Suggestions for 45ACP, 200gr Hdys, Unique? Or?

[.308 Norma]

As I posted back in June, our middle grandson got himself a Kimber 1911, 45ACP. He was out to the house yesterday for a visit, and he told us that unfortunately he hasn’t shot his new gun very much at all; he only has one box of ammo, and he knows that around here store bought 45ACP ammo is pretty much irreplaceable for the time being.
Anyway, after our grandson left, I got to looking around and I found 3 unopened boxes of Hdy 200gr FMJ bullets, and 1 unopened box of Hdy 200gr XTP bullets. I also have plenty of Winchester LP primers and once-fired 45ACP brass. I have a few pounds of Unique powder too, along with about 1lb each of Universal, Titegroup and CFE Pistol.
So could someone suggest some good loads using the above mentioned components? I’ve never loaded 45ACP (always meant to, even have the dies) but now looks like a good time to start.
BTW, I won’t be loading for our grandson - I’ll be teaching him how to do it using my equipment and components. He’s 21, and a good kid. He just doesn’t have much ammo for his new gun.
Thanks in advance.

 

[rabid wombat]

Sorry...I can’t help you on those powders...45 is a great round to learn on (my first, too). 200’s work great...

Good on you for sharing and teaching....

 

[PWC]

I don't know, and I don't mean to sound snarky, but instead of posting this type of question here, wouldn't it be better to just go to the powder mfgr's website and see if they have a tested, safe load for the powders you have on hand? Bullet type, if not exact, is easily interpolated.

 

[.308 Norma]

I don't know, and I don't mean to sound snarky, but instead of posting this type of question here, wouldn't it be better to just go to the powder mfgr's website and see if they have a tested, safe load for the powders you have on hand? Bullet type, if not exact, is easily interpolated.

Oh don't worry - any suggestions for loads I (hopefully) receive here on THR I will check against my load manuals before trying them.

 

[rabid wombat]

I don't know, and I don't mean to sound snarky, but instead of posting this type of question here, wouldn't it be better to just go to the powder mfgr's website and see if they have a tested, safe load for the powders you have on hand? Bullet type, if not exact, is easily interpolated.

Like @.308 Norma I like the experience others bring, while always checking current published manuals. What you get is “low cost” experience, and a good starting point. Had @.308 Norma asked about either Bullseye or WST, I would happily share the loads I use (the WST is towards the bottom of the manual). Why I chose it...best SD of what I tested, Meters well, clean for me, and experience from running thousands.

 

[lordpaxman]

I used Hodgdon’s online data for my initial testing with .45 and 230 gr bullets. I worked up loads for Titegroup, Universal, and CFE Pistol. Titegroup is a great powder but I would recommend Universal or CFE Pistol first, they are more forgiving.
I don’t have load data for your powders and 200gr, I used Clays, Target and Red for those. Good luck!

 

[Telum Pisces]

I load 230 grain FMJ over 6.2 Grains of Unique and to a 1.250 OAL

Will be slightly different with the 200 GR bullets you have. You will need his barrel and do a good plunk test to get the right OAL. I load all my rounds for each gun based on what the chamber and barrel of each gun likes.

 

[Charlie98]

Unique would be a good place to start... it's pretty much all I've used for 30+ years. 6.5grn Unique under any 230grn duplicates the basic factory load, with the 200's I think I loaded 7.0grn Unique... but you would have to verify that with reliable load data. Those are max loads, please work up.

If you want to try a more manageable load with the 200's, try my 6.5grn Unique under that, it should give you about 825fps out of a standard 5" pistol.

 

[treedoc1]

I run 200 gr RNFP cast lead with 5.5 gr Unique. This is for Wild Bunch shooting. Soft shooting traditional Govt 1911 one handed and the brass ejects cleanly out the small port. FWIW a 230 gr rn bullet and 6.0 gr Unique mimics the standard military load out. Rapid fire out of a government 1911, sometimes the brass doesn't eject cleanly and dings the brass case when ejecting. For starting out, try the 5.5 load.

 

[.308 Norma]

If you want to try a more manageable load with the 200's, try my 6.5grn Unique under that, it should give you about 825fps out of a standard 5" pistol.

I hadn't realized until yesterday that our grandson's 1911 only has about a 4" barrel. He showed me the pistol when he got it back in June, but it just didn't dawn on me that its barrel wasn't as long as my own 1911's barrel until I was scrounging around for an old holster for it yesterday. I found one, a barely used Galco pancake style that I bought heaven knows when. It fits, but there's a lot of leather left over.

 

[.308 Norma]

For starting out, try the 5.5 load.

Thanks treedoc1, I'll try it, that is our grandson will try it, and we'll work up from there if we need to.

 

[Dudedog]

CFE-P will probably give you the most vel.
If you are loading full power rounds I would give it a try since you have it.
Hodgdon data
200 GR. SPR JHP Hodgdon CFE Pistol .451" 1.155" 6.3 877 14,900 PSI 7.2 1010 20,200 PSI
Start 6.3 MAX 7.2gr.

I normally like something with a faster burn rate for .45 for practice ammo but CFE-P does well for Full power rounds.

 

[Charlie98]

I hadn't realized until yesterday that our grandson's 1911 only has about a 4" barrel. He showed me the pistol when he got it back in June, but it just didn't dawn on me that its barrel wasn't as long as my own 1911's barrel until I was scrounging around for an old holster for it yesterday. I found one, a barely used Galco pancake style that I bought heaven knows when. It fits, but there's a lot of leather left over.

That's OK... I use my 5" holsters sometimes if I have too.

I've found, in loading for my 4" .45's... a little faster powder works better with the short barrel. My standard Unique load, which works swimmingly in a 5" barrel, was giving me a little more flash and soot in the 4"ers... likely sooty because the charge wasn't able to burn as efficiently as it would have in a longer barrel.... but it's not a bad choice.

If you are teaching him to reload for himself, Unique would also be a good powder to start with... it's incredibly forgiving, has a wide range of utility in most cartridges, and even though some criticize it's 'poor metering,' I've also found the small differences in charge weight have little effect on it's performance overall. Another good powder to start with would be either W231 or WST, particularly in the 4" barrel, but those are faster powders and due consideration needs to be given to cartridge OAL. Those are the only other 2 powders I've used quite a bit in the .45, with good reason.

 

[markr6754]

Something interesting that I noticed about Unique and Tite Group. At almost every expected velocity, Tite Group achieves the objective at 1.0gr lower than Unique. So if 6.0gr Unique will give you 880 fps, Tite Group will do that at 5.0gr. Looking for something faster? Unique needs 6.3gr to give you 930 fps, while Tite Group will do that at 5.3gr. I'm referencing the Sierra Reloading data. I don't know how extensive their testing was, but they show velocities at every 0.1gr increment of powder from start to finish. Unfortunately, they didn't include Unique or CFE-Pistol in their 45 ACP data. And, their testing was with a 5" barrel.

That said, they show Unique from 5.7gr soft loads (810 fps) to 7.5gr High Pressure or Hot Loads (1050fps); Tite Group from 4.5gr softies (790fps) to 6.3gr max (1040fps). YMMV - avoid either extreme.

 

[AJC1]

Something interesting that I noticed about Unique and Tite Group. At almost every expected velocity, Tite Group achieves the objective at 1.0gr lower than Unique. So if 6.0gr Unique will give you 880 fps, Tite Group will do that at 5.0gr. Looking for something faster? Unique needs 6.3gr to give you 930 fps, while Tite Group will do that at 5.3gr. I'm referencing the Sierra Reloading data. I don't know how extensive their testing was, but they show velocities at every 0.1gr increment of powder from start to finish. Unfortunately, they didn't include Unique or CFE-Pistol in their 45 ACP data. And, their testing was with a 5" barrel.

That said, they show Unique from 5.7gr soft loads (810 fps) to 7.5gr High Pressure or Hot Loads (1050fps); Tite Group from 4.5gr softies (790fps) to 6.3gr max (1040fps). YMMV - avoid either extreme.

I think the same could be said with Bullseye it's just hodgdon's version of Bullseye. I like tight group and I like unique and I don't think you could go wrong with either as I load both of my 45. If you want to have fun and make your 45 sound like a cannon power pistol it's almost a full grain slower than unique

 

[ballman6711]

our middle grandson got himself a Kimber 1911, 45ACP.

You will need his barrel and do a good plunk test to get the right OAL

I hadn't realized until yesterday that our grandson's 1911 only has about a 4" barrel

I also have a Kimber 1911, but in a 3" barrel. My chamber is both short and tight, so I've had to adjust my COL and crimp accordingly. Do a plunk and rotate test on a dummy round for the bullet you intend to use in his barrel/chamber. I have to crimp at .468 - .4685 for my rounds to pass the plunk and rotate test for my chamber, and my Kimber likes a COL of 1.245" to 1.250 for most bullets I've fed it. His gun may be different, but I still highly recommend the plunk test before loading a bunch and finding that they won't feed or chamber.

Sorry but I can't help with 200gr bullets or the powders you've listed. I have shot 230gr and 185gr and have data for both if you're interested.

chris

 

[.308 Norma]

I also have a Kimber 1911, but in a 3" barrel. My chamber is both short and tight, so I've had to adjust my COL and crimp accordingly. Do a plunk and rotate test on a dummy round for the bullet you intend to use in his barrel/chamber. I have to crimp at .468 - .4685 for my rounds to pass the plunk and rotate test for my chamber, and my Kimber likes a COL of 1.245" to 1.250 for most bullets I've fed it. His gun may be different, but I still highly recommend the plunk test before loading a bunch and finding that they won't feed or chamber.

Sorry but I can't help with 200gr bullets or the powders you've listed. I have shot 230gr and 185gr and have data for both if you're interested.

chris

Thanks ballman6711.
Yeah, I will do a plunk and rotate test when we load for my grandson's 1911, and I'm glad you told me that you need to crimp at .468 - .4685 for your own Kimber. Because I've been loading for a variety of other firearms and cartridges for a long time, I have a lot of load manuals, and of course I have internet access and can look up load data. But nothing beats hearing from someone who has experience in loading for a very similar gun.
When components become available again, and if my grandson wants to switch to 230gr or 185gr bullets, I'll probably shoot you a PM.

 

[Charlie98]

That's an interesting point, too. Of my 2 4" Kimbers... one will pretty much feed anything, the other really doesn't like SWC profile bullets. I probably could have worked it out experimenting with seating depth, but the only reason I had them to start with was because that's all that was on the shelf. It's hard to beat FMJ or RN bullets...

Tite Group achieves the objective at 1.0gr lower than Unique.

Because it's loaded with Nitro. TiteGroup will also etch your plastic powder hopper if you leave it set too long.

 

[markr6754]

Because it's loaded with Nitro. TiteGroup will also etch your plastic powder hopper if you leave it set too long.

If I've learned one thing from this forum it is just that. I've left powder in my hopper only long enough to eat dinner. I have never left powder overnight, and if we have dinner guests the powder goes back into the bottle...even at this risk of my dinner getting cold.
Having said that, I don't have any TiteGroup, and have never tried it.

 

[velocette]

Been reloading for 4" and 5" 1911s for many years. Your list of propellants all will work well with 200 gr .45 acp rounds.
In truth, the .45 acp is a low pressure cartridge and is VERY forgiving. If your loads are anywhere near midrange they will work well.
DO NOT attempt to hotrod this old round. Mild loads of Unique 4.0 gr. Universal, 4.0 gr, Bullseye, 3.8 gr, 231, 3.9 gr, etc. with any 200 gr bullet
will work well.
You may need to buy a Wolff Gunsprings recoil spring pack to reduce the strength of the recoil spring so the pistol will function well with the reduced loads, but its
easy to change back to full power.
When the loads are mild, the practice is easy and pleasurable. Reload and have fun.

 

[Charlie98]

If I've learned one thing from this forum it is just that. I've left powder in my hopper only long enough to eat dinner. I have never left powder overnight, and if we have dinner guests the powder goes back into the bottle...even at this risk of my dinner getting cold.
Having said that, I don't have any TiteGroup, and have never tried it.

I'm not a big fan of it. I bought 2# of it during the Dark Ages... the guy was pulling it out of the box right there, so I grabbed 2 just to have something... I was running out of Unique. I'll give it one thing... it lasts forevarrrrrrr. After experimenting with a few different cartridges... and realizing it was a 'hot' powder, I decided to use the stuff up in 9mm. Once it's gone, I won't be getting any more.

I was loading with it one night and was called to dinner. Dunno, I got doing something else afterwards and didn't make it back upstairs till the next night... and it etched my powder hopper that quick.

 

[Demi-human]

So could someone suggest some good loads using the above mentioned components?

Something boomy? To let him know he’s just got a .45? Like Power Pistol, or Longshot.

Something that really provides a crisp, sporty feel and good metering? Maybe Silhouette is in order.
(My choice for two hundred grain CSWCs.)

Something classic and light? Hp-38 is in order. Another good one for the jacketed bullets, XTPs being my favorite...
(I just impulse bought another pound of it. It was shiny and I’ve been good otherwise.)

I like the Ramshot rifle powders and have wanted to try Zip for awhile. I guess not enough for me to seek it out...

Really the well loved .45 Auto is easy to load for being happiest with what ever powder you’ve got and a bullet on top!

But not with small primers!

 

[.308 Norma]

Because it's loaded with Nitro. TiteGroup will also etch your plastic powder hopper if you leave it set too long.

Wow! I did not know that.
Thanks!

 

[AJC1]

Wow! I did not know that.
Thanks!

So if you're looking for powders single base does not have near the potential for edging that dual bass does

 

[Steve C]

I would suggest you use Unique for your 200 gr JHP's if your purpose is using them for defense or hunting loads. I use Unique for loading JHP's as it will give you the velocity needed for expansion and doesn't leave carbon on the outside of the case like slower powders will. Its an old well established powder with load data readily available. 7.0 grs should give you over 900 fps from a Government model 1911.

A lighter charge of Unique or faster powder like Titegroup should produce decent target loads though I generally load 200 gr LSWC's for that purpose.