An accurate .45 acp target load.
- Thread starter magnumair
- Start date
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
At what they came from the Colt factory.
For many years the standard 45 target load was 3.5 - 3.7 bullseye for a 200 gr. SWC (think Hensley and Gibbs #68 or equivalent). Currently 4.3 gr WW 231 for the short line, 4.6 gr for the long line. Lots of equivalent loads out there, but "softball" loads need a 10 pound spring to function reliably, just DON'T use factory ball with a light spring. Bullseye tends to be filthy but 231 is much cleaner to shoot.
Dr Jim
Dr Jim
If you have any left try again. But this time set the shoulder so it's about the thickness of a business card ahead of the case mouth. Done like this both my 1911's eat these as smooth or smoother than ball loads.
coldestcanuck
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- lower mainland bc
I use the same bullet over 4.1 of Bullseye with a c.o.l. of 1.25". I've used these rounds in a Dlask custom, a Kimber Pro carry and a Les Baer. The guns ran fine and accuracy was quite respectable.
carsmovies
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Mississauga, Ontario
Wrong forum. Shouldn't this be in the reloading forum?
Fav loads for the .45ACP using 200 gr lead SWC.....
Been loading .45 ACP since the 1980's.
Tried a few different powders with varying success but always come back to two favorites with the 200 gr lead SWC.
#1 Pet Load: 5.2 gr Red Dot [gives about 850 fps from a 5" 1911 barrel]
#2 Pet Load: 4.9 gr Bullseye [gives about 825 fps from a 5" 1911 barrel]
My preference is to stick to the #1 load using Red Dot but will go to Bullseye if necessary.
A number #3 load is: 4.5 gr 700X [gives about 800 fps from 5" 1911 barrel].
I've also used: Unique, Green Dot, 800X with success, too. I have used Win 231 as well but find it extremely dirty powder so quit using it.
Two now obsolete powders also gave favourable loads but are no longer available: Win 273AA and Win 252AA.
Make sure you don't over bell the case mouth in that step. And you want to seat the bullet shoulder slightly out from the case mouth as described above for best feeding results.
I've run the 200 lead SWC through lots of USGI 1911A1 & even a few 1914 vintage Colt government models, without throated barrels, and all have digested them well.
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NAA.
Been loading .45 ACP since the 1980's.
Tried a few different powders with varying success but always come back to two favorites with the 200 gr lead SWC.
#1 Pet Load: 5.2 gr Red Dot [gives about 850 fps from a 5" 1911 barrel]
#2 Pet Load: 4.9 gr Bullseye [gives about 825 fps from a 5" 1911 barrel]
My preference is to stick to the #1 load using Red Dot but will go to Bullseye if necessary.
A number #3 load is: 4.5 gr 700X [gives about 800 fps from 5" 1911 barrel].
I've also used: Unique, Green Dot, 800X with success, too. I have used Win 231 as well but find it extremely dirty powder so quit using it.
Two now obsolete powders also gave favourable loads but are no longer available: Win 273AA and Win 252AA.
Make sure you don't over bell the case mouth in that step. And you want to seat the bullet shoulder slightly out from the case mouth as described above for best feeding results.
I've run the 200 lead SWC through lots of USGI 1911A1 & even a few 1914 vintage Colt government models, without throated barrels, and all have digested them well.
-----------
NAA.
Me too.
4.7 gr titegroup with a swc that casts at 212gr. Using the 'rule of thumb' ie a thumbnail width of the shoulder outside the case and feeds perfectly. 3 inch groups off hand at 25 yards if I am having a good day - more than accurate enough for me...
- Location
- West Quebec
I like this mix and it will be my first LSWC load to try..
