Getting into 1911's / Need .45ACP advice and load setup

Ilove12gshotguns

Ilove12gshotguns

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Good day,

I recently picked up a Colt 1911 Gold Cup Trophy in .45ACP.

I am not new to reloading and already have a full set-up, but have never reloaded any pistol calibres. What loads do you guys suggest for a high power load, and a low power.

If there is powder that gives the most case volume, i am all ears. I would hate to double charge a cartridge and ruin a fine firearm (and my Face).

Dies? i've always just stuck to RCBS

suggestions for Brass?

Who makes a decent 230g projectile thats accurate and fairly priced?

Thanks for any info.
 
I use Win 231 / HP38 at 5.3 grains - you'll have to find your own OAL doing a plunk test in your barrel. There are umpteen powders for 45ACP (I have Win 231 / HP38, Titegroup and Power Pistol). Start low, work up as usual.
I found the lower ends of the listed loads may not cycle the action properly on a 1911. Go up 0.1 grain at a time until you get 0 failures, then work on load for accuracy if required.

It is easy to visually see a double charge in 45ACP.

Dies - whatever you like.... I prefer carbide.

Brass - whatever - except Sumbro, throw it away. For new, Starline is good to go. Mostly range pickup for me (free).
Note there are small and large primer versions of 45 ACP. Pick one, trade or scrap the other.

Campro plated 230gr RNFCP are available almost everywhere at a good price. They also do a 230 Hollow Point
 
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Like Paul , I'm using HP 38 except at 4.9 ,230 gr campros , mixed large primer brass on a lee turret press and lee 4 die set . Load for 9 ,40 and 45 on it so it's easy to just swap turrets for changes . Bought a box of star line brass , cheaper than others and they're on about 4 reloads with no problems , looks good .
 
45 ACP can be purchased and reloaded with small primers or large primers. I'd suggest you decide which one you're going with and stick with that, to avoid sorting, though as heliace suggests it can be done. There really isn't any proven advantage with either primer size - most comparison tests don't show enough meaningful difference or have too many variables. If you're reloading other calibres and buying supplies in bulk, you might save a few bucks using small primers. I use large primers, because back when I started shooting and reloading 45ACP there was no such thing as 45 with small primers.

Every one will have their own pet load. You'll have to experiment with different powders, charges, and bullets to see what you (and your gun) do best with.
 
I was using Titegroup with 200 TC Campro's. Was good on accuracy but dirty as sh*t. I switched to CFE Pistol which is now my go to powder for both 9mm and 45 ACP. My loads are 6.5gn for 200 TC and I think 6.3gn for 230 RN. Both fill the case enough to reduce risk of double loads, but it's still a pretty large case for that type of charge.
 
The gold cup has a tight chamber if you have some jamming get a Lee carbide crimp die it resizes the loaded round to SAAMI specs as it crimps. I had a few hundred rounds loaded up my Norc ate them up, I bought a Para with a match chamber the rounds would hang up the Lee die was the remedy. I use Titewad powder with Campro 230 HP.
 
Thanks for all the great info.

I will give the Lee die set a try.

230g Campros seem to be the ticket.

For powder, will grab really whatever they have at the LGS and start working on a load from there.

For brass I will do what I always do for a new gun, just buy Winchester factory ammo until I get a good enough stock pile of brass then start reloading. I like this method as it gets me familiar with the firearm, and we'll practiced with it before I start adding variables like a new load.
 
From my perspective, and unless you cast your own, it seems wasteful to fire a bullet 30 grains heavier than you need. Bullets are a single use item, why use more than you need. Plus RN 230 grainers tear most target paper.

My advice: seek out a retailer who sells cast 200 grain semi-wad cutter lead bullets.(or make your own) Cast lead or even plated 200 grain bullets are cheaper than all 230's. Bullseye powder is the classic receipt for accuracy using 3.8 grains to 4.0. Bullseye powder is about C$29.77 a pound, or about 0.017 cents per shot fired.
 
I originally had only one set of dies for 45ACP (Lyman Carbide 3Die), but I got a really good deal on a set of RCBS carbide so now I have one seating die set for 230gr RN and one for 200gr TC. I use the Campro 200gr Plated TC and Berry's 230gr Plated RN: both have been excellent and cost the same, so I pretty much just get what's available, with preference to the 200gr since they tend to produce the best loads and accuracy for me. I shoot a Glock 41 so lead doesn't appeal to me much, but typically does to anyone shooting a 1911 with a regular rifled barrel.

All of my brass comes from the range floor and anything with a Federal, R-P, Winchester, Norinco or S&B head stamp has provided multiple reloads. Large Primer only. If I find small primer 45ACP I put it in a separate jug and use it for trading for casings of other calibers.

The best powders I've tried are Bullseye, Unique, W231 and WST(one of my personal favorites for 9mm, 40S&W and 45ACP). I've also used Universal, Clays and VV N350 with good success, but they don't meter as well for me out of my Hornady L&L measure.
 
I shoot 5gr of titegroup behind a 230gr plated RN or lead cast.Campro or Berry's bullets have worked well. Very close to GI ammo specs gets about 830fps out of my 4.25" barrels.
 
I'm playing with a bunch of different loads and have nothing definitive yet. I am leaning towards the 200g SWC; they seem to shoot best in my Norinco at both min and max loads, but have not settled on a powder or a load as yet.

One caution with brass, they come in both large and small primers. Most of what I have are WW with the large primer, but I always seem to have some other stuff mixed in by the time I pick it up at our range. This can be a PITA.

As far as small primer vs large with the same load, I have seen no difference in performance.
 
diananike said:
I shoot 5gr of titegroup behind a 230gr plated RN or lead cast.Campro or Berry's bullets have worked well. Very close to GI ammo specs gets about 830fps out of my 4.25" barrels.
Click to expand...

I tried XMETAL polymer coated in 230g, and they shot OK, but gave me a lot of feeding problems. They were consistently .001-.110 larger than cast lead, enough to shave a bit when seating and caused no end of feeding problems. I shot the last of them a few weeks back; never again.
 
Some gold cups will have a target weight recoil spring, so could cause damage with major loads. If slide racks easily, u may have lite spring. Unless you're into ipsc or odpl, no need for heavy loads with 230 gn. Semi wad 190-200gn work fine.
 
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