What formulas will actually give me 800 fps in 45 ACP?

[Lone_Gunman]

I would like to have real world, chronograph proven data. I have several reloading manuals and know what they say.

I have tried Unique, W231, and VV340, and am unable to get above 800 fps without max loads, despite the fact that the books say I should be there. I am using 230g FMJs.

For example, I just loaded 230g FMJ's with 6.2 grains of VV340... and got a consistent 755 fps. The book data looks like I ought to have been in the 800 fps range.

So what loads have you developed that actually give you 800 FPS or more?

 

[mokin]

Is this for a 230 grain bullet?

 

[Randy1911]

Each gun will give different preformance with the same load. The only way is to get what youo want in YOUR gun.

That being said, I regularly get above 900 fps with a 230 FMJ and Alliant's Power Pistol. I shoot 7.3 grs so you might want to tone that down a little.

 

[RyanM]

Crazy. I agree with trying Power Pistol, though. I use it in .40 S&W, and actually do get fairly close to the book numbers.

 

[kyo]

the length of the barrel and many other determining factors are involved in the variable velocity you are talking about. You have to figure out what guns they used and the barrel length. Compare to yours. Make the ratio.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Yes, I am talking about 230g FMJ bullets.

 

[Steve C]

Unique has always given me 850+ fps with a load of 6.1 grs using a Remington 230 FMJ out of a Gov 1911a1, Commander and Sig 220.

5.5grs of W231 yeided 797 fps from my Cold Commander.

Both these loads where lit off by a Winchester LPP.

You don't say what your barrel length is but my Commander and SIG 220 generally shoot the same velocity as my Gov. models, sometimes a few FPS less and sometimes a few FPS more.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Barrels vary...plain and simple.

A load that gives 850 fps in one barrel may only get 775 fps in another.

+1 on Power Pistol...I use it for all my 45acp loads, from my wife's 6.5 grain practice loads (230 FMJ's @ 800 fps from a 4 inch XD 45 Compact) to my mild 45 Super loads (230 XTP's @ 1,000 fps from my 5 inch XD 45 Compact Tactical)

 

[Slamfire]

[SIZE="4"]Colt Combat Elite   Wilson Match Barrel
	
	
230 LFN 8.0 grs AA#5, CCI Primer, Mixed Military	
27 July 97 F	T = 90°	OAL 1.20"
		
Ave Vel =838	fps	
Std Dev =14		
ES =41		
High = 862		
Low =821		
N =5		
			
230 LFN 5.0 grs 231 Fed 150 Mixed Military cases
30-Jan-05	T = 41 °F   OAL=1.20"
		
Average=793.2	
Ω=32.4	
Extreme Spread100.4	
High = 836.2	
Low =735.7	
N=22	



Kimber Custom Classic 			
					
230 gr LRN Valiant 4.5 grs Bullseye Mixed Brass WLP		
21-Jun-06 T = 97  °F OAL 1.250" taper crimp .469"

Ave Vel =805.2		
Std Dev =11.4		
ES =54.08	
High = 836.9		 
Low =782.8		 
N =32		
					
230 FMJ (GI)  5.5 grs W231 Mixed Brass WLP			
8-Jan-06 T = 61 °F OAL 1.265" taper crimp .469"

Ave Vel =802.9				
Std Dev =17.8				
ES =53.67				
High =831.1				
Low =777.5				
N =9	
			 
230 LRN  6.0 grs Unique lot UN387 6/21/93 Mixed brass WLP 	
18-Mar-07 T = 62 °F OAL 1.250"  taper crimped 0.469"

Ave Vel =898				
Std Dev =21.44				 
ES =75.58			
High = 944.3				
Low =868.7				
N =25[/SIZE]

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, AA #5 & Unique will do it without straining.

 

[RyanM]

Come to think of it, what chrono are you using, Lone Gunman? What velocities does it report for factory ammo?

 

[JDGray]

230gr bullets at 800fps

7.0gr Power Pistol gives me 814fps out of a 3" Kimber, very consistantly

 

[Lone_Gunman]

I have never used Power Pistol. How does the recoil of your 7.0g of Power Pistol load compare to say Winchester white box? How clean does it burn?

 

[Ridgerunner665]

My everyday carry load is 7 grains of Power Pistol under a 230 grain XTP...

There is some recoil, but its not anything extraordinary...it is a tad stiffer than WWB.

That load gets 830 fps from my 4.25" 1911.

The hotter you load Power Pistol the cleaner it burns...but it is pretty clean at anything over 6.5 grains.

 

[JDGray]

I have never used Power Pistol. How does the recoil of your 7.0g of Power Pistol load compare to say Winchester white box? How clean does it burn?

Recoil in the 3" Kimber is stout, but not unmanagable. I have never shot WWB out of this gun, but don't think it gets close to 800fps, even from a 5" barrel. 7.0gr PP runs 875fps out of my 5" 1911. Very clean burning

 

[Riss]

Alliant Red Dot will easily do it. No data in front of me but somewhere between 4 gr and 5 Gr.

 

[rcmodel]

6.0 - 6.5 Unique and a 230 FMJ will easily break 800 FPS too.

I guarantee it!

rc

 

[arizona98tj]

Using 230 gr TMJ (Berry MFG) and a 4" XD45, I get the following:

6.1 gr. Unique = 771.3 FPS (5 shot average)

6.3 gr. Unique = 799.0 FPS (5 shot average)

6.5 gr. Unique = 830.1 FPS (5 shot average)


Comparison to factory loads:

230 gr FMJ Ball M1911, circa 1978 = 803.4 FPS (5 shot average)

230 gr. Fed Hydra-Shok = 889.2 FPS (5 shot average)

200 gr. Hornady JHP/XTP = 893.8 FPS (5 shot average)

All of the above shot over the same PACT chrono in the past year.

 

[rcmodel]

Sounds about right.

6.5 Unique - 230 FMJ was long considered the factory equivalent load for GI hard ball.

My guns put the empty cases in the same pile with GI ball anyway.

rc

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree Power Pistol and AA#5 will do 800+ but AA#5 will do so without all the excessive muzzle flash. AA#5 was specifically developed for the .45 Auto so it will probably be your best choice IMO. Longshot will also easily surpass 800 fps without maxing out the charge.

I am a little surprised you didn't get the results you were looking for with W231 though. My goto 230gr bullet load is 5.5gr W231 and it's always right around 800 fps, (usually averages 804-809 fps) But then again, you did say without maxing out the charge and that charge is just about max.

 

[Walkalong]

I use old W-231 data, because my W-231 is old. (3 Lb metal cans old) Back in the day when 5.5 wasn't almost max.

5.5 Grs gives me right at 800 FPS. Slow barrel a bit less, fast barrel a bit more.

5.5 Grs of W-231 and any 225 to 250 Gr lead, plated, or jacketed bullet is almost guaranteed to shoot well.

AA #5 or Unique will get you 800 FPS with slightly smoother, to me, recoil.

 

[Mark whiz]

here's some "real world" readings using my Springfield Mil-Spec:

230gr Rem Golden Sabre, 8.5gr AA#5, 821fps

230gr MagTech plated SWC, 8.3gr AA#5, 821fps

 

[evan price]

6.8 grains Longshot.
8.1 grains Power Pistol.
11.0 grains #7.
7.5 grains SR4756.

Each of them is advertised max loads with a 230-RN projectile, and each exceeds 900 FPS in factory test loadings. Allowing for the fact that the test eqpt. will get numbers much better than real world, 800FPS should be no sweat with any of those. You said you "have all the manuals and you know what they say", well, there ya go.

 

[sammy]

I get 860fps with 5.9g. of Unique, a 230g. Zero fmj ball bullet and a Winchester primer out of a 5" Baer 1911. IIRC I got 800fps with 5.6g. of Unique with the same bullet and gun.

 

[jfdavis58]

One question not yet answered is what gun; specifically what barrel length? It might also be nice to know some of the particulars about your chronographing setup.

I've got 45's in barrel lengths from 3" to 6"; what makes 800fps in the longer barrels doesn't typically do as well in shorter barrels. Also chronographing from a long barrel is considerably easier than from a short barrel-with certain chronographs. I'd also be interested in why 800 fps is so important.