45 acp Plinker Loads

[ulflyer]

I've been loading 3.3 gr Clays behind 200 RNFP lead for over a year and get the acccuracy I want and it reliably cycles 3 diff 1911's with 16lb recoil springs. However, reading about low power pressure issues, its got me wondering if I may have had dumb luck up to now. I've used the min that my book calls for, 3.9gr, and frankly it is stouter than this old man likes for the kind of plinking I do. What do you experienced and knowledgable reloaders think about the 3.3?

 

[Kentucky Jelly]

I shoot 3.9-4.0 clays in a 200 grn plated RN, and it is extremely pleasant to me. Shooting out of a CZ Dan Wesson PM7. Makes my glock 17 feel like a jack hammer.

What OAL are you loading too?

 

[loadedround]

My target/plinking load for my 45's consist of a hard cast 200 gr LSWC bullet like Oregon Trail's Laser Cast bullets loaded over 4.6 gr of W-W 231 and a WLP primer. Sweet shooting load and doesn't beat up the pistol or shooter.

 

[Walkalong]

That is light, but it is not going to cause any problems as long as it gets the bullet out of the barrel, and since it seems to have enough energy to cycle a 1911 with a 16# spring, you should be good to go. That must be like a popcorn fart going off.

 

[Japle]

As long as it cycles the gun and you're happy, there's no problem.

In my 1911s, a 200 gr plated bullet and 4.1 gr of Clays gives me 780-790 fps.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

Bullseye is a good powder to load cast slugs over, cheap too. does better for me than the 2 other powders I use.

 

[ulflyer]

Kentucky Jelly: OAL is 1.200.

Walkalong: Dammit, why'd you say that! Every time I pull the trigger I'm gonna be thinking of "popcorn fart". How can I shoot laffin my arse off!

Thanks for the feedback all of you; now I can go back to my 3.3 gr Clays.

 

[schmeky]

ulflyer,

I'm like you, I prefer the light loads. I shoot only the 200 gn LSWC H&G style bullets in all my different .45's. I load:

4.2 gns 231
4.2 gns ZIP
3.5 gns Clays
3.5 gns Bullseye
3.5 N310



The Bullseye load has done 1.5" groups in 2 of my .45's, a Les Baer and my CZ-97. I run reduced power recoil springs. I find myself getting tighter and tighter groups as the range session progresses. I'm not thinking of the muzzle blast, just the front sight and the trigger squeeze.

Works for me.

 

[earplug]

180 grain LSWC 3.6 Bullseye

I did a trade with for a Springfield 1911 set up for NRA action ?. Part of the trade was a dillion press and a ton of 180 grain LSWC over 3.6 grains of Bullseye.
The stuff cycled fine and was very fun to shoot. I tried at it our local steel shoot and it wasn't stout enough for knocking over steel. Was fine for fifty foot bullseye.

 

[Sunray]

Well, 3.3 grains of Clays is .3 under minimum. That's not going to cause any grief. 3 full grains might, but not 3/10ths. 3.6 is given as minimum on Hodgdon's site. Minimums and maximums change over time and when the ballistics engineers work up loads. A different powder lot can give different values.
Personally, I find a cast 230 grain RN or FP with 4.5 grains of Bullseye is extremely accurate and next to no felt recoil out of my Colt.

 

[Walkalong]

How can I shoot laffin my arse off!

Sorry....

I like Zip for those PF loads in .45. Very accurate.

 

[ulflyer]

Accuracy...Whats that?

Walkalong: I don't need accuracy....at my age I'm lucky to hit the red circle I paint on trash computer paper. Once in awhile i get a group bout the size of my fist and I'm real proud! And if I get several in that red 2" circle I'm sizzling.....thats with the gun propped on a sandbag. Mostly I dirty up the guns so I can have fun cleaning them and making more reloads.

 

[Walkalong]

At my age I have to use a red dot sight on a pistol to shoot really well.

I can shoot "OK" with irons, but not well.

As long as we are still having fun......

 

[tbtrout]

I have one load of 3.5 gr of Trail Boss with a 200 lswc. It is enough to cycle the slide but not lock it back on the last shot. The recoil is so light it should be illegal to say I am shooting a 45. Really fun to shoot though. I am shooting it out of a Warrior and P220