First loading of .45 ACP

GladdBag

GladdBag

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Hi, everyone. Just got back from the range, trying out my first reloading of .45 ACP. Great things to report. Was using a 200gr Excel copper coated semi wad-cutter with 6.00 gr of Win 231 on once-fired Winclean brass using a small pistol primer. Firing from a Ruger KP90D. I had been wondering how making your own ammo could really help your accuracy all that much, but I sure found out this afternoon. What a tremendous difference. Just wondering if anybody else around here is using this load?? I had one tiny problem, one round did not feed properly but I'm pretty certain that this is due to my needing a little bit tighter of a crimp on the case.

Another question for handloaders; do most of you start out with brand new brass, or do you buy factory ammo and keep the brass? I've been buying the Winclean factory ammo and keeping the brass after firing.

-GB
 
Congratulations and welcome to the world of reloading! I haven't used W231 for years in my .45, so won't comment on the load, but am sure others will. It is a good powder that meters extremely accurately and I do use it for my .32 S&W Long reloads. I have not reloaded the WinClean, and while it looks like excellent quality brass, many avoid it because of the small pistol primers. Not that it won't reload; just that it can create havoc when you reload regular brass with large pistol primer pockets and could get them mixed together. Although the .45 is designed for large pistol primers, I understand that the WinClean can be reloaded successfully, and it appears from your results to be true. You might find velocities down slightly compared to large pistol primers, but that's a guess on my part.

.45ACP is a low-pressure round and the brass can be reloaded many, many times before it splits. How much depends mostly on how hot a load you use. Picking up range brass is fine for most of us, with variations in headstamps not being much of a concern. Avoid steel or aluminum cases of course, and most people generally agree that AMERC is crap. I and some others also find that R-P and Rem-UMC brass is significantly thinner than other brands, which can lead to poor neck tension (the .45 grips the bullet without a crimp, but just by the case).

Once you get through your W231, consider having some fun experimenting with different powders. I prefer Hodgdon Clays (just Clays, not Universal Clays and not International Clays) as a very clean-burning powder for both target and IPSC loads, but there is lots of fun to be had in finding your own favourite.
 
Welcome to reloading. I have had success using 5.7 gr 231 under plated boolits but your 6 gr loasd sounds interesting. Watch the primer issue those small pistol primed cases are a PITA for those of use who shoot .45acp as up until recently large pistol primers were/are the norm. Why Winchester chose to introduce small pistol primed cases is beyond me.

Personally I don't use them as a matter of principle and since I reload have no reason to buy any of them either.

If you PM me your email address I can send you my excel spreadsheet with loads I have chronographed to date.

Stay Safe
 
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