Suggestions for 45acp load

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Rembrandt

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Have never reloaded for 45acp before, but have several and would like to begin doing so.

Interested in using 200 grain XTP's projectiles, (No 185's or 230's). Accuracy is important and want a clean burning powder. Geared more for target shooting than man stopping.

If 200 grain bullets are not the best choice, explain why and what's a better alternative.
 
Have never reloaded for 45acp before, but have several and would like to begin doing so.

Interested in using 200 grain XTP's projectiles, (No 185's or 230's). Accuracy is important and want a clean burning powder. Geared more for target shooting than man stopping.

If 200 grain bullets are not the best choice, explain why and what's a better alternative.
IIRC, the Marines shooting team uses, or did use, the Nosler 185 JHP. Browning I read, meant for the 1911 to use a 200 gr. ball ammo. It was the military that wanted the 230 gr. ball ammo.
If you don't mind cast, Missouri Bullet Co. offers a 200 gr. (coating available) flat nose that has worked decent for me. I don't have the load data on me.
My favorite target so far is the Berry's 185 gr. HBRN with 5.0 gr. of WST at a OAL of 2.250". This bullet basically has the same exterior dimensions as the 230 gr. RN.
 
I like the Acme coated LSWC 200gr bullet. Good powders listed above. Currently I use Red Dot/Promo for .45acp with the Acme bullet.
 
Although I feel the XTP is an excellent bullet... it's worked well in anything I've ever tried it in... it's an expensive bullet. If all you are doing is poking paper, cast and coated cast are a good answer, or at least plated FMJ or SWC would be more economical. Your money, your choice.

I've always been a big 230grn .45ACP guy, but recently I've worked up a 200grn load for my alloy pistol, I have to admit, it's a lot more fun to shoot than full-house 230grn loads... so I see your interest in the 200grn bullet, but I'm curious as to why the absolute?

Medium to fast powders are probably your best choice... and there is a bunch. If 'clean burning' is high on the list, start with the newer powders that are formulated for it... powders like BE-86, W244, Sport Pistol, and even WST. There are certainly others, those are just the ones I've had experience with.
 
• 200gr is the traditional accuracy bullet for 45ACP.
• At target distances and speeds, save your money and buy coated lead. Such As
• If you are shooting paper targets, then a SWC will give you a cleaner hole.
• A preferred method to load SWC is relative to shoulder height, rather than OAL.

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https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bul...-gr-full-metal-jacket-round-nose-bullets-new/
This bullet with 4.5 grains of tightgroup is cheap and fun to shoot at the range. I also load the 185 jhp nossler I picked up here for a more exciting load with 8.0 grains of power pistol. That pp load is full power and not a good self defense round due to muzzle flash. Both are accurate and clean. I dont shoot the 200 because I dont find those cheap.
 
The XTP is a little pricey for a plinking bullet for me, I really like the MBC 200gr SWC shoots really fine over bullseye in a number of 45s for me.
 
For coated 200 grain swc, I use 4.5 grains of bullseye for a light target load and 7 grains of unique for a mid-range load. 5 grains of bullseye under Berry's 200 grain played rfp.
 
I agree that the XTP is pricey for target use. I don't see a need to spend that much on punching holes in paper. Defense load, yes. Check out Brazos Bullets 200 grain SWCs. Several very good shooters at bullseye matches I shoot in have used them and really like them. I have used them also, as well as Bayou Bullets, SNS Casting and Missouri Bullets. All are very accurate. I also use 185 grain bullets, which is a standard target weight bullet along with 200s. I have several powders I have used with very good results: Red Dot, Bullseye, Nobel Vectan AS and WST have been some of the best. The Vectan is very accurate, clean burning, and also less expensive than most. Just have to find what works well for your gun. And don't forget if you are going to load down for 750-800 fps, you may need to get a lighter recoil spring to assure full cycling.
 
Accuracy is important and want a clean burning powder.

...and, along those 'clean burning' lines... powders used in inefficient loads will burn 'dirty' even if they are advertised as clean burning. A clean burn is more a result of the proper powder and burn rate paired with the weight of the bullet and the barrel length. To that end, faster powders are typically cleaner burning than, say, Unique or IMR4227 (to go to extremes,) but W231 wouldn't be appropriate for a heavy bullet in a longer barrel. Some experimentation may be necessary for you to find the ideal combination of accuracy and clean burn.
 
I use 5.6 Grains of unique with laser Cast Oregon Trail 230 grain round nose and Speer FMJ round nose seated at 1.260" in my RIA 5" 1911. Both these loads puts the velocity around 775 -800 FPS and seems to burn pretty cleanly.. I dont care to much for 200 grain SWC bullets. From my observations in my pistol the deeper shoulder of the SWC campared to the 230 round nose leave a tad bit of lead shavings when being chambered.
 
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You folks never fail with the good information.

Still fixed on going with 200 grain bullets, but would rather stay away from cast, I am open to plated or jacketed. Trying to find something in that 800-900 FPS range that is pleasant enough for women to shoot. Have some granddaughters need to take to the range.
 
My vote is for a 185 or 200 gr cast MBC over 5.0 gr of Unique. I have never bought those exact bullets coated, but have used other MBC bullets that were coated. They are great....I have been using plain cast MBC in a 1911 that has seen about 4k rounds so far and has never been cleaned.

I do not see much need for jacketed or even plated bullets in a .45 for range use.
 
I ran some of the 185 grain Missouri bullets.
Missouri bullet company
.45 button Hi-Tek (HT-452185B) 185 grain LSWC
blazer brass
Bullseye powder 4.15-4.2 grain

Very accurate. Oal will be up to your weapon. Very soft shooting. I'll be ordering another 1000 of the 200 grain next but I've got about 600 xtreme 200gr plated swc to shoot and another 1200 or so of ball 230 before I'm ready to order.

20191201_131215.jpg
 
For my 1911's chambered in 45 acp I've had good results with Xtreme's 200 gr plated round nose and about 5 gr of Bullseye, I use a 1.260" COL.
I have some Accurate #2 that I plan try out, it's on my "things to do" list.
I've shot many of the 185 gr JHP Nosler factory 2nds with around 6.2gr of W-231 and a 1.195" COL with very good results.
 
Still fixed on going with 200 grain bullets, but would rather stay away from cast, I am open to plated or jacketed. Trying to find something in that 800-900 FPS range that is pleasant enough for women to shoot. Have some granddaughters need to take to the range.

I understand what you are looking for. We (wife and I) shoot 2 45acp and I have been loading both Berry's and Xtreme plated. From 185gr Berry's Flat Point which shot very well and will buy more to 200gr RN from both brands along with the 200gr Berry's Flat Point. In complete honesty neither I nor the wife can distinguish between the 185gr and the 200gr., they are just too close. For powders I have been using a lot of the AA#2 and Ramshot Silhouette.

Recently I started casting and loading a 200gr LSWC. So that is what I've been playing with.
 
I use mostly W231/HP-38 in the 45 Auto. It's a match made in heaven IMO.

If you are avoiding cast bullets you can use Hi-Tek coated bullets from Missouri Bullets instead.

For jacketed bullets Nosler is a good choice. Zero bullets are very good but not in the weight you want.
 
45 acp isn’t too particular. Bullseye, AA#2 ,231,HS-6, Unique.AA#5 have all worked just fine for me.
 
Interested in using 200 grain XTP's projectiles, (No 185's or 230's). Accuracy is important and want a clean burning powder. Geared more for target shooting than man stopping.
The XTPs will be very accurate but are expensive. Use them if you can afford them! I use Bayou’s 200gr SWC, and RMR has a plated 200gr RN, and you get our discount.
Use a fast powder and if it’s just target shooting and you don’t need to meet a PF, you can download to the point where the gun cycles and meets the accuracy requirement. I prefer WST or N320 but have loaded Titegroup, IMR Target and IMR Red loads that are also very nice.
 
My Remington 1911 Carry likes 200 SWC and 230 RN both plated or copper coated from MBC, Barry's, and Hornady. It hates Berry's 185 RNHB bullets. I sold my M&P Compact that loved the 185 RNHB bullets. I now have a little under 1000 of them that I am going to give to my Son-in-law who bought my M&P. I tried Win 231- Tight Group-- and Win WSF. I have some Trail Boss and Longshot I was going to try with the 185's, but I gave up with the first 3 powders. The 185 patterned instead of grouped.
 
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