45 ACP, 180 grain loads, Bullseye

[earplug]

I'm currently using some preloaded 180 LSW grain 3.6 grains of bullseye loads for indoor fifty foot Bullseye. Its a nice light target load.
I use a S&W 625 but they will cycle a 1911 pattern pistol.
I'm gearing up to load some for myself. I have found other powders that burn cleaner then Bullseye I have some WW WST powder on hand and i'd like to use it if anyone has any loads they care to share.
I have Clays and 231 on hand.
The WST worked well for a Major load in 200 grain. I'm looking for information on a light 180 SWC.

 

[stork]

My short line load with H&G 130 (185 gr swc) is 3.9 WST-.465 taper crimp. this load is not quite as accurate for me as 3.5 gr Bullseye with the same bullet and crimp.

 

[earplug]

Thanks, that gives me a starting point.

 

[earplug]

Back to Bullseye

After trying light loads, 3.6, 3.7 of WST and 5 grains of WW 231, neither were as clean, accurate or comfortable to shoot as 3.6 grains of Bullseye and a 180 grain LSWC.

 

[JimPGov]

4.2 Wst

4.2 Of Wst Is The Magic #. Give Or Take A .1 Or .2

 

[chbrow10]

i have found that Clay's, at light load pressures, is very dirty in my 5" 1911 in 45 ACP using 185 gr plated bullets and 4.6 grains of clays at 1.125". I suspect that you would find the same with the loads you describe. This is for ordinary Clay's only.

 

[SoCalShooter]

My current shortline and long line that cycles nice in my les baer is 4.6grains of W231 with a REDLINE 200grain SWC. Shoots the x ring out when I hold it right.

 

[earplug]

Since I shoot bullseye at fifty feet and shoot a weekly steel shoot, I'm sticking with the 180 grains.
I'm using a five inch S&W 625 for both events.
I know the 3.6 grains of bullseye cycles my Springfield 1911 fine if I deceide to chase brass.
I found WST is fine for major pf with 200, Clays is great for major with a 230 A light 180 grain load with 3.6 WST left lots of yellow residue and still recoiled more then Bullseye. I could load it hotter and it would probably burn cleaner, but getting back on the target would be slower.

 

[JimPGov]

Regulate The Recoil With The Heavier 4.2 Load By Changing The Recoil Spring. 3.6 Is A Very Light Load.

 

[eflatminor]

I use WST in my IPSC .45 load, but I use a 200g SWC, not 180. In any case, I find that 4.9g of WST easily makes major, cycles the gun with never an issue, and 'feels' right as far as snap vs. push.

 

[dafitch]

I'm a 4.0 gn Bullseye load with 180 gn bullets guy. Anything less than 4.0 gn at 50 yds seems to more or less lob the bullet at the target. Everyone I know that shoots conventional pistol with me uses Bullseye. In fact, I had wanted to try some other powders but was convinced by the masses that Bullseye was the best way to go. So much experience with this powder, help was easy to find.

 

[Fred40]

I'm shooting 200gr LSWC's with 3.9 WST indoor.

I use the same for the short line outdoors and 4.2 of WST on the long line. Both have been very accurate.

 

[eflatminor]

Fred40, that's a really light load; it would not make major in IPSC or IDPA. Do you shoot Bullseye? I would think that load would not be so accurate. Are you cutting clean holes in the paper or tearing it up?

 

[WARDER]

i find that bullseye is a little to fast burning in my government 1911. i use 4.5 grs of gm3 for a really accurate load or 4.4 vit 340 all with a 200 semi wad.

 

[Fred40]

eflatminor,

Bullseye shooting. Mostly clean holes in paper even at 50 yards. It's light...but not as light as the original posters.

 

[dardascastbullets]

.45-185 grain

3.5 grains of Bullseye has been a mainstay for the .45-185 gr SWC for a very long time - a very reliable load!

 

[20nickels]

You need at least 4.0 of WST to keep it clean for 200gr. I would bump it up to 4.2-4.5 for 180gr.

 

[md2lgyk]

I stopped using Bullseye years ago - too dirty for me. Now I exclusively use N310. Costs a bit more but is worth it.