looking for a mild 45acp load

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john92awd

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So... I'm fairly new to reloading. I started with 45acp and I like the idea of mild loads for plinking. I loaded up some 200gn lead swc with 4.4gn of 700x (all I could find for powder at the time) and the results were good but this powder meters like hell and I had to measure each one on a scale many times. I am also loading 9mm soon.
The 45acp is a gold cup national match series 80
1-Is a faster burning powder optimal for mild loads?
2-what powder would you recommend for both 9mm and 45acp?
Looking for something known to meter well in a lee auto disc
Also feel free to post your mild plinking load
 
Lots of threads on pistol powders but some popular pistol powders would include Unique, Universal, Clays, Bullseye, Titegroup, 700x, 800x to name a few that will work for 45acp and 9mm. Have a look at the data center on Hodgdon's website for some starting loads. I would post some loads I use but I shoot 230gr.
 
I have heard that Unique, clays, 700x, 800x all meter poorly in an auto disc. I already have 700x which meters poorly so I dont want to buy another powder that doesnt. was going to try w231 but out of stock locally
 
I don't have an Auto disc but I used to use a Lee Perfect powder measure before getting an RCBS Uniflow so if it's similar to the Auto disc, better rule Titegroup out too. Unique and Bullseye are flake powders that metered well in the Perfect Measure.
 
Flake powders normally will not meter as consistently as ball or granular powders. However, some powder throwers tend to leak when used with ball powders so it's a bit of a trade off. Bullseye should meter well and would be usable for light target/plinking loads. It's not that easy to find but I have had good luck with Accurate #5 and as a shiny granular powder it meters exceptionally well and consistently.
 
mild 45ACP loads are mainly from lighter cast bullets. Try 175 grainers SWC type bullets, they feed well and make consistent and accurate rounds. I used them in combination with Unique, though Unique isn't optimal for volumetric measure. 155 grainers are too light for 45ACP, they start having problems with feeding, so don't go lighter than 175 grain bullets. Light loads are fun to shoot and they are easy on the pistol.
 
I have had excellent results making mild to medium power loads with both 231 and with TitGroup. I found TG to be a bit more accurate and cleaner buring.

200 gr cast bullet in 45, try 4.3 gr and work up in 0.3 increments. In most of my 45s, 4.3 is the ebst.

In 9mm I load the DRG casr 135gr RN. 3.3, 3.6 and 3.9 work well. Each gun like one of those loads.
 
I use win231 for 9mm as well as 45 acp. In 9mm I use 124 gr cast round nose with 5.1 gr of win 231. And for 45 acp I use 230 gr cast hp with the exact same load of 5.1 gr. both cartridges shoot well and group very well. Best part is I use the same powder measure on my Dillon 550 and 650 for both calibers.
 
john92awd said:
So faster burning powder is better for light loads? Anyone use tightgroup in a lee auto disc?
Click to expand...

Yes. It does leak somewhat, but not horribly. I keep a can of compressed air to blow out the priming station now and then.

I load it for 9mm and 45ACP and will switch over to it for 45colt once my 231 runs out.
 
I load a mild .45ACP round for an old 1911 that was made in 1917. I use a 230 grain round nose hard cast bullet with 4.7 grains of Unique (Lee auto disk .61) this clocks in at about 750 feet/second and saves wear on the old timer.
 
I experimented with an extremely light 45 acp load for Revolver division in Minor for a while.
Titegroup @ 3.2 with a 230g LRN.

Stopped shooting it because it was right on the edge, and I was getting a little nervous.
If I were to go back to Minor, 3.5 of Titegroup would be my minimum charge weight
 
I have only 2 loads for the 45acp- 5.5 of 231 for light practice and 6.2 for serious stuff- I found that lighter bullets than 200 grain lswcs give feeding problems in both my usgi Remington issue and my colt mk4/series 70= both have Wolff 18 pound springs in them-besides, 200 grainer just "feel " better
 
The secret to loading/shooting "light loads" in ANY 1911 be it .45, 9mm, .38Super is to combine a lighter recoil spring with the reduced powder loads AND as previous posters have mentioned - using lighter weight bullets ie 180gr SWC vs 230gr RN (the shape of the 155 gr bullets take some "tuning" to assure feeding) is the first step.

A word of caution using Bullseye for reduced loads in a large case like .45 - one can get "flash-over" resulting in a SEVERE pressure "issue". Ask old PPC shooters using very light loads in their competition revolvers uf they've ever had or seen a gun blow up!
 
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