What is your favorite 45ACP load?

[45shooter]

What is your favorite load for the 45ACP?

Mine is as follows:

200gr H&G #68 SWC cast bullet
5.6gr Winchester 231
Federal large pistol primer
Any commercial brass
OAL of 1.255

Typical velocity for this load is about 875 fps from 1911 Government and 775 fps from 3.5" Officer model.

My father started loading this combo around 1970 and my brother and I continued it in the late 80's to today. In last 35+ years my father, brother and my I have loaded about 250,000 rounds of this load and every one of those were fired in a 1911 pistol of one kind or another.

It is accurate, reliable and powerful enough for what we need done with a 45ACP.

 

[jmorris]

3.7gr Clays
230gr Precision bullet
OAL 1.230

 

[ribbonstone]

Guess it's been about 40years....5gr. of Bullseye and a 230gr. cast. Not fancy, not the hottest load in the book, and not "trendy". Does duplicate GI ball rather nicely. Keep a RCBS 'Litle Dandy" with that one rotor...own no other for that measure, it's used only for .45acp's.

 

[ninja45]

I use W231 for my pistol loads.

200 LSWC - 5.3 gr (very accurate on all my .45 ACP pistols)
230 LRN - 5.1 gr

Ninja45

 

[Meatco1]

Federal Large pistol Primer, 7.0 gr Unique, 200 gr hardcast.

Works for me.

Richar

 

[CTI1USNRET]

Precision 230 gr RNF, or
Magtech 230 gr FMJ
6.0 gr Unique
CCI # 300
1.250" OAL

 

[frankt]

I use the exact same set up as 45shooter except I have gone to using the coated 200 gr SWC bullets from MasterBlaster as they really cut down on the smoke and this helps when shooting indoors or for action pistol type matches.

 

[Khornet]

For target

in my Gold Cup with reduced-power recoil spring, it's Bullseye 3.3 or 3.4 grains with either a 185 gr wadcutter or a 200. An old Charles Askins load.

For defensive guns, Accurate #5, 9.7 gr (IIRC) with a 200 gr JHP gets me about 1000 fps.

 

[Lennyjoe]

W231 works for me in .45 ACP loads

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

Below is my all time favorite load for the .45 acp.

5.0 grains bullseye
230gr TC cast bullet
Win Large primer

 

[45R]

it's Bullseye 3.3 or 3.4 grains with either a 185 gr wadcutter or a 200.

That is a sweeeeet load! Your pretty much cutting the X ring out with every shot out to 25 yards

 

[JoeHatley]

4.5 grains Bullseye
200 grain SWC Rainier plated bullet
Federal 150 primer
Star-Line brass
OAL 1.255 --> 1.260
Just over 800 fps from a 5" auto barrel



Consistantly accurate...

Joe

 

[EddieCoyle]

Here's mine:

5.5 grains of W231
230 gr Rainier plated bullet
CCI Large Pistol Primer

 

[timn]

I use W231 for my pistol loads.

200 LSWC - 5.3 gr (very accurate on all my .45 ACP pistols)
230 LRN - 5.1 gr

Ninja45

Same load on the 200gr. LSWC.
Federal primers.
Indeed, a deadly accurate load and pleasant to shoot.

I'd like to hear what folks are using with the 225 gr. Magnum HPs. I'm looking for a good defensive load.

 

[Deanimator]

3.8-4.0gr. of Bullseye, 200gr. Magnus or Penn LSWC, Federal match primer. Any name brand case, new or fired. NO Amerc cases under ANY circumstances.

 

[KHawk]

I load two loads. #1 is the same load ribbonstone uses. This has been a very popular load since the late 60's or earlier, for duplicating the Mil. hardball load. #2 is a match load that I've used since the 70's, 3.8 gr Bullseye under a 185 gr lead swaged bullet with a Fed. Large Pistol primer. This is a flatter shooting round that punches well grouped holes in paper at match distances.
I have also used this load substituting 4.0 gr of Red Dot.

_____________________________________________

The police make great witnesses, and are good at drawing white outlines.
But for protection I want my 3 friends, Colt, Smith & Wesson.

 

[lev83]

4.3 grains of TiteGroup and a 230 gr. Hornady XTP/JHP. Works every time.

 

[distra]

Precision (Poly coated) 230gr RN or Rainier 230gr TMJ RN
4.5 gr Bullseye
OAL 1.265 - 1.270"
Fed 150

Runs well in all my .45ACP pistols.

 

[CZ57]

Definitely not a paper puncher and so far I see only one previous JHP load, but 7.7 - 7.8 grs (7.75 if you can manage it) of V-V 3N37 under a 230 gr. Rem. Golden Saber loaded to 1.230" in a Rem. nickel case and WLP. Spare me the political correctness/incorrectness of using handloads for defense, but what loads do you guys practice with to replicate the feel of your carry load if you only carry with factory ammo?

 

[timuchin]

Favorite load

4.2 Grains Clays under 230 grain fmj.

 

[MarineTech]

Speer 230 TMJ bullet
Winchester Cases
6.1 gr Unique
CCI #300 primer
OAL 1.260"

Great plinking load. Very decently accurate. Little dirty, but not bad.

 

[dmftoy1]

Rainer 200 Gr. Plated HP
8.0 Grains AA#5
WLP
COL 1.245

Groups really nicely in my XD and my 1911's. (also very "clean")

 

[Clark]

Really a 45 Super load:

Para Ord P10 [HAWG] 45acp 3.16" barrel

National Bullet 152 gr. Copperized lead semi wad cutter, .569" bulletlength
http://nationalbullet.com/index.php?name=45_Cal_Bullets

12 gr. PowerPistol, 1.275" OAL, Lee factory crimp, Starline 45acp +P brass

chrono 1242 fps

 

[js2013]

200 gr Berry's RN
4.0 red dot (because I have a bunch and it's cheap)
Win primer
1.200"
Very mild recoil

 

[bakert]

Although I use the 200 gr LSWCs quite a bit, the most trouble free and accurate load in my gun is the 230 gr LRN over 5.3 grs of 231. May not cut the nice clean holes in paper but it works every time. In a pinch I would have no qualms using it for a self defence load.