Working up .45ACP load - what's the best way?

C

canucklehead

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
401   0   0
Location
Calgary, AB
Hey guys,

Well, I'm FINALLY ready to start cranking out rounds on my Dillon 550. I'm starting with .45ACP. for my USP.

My question - I'm trying to find a 'good' load with Montana Gold 185gr JHP and some Accurate Arms No.2 powder (not ideal, but I got a bunch in trade and wanna use it up!).

The Accurate Arms load data says starting load is 5.7gr with an OAL of 1.210", with max load being 6.7gr.

I'm looking for accuracy, but can't get to the range a lot. SO, should I make say 20 rounds with 5.7gr, 20 with 5.8gr, etc. etc. and try them all? See what's best? Would 10 rounds suffice?

Should I skip up by .2gr every time? What about OAL? Up? Down? ARGH!!!

I realize half the fun is finding the best combinations, but I don't even know where to start!

ANY help in 'tweaking' the recipe would be appreicated! THANKS!
 
i work up by the 50 round- that way i know how the whole box performs- and it's easy to remember with a bit of tape and those transparent 50 round boxes- for pistol ,i've found there's not that much difference 5.7.. 5.8. , but you'll hit a point where it starts to spread a bit , then drop back to the previous load- kind of low, high, then about right -there might also be a point at which she just becomes downright nasty to shoot- ie uncontrollable- but don't be surprised if you get light recoil and all sorts of funny things happening- the 185 grain slug is problematic in the 45acp- the more reliable is the 200 or 230- or so i've found, it's a speed demon for sure, but doesn't always push the slide back all the way, resulting in jams, stovepipes and misfeeds-
 
Last edited:
I have never found that OAL is a factor in handgun cartridges re accuracy.
Feeding issues can be caused by the wrong OAL but accuracy should be okay.

I have been reloading 45ACP for many years. I don't claim to be an expert but have learned a bit.
Accurate Arms # 2 is a nice powder. Flows nicely & meters well. But it is very fast burning & if you are not careful you can get into excessive pressures quite easily. The 45ACP is a low pressure round anyway ( 20,000 psi MAX ).

You have not mentioned a reloading manual. If you don't have one, do yourself a big favor and get it. They contain loads of great information & advice.

Enjoy the 45. Great cartridge.
 
as far as oal goes, there's just a couple of variables- either too long and it hangs in the mag, or too short and it catches on the feed ramp- i always buy a box of factory and use that to set my oal
 
Thanks for the tips guys. I do have a loading manual - Lyman 46th if memory serves - but they don't list No.2 as a powder for .45ACP. I got that info directly from the AA website.

I think I'm gonna load 50 rounds with 5.7gr, 50 with 5.9, 50 with 6.1 and 50 with 6.3 and see how that starts out. Thing is, I'm such a crappy pistol shot, I'm not sure I'll be able to notice when the accuracy improves or drops off! :)

Any ideas on alternative powders when it's time to re-stock? I've heard Win 231 is good for .45 as well.. I think I'll stick with the 185 JHP's (assuming no jamming issues) since it's pretty cheap - $130 for 1000. 230's from BDX are hard to get - they use most in production of loaded ammo.
 
Fifty rounds is too many. Handgun loads are worked up the same way rifle ammo is. You will find that shooting jacketed bullets regularly gets expensive quickly. Use the OAL given in your manual, then:
Beginning with the starting load, load 5 rounds only. Taper crimp only. Go up by half a grain of powder, loading 5 of each keeping them separate until you get to the max load in your manual. Then go shooting. Shoot at 25 yards, for group only, slowly and deliberately off a rest. Change targets between strings of 5 and allow time for the barrel to cool.
When you find the best group, sight in.
 
231 is a nice powder. Again a ball powder that meters well. There is a lot of reloading data available.
HP38 & Win 231 are the same powder. Hogdon makes 231 for Winchester. Comes of the same equipment ( So I was told by Higginson Powder ).
The only fault with Win 231 is that is a little dirty burning.
 
sunray said:
Beginning with the starting load, load 5 rounds only. Taper crimp only. Go up by half a grain of powder, loading 5 of each keeping them separate until you get to the max load in your manual.
Click to expand...

Really? Minimum is 5.7gr, max is 6.7gr... are you saying I need only load 15 rounds to find the optimum? You may be right, but .5 gr at a time seems like a pretty big jump.
 
"...but .5 gr at a time..." Doh! I can read, really, I can. Go up by 1/10th for pistol. Five of each(5 at 5.7, 5 at 5.8, etc) is plenty for testing loads though. You're looking for a group. You don't need a 50 shot group to know whether that load is accurate out of your pistol.
50 of each will take forever to load and test too. You'd need 5000 cases or be testing loads until Christmas too. Five of each is one box.
Where that group hits the target doesn't matter at first. Sighting in comes after you've found the best load. Usually by adjusting the sights.
The taper crimp for a .45 is essential though. The .45 headspaces on the case mouth. A taper crimp doesn't bother that and it aids feeding.
 
Perfect - makes MUCH more sense now... :)

I can't wait to hit the range - I've been wanting and building up to reload for years, and I'm finally gonna shoot some homerolled ammo! Wahoo!

Probably $900 worth of reloading gear - all to 'save money on ammo' (that's what I tell the wife.. :)).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom