Factory .45 ACP bullseye loads?

Of course it is prohibitively expensive. That's why we reload! Look for "Match" or "Target" loads with 185 or 200 gr SWC bullets -- sometimes in the catalogue as "Match Ball" as your options.
 
If you're only shooting at 25 yards, see about getting a (safe) local reloader to do up some 200 gr LSWC with 3.7-3.9 grains of Clays powder. That's a very common combination for .45 bullseye shooting. A reduced load but reliable and accurate, and burns cleanly. Plus the semi-wadcutter bullet is made for cutting nice holes in targets.

If you shoot precision at the proper 50 yards, ammunition quality becomes much more important (as does the gun, of course). One of the most respected commercial reloaders of bullseye ammunition for the .45 in the States is NSK (http://www.nsksales.com/. His ammo is used by a lot of shooters down there, but I don't know what kind of hoops you would have to go through to get it up here! I'm guessing you don't shoot at 50 yards anyway, and at 25 it's not necessary to get that kind of quality control.
 
is a 45 even a good round for bullseye? i mean, it was made for combat, with a great big heavy lumbering round going not-terribly-fast-at-all, was it not?
 
BP7 said:
is a 45 even a good round for bullseye? i mean, it was made for combat, with a great big heavy lumbering round going not-terribly-fast-at-all, was it not?
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There are three stages for bullseye competion:

-.22 rimfire
-Any centrefire .32 or larger
-.45 ACP

Many shooters also use their .45s for the any centrefire stages rather than a third pistol. The very best guns set up for this type of competition are capable of shooting inside 1.5" at 50 yards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullseye_(shooting_competition)
 
Standard NRA "Conventional Pistol" i.e. one-hand, any sight, pistol matches require a 22 for 90 rounds, any centrefire pistol for 90 rounds, and .45 ACP for 90 rounds. In the USA it is common for shooters to use two guns, a 22 and a .45. None of the ISSF events allow for the .45.
 
I shot my accurised 1911 at one WIPL match (relaxed rules allow 45ACP) and was surprised when I beat some 32SWL shooters. Accuracy of 45ACP as a round is not a question. As to factory loads - yes there are winchester target loads sold at the same price as self-defence ammo, just a matter of being in a right store in a right time. I strongly recommend to roll up your sleeves and reload 45ACP, its the most rewarding part in terms of accuracy and cost. I would also recommend a visi to pistolsmith and tightening up your pistol, at least trigger work, slide fitting and bbl bush+chainlink. Most service-grade pistols simply weren't made for target shooting and need tune up. Well, if you are on the budget - at least replace barrel bush with something tighter, that thing alone may shrink your groups in half.

I guess what I was trying to say is that buying factory target loads on its own won't do the trick.
 
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