What would a "standard" 45 ACP 230g hardball load chronograph at? I have the impression it's somewhere in the 800's but am wondering if there is any consensus on this. I've only shot Auto Rim lead bullets in a revolver for many years, but my kid now has a 1911 that we're going to spend some quallity time loading for, and I'd just like to know what to be velocity range I should be looking for.
Normal? 45 ACP Hardball velocity
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Jim Watson
Member
The present nominal .45 ACP 230 gr hardball velocity is 850 fps. The original 1911 specification was 820.
BigSlick
Member
Jim is 100% correct.
8.1gr AA#5
230 ball (plated or jacketed)
1.260
WLP
850 fps
Easy on the gun, burns pretty clean and great accuracy.
HTH
BigSlick
8.1gr AA#5
230 ball (plated or jacketed)
1.260
WLP
850 fps
Easy on the gun, burns pretty clean and great accuracy.
HTH
BigSlick
Many thanks, especially for the details from BigSlick. I was planning to use #5, always use Winchester primers in my Lee presses, and just got 2 boxes of Remington hardball from Midway for the project. So we should be good to go.
If you are using a lee press like me with an autodisk powder dispenser you won't be able to get 8.1 of AA#5 but you will be able to 8.2 (at least that's what I get). Pushes a 230gr FMJ out at 860 FPS and is my favorite load out of a 5" barrel .45ACP gun.Werewolf said:
Thanks for the reply, Werewolf. I use the adjustable charge bars in my Lee powder measures, although when I'm loading up a stepped series of loads to check out I use a bench mounted Redding measure. It's just easier to adjust quickly for each 10 rounds, and to throw the test charges during the setting process (I throw 10 in the pan and adjust for 10x my desired load - that's not so easy a process with the Loadmaster and its keychain return mechanism.)
Anyway, I loaded up some 45 ACP with Remington 230g FMJ using both #5 and Universal Clays, and headed to the range yesterday. Picked up a box of Winchester White Box 230 FMJ on the way. All I have in 45 is a very well used S&W 1917 revolver, so I expect that my velocities are a bit lower than I would get with a solid barrel. That said, the highest velocity I could get with #5 was 804fps, and that was with 8.4g of powder. 8.0g gave 744fps and 8.2g gave 773fps. For comparison, the White Box ran 817fps out of this gun. I found that 6.3g of Universal Clays (the max load in the Speer manual) would just top the WWB at 827fps, and since I have a bunch of that on hand (for my skeet loads) I'll probably load up a bunch of 45 with it - maybe cut it back to 6.2 just to stay a smidge below the posted max.
Thanks for the directionss to the right starting point.
W Turner
Member
Those velocity numbers for AA#5 surprise me. I have always gotten 800+ with 8.0 gr. or more. I can't imagine the barrel-to-cylinder gap on the revolver would have that much of an effect unless it is out of spec.
How old is the #5 you are using? I have heard mention of velocity differences between some of the older stuff and some of the newer stuff.
W
How old is the #5 you are using? I have heard mention of velocity differences between some of the older stuff and some of the newer stuff.
W
W Turner said:
Purchased within the past 3 months, from a local store that does a fair bit of reloading business, so I'd guess it's about as fresh as it gets. The barrel/cylinder gap on the revolver is .009 (.010 feeler gauge won't fit.) Cylinder lockup is solid on all cylinders. The barrel, though, is pretty well worn, if that would make a difference.
I'm wondering if my chrono just reads slow. It's a new Chrony, bought a couple of months ago. But I've almost never recorded anything near the numbers predicted in any of my reloading manuals (there have been one or two exceptions where I got higher than predicted velocity for a given load.) I'm wondering if Winchester White Box at 827fps (10 round average) is about the speed you'd expect for that stuff?
BTW, that WWB measurement was done with my kid's 1911, so there shouldn't be any leakage involved there. I didn't have any loads made up with #5 at the time I checked the WWB, and was checking some loads I'd made with Universal, but none came close to WWB. However, since then I acquired a Speer reloading manual, and Speer's starting load for Universal behind a 230g FMJ is Hodgdon's maximum recommended load. Curious.
I'll go shooting with my kid in a week or so and will check some more loads through a solid barrel, just to make sure, but in the meantime, how does 827fps for WWB sound to anybody?
I agree with the other poster who believes that the velocities you're getting with AA#5 out of your revolvers are low.
A .009 cylinder gap is a bit much. I believe .006 or .007 is an accepted max.
I'd check the cylinder throat diameters as well. Over sized cylinder throats will cause a loss of velocity. A worn forcing cone can result in some loss of velocity - in other words anything that can result in gas leakage will be a problem.
fecmech
Member
I fired some G.I. Ball ammo (ww72) this summer over my chrono and got 828fps(sd=11). Not bad for 33 year old ammo and pretty darn close to Jim Watsons info. Nick
Flash Hole
Member
Shot today at 62 degrees.
5gr W231
230gr RN (Berrys)
WLP
Col.1.260
Win. Brass
SA1911A1 - 625-3 - S&W1917
Av.746.9 - 740.5 - 668.5
ES 46.3 - 69.6 - 85.4
SD 13.9 - 21.6 - 32.5
AR Brass AR Brass
625-3 --- 1917
AV. - 709.9 - 655.9
ES - 50.4 - 43.1
SD - 13.9 - 13.4
AD - 8.9 - 10.2
JOHN
5gr W231
230gr RN (Berrys)
WLP
Col.1.260
Win. Brass
SA1911A1 - 625-3 - S&W1917
Av.746.9 - 740.5 - 668.5
ES 46.3 - 69.6 - 85.4
SD 13.9 - 21.6 - 32.5
AR Brass AR Brass
625-3 --- 1917
AV. - 709.9 - 655.9
ES - 50.4 - 43.1
SD - 13.9 - 13.4
AD - 8.9 - 10.2
JOHN
Powderman
Member
You could also try:
6.0 to 6.4 gr. Alliant Power Pistol
to make ball ammo.
6.0 to 6.4 gr. Alliant Power Pistol
to make ball ammo.
Universal listings
I found a big difference in Sierra vs Hornady book listings for Universal Clays. I cross checked a few online resources and put the Sierra book away for this combination.
45 acp
230gr rem golden sabor
Universal Clays
6gr - 6.8gr
This loading set is for duplicating factory PD ammo. I am not going to buy 500 rounds for a class!
Question: Check your books and post your listed loads for Universal Clays and Vihtavuori N340 under a 230 gr JHP?
I found a big difference in Sierra vs Hornady book listings for Universal Clays. I cross checked a few online resources and put the Sierra book away for this combination.
45 acp
230gr rem golden sabor
Universal Clays
6gr - 6.8gr
This loading set is for duplicating factory PD ammo. I am not going to buy 500 rounds for a class!
Question: Check your books and post your listed loads for Universal Clays and Vihtavuori N340 under a 230 gr JHP?
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