Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

[Switchblade]

I am trying to compile a list of good loads for the 1911 and Glock 45's. I and a friend will be setting up to do a little work to load rounds for both pistols. We are looking for clean burning ro semi clean burning loads in both a nice plinking 230fmj as well as a nice scremer for the 185/200sjhp

POWDER Charge Primer Case Bullet



We both want a less expensive alternative for Home Defense and indoor/outdoor range fun.

 

[groovebus]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

My standard load is 5gr of Bullseye from Alliant powder, I use Winchester Large pistol primers with a 230gr FMJ. I seat it to 1.25"

 

[1911jerry]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

4.1 grains of Clays, WLP, Winchester 1x brass, 1.250 AOL, .472 crimp, 230 grain FMJRN

 

[nelson34]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

5.0 of bullseye for a 230 fmj. A cheaper alternative would be a lead bullet. I have had good luck w/ missouri bullet company. They make a couple different hardness's depending on the type of shooting you are doing. Very accurate and no leading. Read up in their technical section it goes over all the info. For an accurate load i go 4.2 grains of bullseye w/ a 200 gr lead semi wad cutter.

EDIT- using a CCI large pistol primer, and buy cases in bulk once fired range brass.

 

[Leaddog]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

5.1 grs. of Vit N320, 200gr LSWC (Black Bullet by Precision), Fed Primer, Win brass, OAL 1.25.

I've neen loading this for 10 years. Very accurate and soft shooting in my 1911's.

Of course, all disclaimers apply. Always work up any loads based on manufacturer's recommendations to assure safety.

 

[tnichols]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

My comp load for USPSA Single Stack Division: 230 gr. Berry's plated round nose over 5.0 gr. of Viht N320 in Federal brass using Winchester Large Pistol primers. OL 1.248 Taper crimp 0.468 This load is very clean and power factors 173-175. I use it in 2 Les Baer Premier II's.

 

[clmayfield]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

What is the criteria to make a good 45 ACP load. People don't really optimize charge weight for accuracy, for instance. Are they mainly looking at reliability and recoil? I know that in IPSC and IDPA, it is used to derive power factor. Is that what people are loading for? Minimum recoil with max power factor?

 

[Clark]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

I carry 152 gr LSWC, 12 gr Power Pistol, Starline +P brass, 1.275".
With a 3" barrel it does 1250 fps.
Quickload predicts 1250 fps 29kpsi.

 

[Falar]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Clark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I carry 152 gr LSWC, 12 gr Power Pistol, Starline +P brass, 1.275".
With a 3" barrel it does 1250 fps.
Quickload predicts 1250 fps 29kpsi.

</div></div>

??

29k PSI in a .45 ACP case?

152gr bullet?

Sounds unusual.

 

[pepperbelly]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

I use whatever case I happen to grab. I load a Winchester Large Pistol primer, a 200gr LSWC over 4.5gr WST. This is my match load.
I haven't chronographed it but someone else either did or used a ballistic program and it is around 850fps.
This load is very accurate in all of my 1911s, and other's.
The bullets are cast by a friend locally, using the original Lyman lead mix. 2 driving bands and are a truncated cone and hard enough that I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with them. Similar to a Keith style semi-wadcutter.
The WST powder is very clean and meters very well through my Dillon powder measure.

Jim

 

[leadbullet]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

hodgdon Clays, 4,3 gr, any case, any primer, rainier ballistics 200 or 230 FMJ. Clean, accurate, inexpensive and easy to shoot all day.

 

[jdel]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

My 2 faverite powders are WST and Clays. 4.5 WST 1.250 oal and 3.9 Clays 1.205 oal. These are with a Zero 230 FMJ. These are real smooth in my DW 1911.

 

[Lobo Widowmaker]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

Still use Jeff Cooper's 8.0 grains of Unique with 230 gr bullet.

 

[kreiert]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

5.1 grains Win 231 with 200 grain LSWC.

 

[LRS_Ranger]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

4.5 grains of Titegroup with a 230 grain round nose is a good plinking load. If you drop the charge to 3.5 grains it will still cycle, but I don't know about power factor...

For my home and self defense loads I'm running 6.6 grains under a hornady 185 grain XTP. I've found this load to be very accurate, but I don't know the velocity. The same charge was ok with berry's 185's, but was not as accurate for me.

 

[Bear_308]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

5.1 grains of Alliant Green Dot
230 FMJ
Win Lg Pistol Primer
Seated to 1.250"

Should give you about 830 FPS out of a 5" barrel.

You can giv'er 5.7 grains of Green Dot for ~900fps.

Gotta love the 230FMJ! You don't need hollow points when you're runnin' .45s!

 

[Switchblade]

Re: Favorite Loads for 45 ACP?

What about the 185 small ashtrays? ANyone load those to over 1k fps?