great top end +p powder for 185gr and 200gr bullets in 45ACP.

My target is a standard copier paper.
D833F335-D309-41D5-A38C-C2108EE84522.jpeg
 
Interesting topic.

I tried Longshot a few times, but did not write down any comments. What I think I think I remember is that it was soft push type recoil for the lower charged loads. I should probably load up a few again and refresh my memory. My records show that I loaded some additional plinking rounds for the 6.2gr load, so it was probably not a bad load. The SD/ES numbers are high, but that is expected since Longshot performs better at higher pressures.

Following is my test data from the Longshot loads I tested:

45acp, P220, 4.4"
Case: Federal
COL: 1.255"
RMR, 230gr, FMJRN, Longshot, 5.9gr, CCI300
Average: 605
ES: 63
SD: 26.1
Force: 187
PF: 139
Velocities: 587, 650, 606, 596, 588
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.11"
Test Date: 12/28/2018

45acp, P220, 4.4"
Case: Federal
COL: 1.255"
RMR, 230gr, FMJRN, Longshot, 6gr, CCI300
Average: 606
ES: 64
SD: 25.1
Force: 188
PF: 139
Velocities: 616, 619, 570, 634, 593
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.05"
Test Date: 12/28/2018

45acp, P220, 4.4"
Case: Federal
COL: 1.255"
RMR, 230gr, FMJRN, Longshot, 6.1gr, CCI300
Average: 620
ES: 116
SD: 42.6
Force: 196
PF: 142
Velocities: 606, 638, 560, 676, 621
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.28"
Test Date: 12/28/2018

45acp, P220, 4.4"
Case: Federal
COL: 1.255"
RMR, 230gr, FMJRN, Longshot, 6.2gr, CCI300
Average: 648
ES: 111
SD: 40.7
Force: 214
PF: 149
Velocities: 708, 632, 597, 661, 646
Grouping @ 15yd: 0.98"
Test Date: 12/28/2018

45acp, P220, 4.4"
Case: Federal
COL: 1.255"
RMR, 230gr, FMJRN, Longshot, 6.3gr, CCI300
Average: 679
ES: 48
SD: 19.3
Force: 235
PF: 156
Velocities: 685, 676, 662, 665, 710
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.37"
Test Date: 12/28/2018

45acp, P220, 4.4"
Case: Federal
COL: 1.255"
RMR, 230gr, FMJRN, Longshot, 6.4gr, CCI300
Average: 664
ES: 126
SD: 47
Force: 225
PF: 152
Velocities: 691, 659, 592, 664, 718
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.29"
Test Date: 12/28/2018

45acp, P220, 4.4"
Case: Federal
COL: 1.255"
RMR, 230gr, FMJRN, Longshot, 6.5gr, CCI300
Average: 727
ES: 63
SD: 23.3
Force: 270
PF: 167
Velocities: 732, 735, 752, 689, 731
Grouping @ 15yd: 0.91"
Test Date: 12/28/2018

45acp, P220, 4.4"
Case: Federal
COL: 1.255"
RMR, 230gr, FMJRN, Longshot, 6.6gr, CCI300
Average: 719
ES: 75
SD: 28.4
Force: 264
PF: 165
Velocities: 703, 764, 717, 725, 689
Grouping @ 15yd: 1.16"
Test Date: 12/28/2018

45acp, P220, 4.4"
Case: Federal
COL: 1.255"
RMR, 230gr, FMJRN, Longshot, 6.7gr, CCI300
Average: 749
ES: 36
SD: 13.8
Force: 286
PF: 172
Velocities: 749, 762, 726, 756, 753
Grouping @ 15yd: 0.93"
Test Date: 12/28/2018

45acp, P220, 4.4"
Case: Federal
COL: 1.255"
RMR, 230gr, FMJRN, Longshot, 6.8gr, CCI300
Average: 743
ES: 41
SD: 17.2
Force: 282
PF: 170
Velocities: 725, 755, 739, 730, 766
Grouping @ 15yd: 0.96"
Test Date: 12/28/2018
 
Longshot was the first powder I ever tried in 45acp . That was back during one of the panic years . I was at the gun show looking for any powder that would work . While in line a guy said he loves Longshot for 45acp so I bought some . It worked but dirty , fireball , scorched cases to the rim . I didn't know much then but even I knew that was not a good powder choice for that cartridge . There's a difference between will work and will work optimally . Longshot and 45acp is not an optimal combo IMHO . The slowest powder I use for 45acp now is HS-6 and even that is two slow IMO .
 
I tend to gauge (pun intended) pistol performance of shotgun powders by the type of shotgun load they are for. Longshot, like the name says, is for Annie Oakley and meat shoot loads, and is on the slow side for pistol loads. I have some Green Dot (finally, again) and I have used that in 230 FMJ loads. Aside from some unsightly soot on cases, it works. My normal powder for .45 ACP is Bullseye, (what can I say, I'm a traditionalist) But I have tried most of the other shotgun powders in either .38 or .45 ACP-Unique, Red Dot, 7 and 800-X, etc. and they work fine. I didn't try the Titewad I just finished loading shotgun shells, nor the Ramshot Competition I am currently loading 1 oz. Trap loads with, because it's all going into shotgun shells! Pistol loading is on hold until Spring, at least.
 
wvfarrier said:
Loud with a huge fireball.
Click to expand...

Kind of makes me want to try it in .38/.357 and 9mm just for the shock and awe! I have a pound I picked up for some HV 1 1/8 oz and 1330ish 1 1/4 oz shotgun field loads, and it will last me a few years in that application.

Not to derail the thread, but how do you folks like it in .357 heavy cast rifle or handgun, 9mm full power jacketed and dare I ask .41 magnum heavy cast?
 
Random 8 said:
Kind of makes me want to try it in .38/.357 and 9mm just for the shock and awe! I have a pound I picked up for some HV 1 1/8 oz and 1330ish 1 1/4 oz shotgun field loads, and it will last me a few years in that application.

Not to derail the thread, but how do you folks like it in .357 heavy cast rifle or handgun, 9mm full power jacketed and dare I ask .41 magnum heavy cast?
Click to expand...

I like it in 357 mag, the loadings are more accurate than H110/Win 296 and it produces less barrel heat than Lil Gun
 
I consider Longshot a better metering, less fussy, more consistent, and less flashy form of Blue Dot.
I'd never think to use Blue Dot or Longshot In 45 ACP unless I was trying for some "Buffalo Bore style" "Emergency use only" kind of 45 loads with maximum energy. This powder will definitely get you the most energy if thats what the goal is.

With 45 ACP being a lower pressure round (similar pressures as 44 Special, 38 Special, etc.) I'd would use such powders with extreme caution if I were to do so. I'm sure this powder is not getting decent case-fill in 45 ACP either, and it tends to act erratically when it has air space in the case, has anyone else noticed that with Longshot?
 
Last edited:
Palladan44 said:
I consider Longshot a better metering, less fussy, more consistent, and less flashy form of Blue Dot.
I'd never think to use Blue Dot or Longshot In 45 ACP unless I was trying for some "Buffalo Bore style" "Emergency use only" kind of 45 loads with maximum energy. This powder will definitely get you the most energy if thats what the goal is.

With 45 ACP being a lower pressure round (similar pressures as 44 Special, 38 Special, etc.) I'd would use such powders with extreme caution if I were to do so. I'm sure this powder is not getting decent case-fill in 45 ACP either, and it tends to act erratically when it has air space in the case, has anyone else noticed that with Longshot?
Click to expand...

The load data definitely called for it to be compressed with a COAL of 1.15 as opposed to 1.22" for other powders. I also noticed it likes a very solid crimp
 
wvfarrier said:
The load data definitely called for it to be compressed with a COAL of 1.15 as opposed to 1.22" for other powders. I also noticed it likes a very solid crimp
Click to expand...
Ok, I was mistaken. Well, that's good then.
They must be stout shooting for 45!
 
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