.45 ACP loads for shooting bowling pins.

[luxone]

Can anyone give me some help with a good load for shooting bowling pins with a .45 ACP. I currently have Unique and Win 231 powders, and 230GR FMJ bullets in house. I would like to use what I have but am not opposed to buying different powder and bullets. The help is appreciated!

 

[capbuster]

The 230grain jacketed bullet and either of the powders you listed should give you a good pin busting 45 acp combination.Several years ago I used my own cast 230 grain RN bullets and WW231 and was most pleased with the results. You wont need a hot rod load for these matches.You might try you present reloads on the pins and see if they do the job.If possible take along some factory 230 gr rounds as a backup.

 

[Black Snowman]

Heavy bullets work better. .45 ACP is a good pin-clearer for the recoil. Some people prefer flat front profies so that the bullet is more likely to transfer more energy to the pin rather than deforming or deflecting.

 

[CRUSHER]

255 LSW .452 Pin Load
5.0 W231
1.184 oal
WLP
Power Factor = 210

light recoil and a real pin buster!!

 

[Steve in PA]

I currently use 6.0gr of Unique under a 230gr FMJ, shot out of my Sig P-220. Very good load, and very accurate.

Some will go up to 6.5gr, but right now the load above is working just fine.

 

[Edward429451]

I used to shoot a fair amount of pins. Flatpoints (TC) worked well and was my standard practice load.

225g Lead (TC)
5,8g WW-231
(870fps G21)

or

225g Lead (TC)
6.5g Unique

Hornady makes a 230g Jacketed TC which works good too.

 

[Murphster]

Here's another vote for 6.0 grains of Unique behind a 230 grain fmj. My 1911's and my Sig P220 love it.

 

[Norm Lee]

Pin Loads .45 ACP

You can certainly make do with the components you have, luxone. Load to a power factor of at least 195 (about 205 is better) and it is good to keep velocity above 850 fps. At lower velocities bounce back can be an issue.

A semi wadcutter shape offers more sharp edges, useful for grabbing on to a pin and getting some momentum transfer going. A little more forgiving than RN FMJ. In a revolver, I use a full wadcutter.

My favorite load in .45 ACP uses the 235 gr. SWC "Pinbuster" from R&R Bullets 909 Hspt Dr. Crawford NE 69339 (308) 665-1312. I fuel them with 7.1 gr. of V V N350. I set the OAL using the round nose stem set to factory RN FMJ (WW White box) length.

Cheers,

Norm