45 auto 230 gr. FMJ velocities

[BSA1]

May the good Lord strike me blind for saying this but I like shooting the 230 gr. FMJ pumpkin balls from the 45 auto. For comparison of some of various brands I came up with the following velocities;

Black Hills 230 gr. FMJ; 850 fps.

Blazer 230 gr. FMJ; 845 fps

Buffalo Bore FMJ FP +P; 950 fps

Cor-Bon 230 gr. FMJ; 750 fps

Double Tap 230gr. FMJ; 960 fps

Federal American Eagle AE45A 230 gr. FMJ; 890 fps.

Hornady 230 gr. FMJ RN; 850 fps.

PMC 230 gr. FMJ; 830 fps.

Remington 230 gr. MC; 830 fps.

Speer TMJ RN; 845 fps.

Winchester 230 gr. FMJ FN: 910 fps.

Velocities measured at muzzle.
Data taken from manufacturers websites.

A couple of surprises for me was how low Cor-bons are and how high Winchester is.

For those of you with chronographs how do these figures match actual testing from 5” barrel Government Model 1911’s?

 

[vba]

Very interesting, thanks for posting. I like to shoot ball as well, but lately I've been reloading 200 to 255 grain LSWC's to keep cost down.

 

[481]

Fired from my 4.41" HK USP45

Sellier & Bellot .45ACP 230 gr. FMJ (04501)
Hi: 847.30
Lo: 810.90
Av: 831.76
Md: 829.10
ES: 36.40
SD: 11.25
n: 12

Thought I might throw this out for those who like the S&B "hardball".

 

[1911Tuner]

USGI Harball spec:

830 +/- 25 fps.

 

[JTQ]

The key point here is...

Data taken from manufacturers websites.

 

[rcmodel]

You can't believe the manufactures advertising.

rc

 

[JTQ]

The other thing to consider is what is the application of the designed round?

I believe the Cor-bon round is a "match" round, which is probably why the velocity is so low.

You can buy a few different .45ACP, 230gr ball ammo rounds from Federal. They all give a slightly different "published" muzzle velocity.

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/compare/handgun_compare.aspx

 

[chris in va]

I can't wait to get my ProChrono. Should have bought one soon as I started reloading.

 

[481]

Since we are discussing the .45 ACP 230 gr FMJ, there are always a few people who are interested in how much penetration the .45 ACP 230 gr FMJ is capable of producing in calibrated ordnance gelatin and/or soft tissue.

For those interested in such things, I thought that it might be nice to provide a break-down by range (in yards) of the penetrative capabilities of the Federal American Eagle (AE45A) .45 ACP 230 gr FMJ* (890 fps) using the Schwartz bullet penetration model to predict penetration in calibrated ordnance gelatin and/or soft tissue-

Federal American Eagle 230 gr FMJ
Range.....Velocity...Penetration
0 .............890 fps........26.20”
25 yds.......872 fps........25.84”
50 yds.......856 fps........25.51”
75 yds.......840 fps........25.17”
100 yds..-..824 fps........24.83”



*using range/velocity data supplied by Federal Ammunition

 

[Slamfire]

I hardly ever shoot factory ammunition, but I believe the 850 fps velocities are reasonable in a M1911. The only factory 230 FMJ data I have is in a P220, it has a slightly shorter barrel than a M1911 but the velocity was 822 fps.

[B][SIZE="3"]SIG SAUER P220[/SIZE] [/B]	
			
			
			
[SIZE="3"]230 FMJ Aquila Factory 		
19-Jun-11	T = 87 °F
		
Ave Vel =	822.1		
Std Dev =	10.58		
ES =	23.84		
High =  = 	834		
Low =	810		
N =	6		[/SIZE]

I prefer to keep my M1911 230 grain bullets just at 800 fps. It seems to be easier on the gun. This is the original velocity required of the 1910 ball ammunition, which incidentally, was loaded with Bullseye!

Bullseye lots vary over time, as Bullseye is blended, but for 230 LRN a charge of 4.5 grains gives me what I want and for 230 FMJ’s, it takes 5.0 grains.

[SIZE="3"][B]Kimber Custom Classic [/B]			
					
					
230 gr LRN Valiant 4.5 grs Bullseye lot BE532 (80's mfgr)  Mixed Brass WLP (brass)
16-May-09	 high 83  °F		OAL 1.250"	taper crimp .469"
Ave Vel =	782.7				
Std Dev =	13.41				
ES =	52.05				
High = 	815.5				
Low =	763.4				
N =	28				
					
230 gr LRN Valiant 4.5 grs Bullseye 99' & 2005 mixed lot Mixed Brass WLP (brass)
16-May-09	 high 83  °F		OAL 1.250"	taper crimp .469"
Ave Vel =	805.2				
Std Dev =	38.07				
ES =	136.9				
High = 	912.4				
Low =	775.5				
N =	24				
					
					
230 gr LRN Valiant 4.5 grs Bullseye lot 827 (60's/70's powder) Mixed Brass WLP (brass)
16-May-09	 high 83  °F		OAL 1.250"	taper crimp .469"
					
Ave Vel =	822.9				
Std Dev =	14.14				
ES =	55.24				
High = 	853.7				
Low =	798.4				
N =	26				
					
					
230 gr FMJ (R-P) 5.0 grs Bullseye 99' & 2005 mixed lot Mixed Brass WLP (brass)
12-Dec-11	 T= 53  °F		OAL 1.265"	taper crimp .469"
					
Ave Vel =	793.5				
Std Dev =	18.92				
ES =	61.99				
High = 	817.4				
Low =	755.4				
N =	16[/SIZE]

 

[WCraven]

That very interesting data of penetration on the 45acp.. within 25 yds.......872 fps........25.84” should be able to pen two bad guys with one round depending on how there lined up with each other.

 

[mljdeckard]

Um, yeah. Until I clock it out of my own gun, manufacturer's data doesn't mean a whole lot.

 

[BSA1]

I think manufacturer's figures are more accurate for a semi-auto barrel due to not having barrel/cylinder gap found in revolvers.

Almost unlike revolvers and rifles the barrel lengths of semi-auto handguns are most commonly 4 - 5" with the 45 auto although shorter barrel Glocks enjoy a certain following.

I have always said that all ammunition, especially S.D. or H.D., should be tested on the range shooting into a variety of different materials.

I have to admit I am surprised that the lowly pumpkin ball has not attracted the interest of THR members that have chronographs.

 

[481]

Um, yeah. Until I clock it out of my own gun, manufacturer's data doesn't mean a whole lot.

Um, nobody seems to have claimed otherwise.

If you have a chronograph, you can easily find out what your ammo does in your gun. Problem solved.

 

[RedAlert]

"You can't believe the manufactures advertising.

rc"

Does this mean the brass case isn't brass and the slug doesn't weight 230gr? You only take exception to the test data I guess. ;-)
Sorry I couldn't resist.

Red

 

[481]

That very interesting data of penetration on the 45acp.. within 25 yds.......872 fps........25.84” should be able to pen two bad guys with one round depending on how there lined up with each other.

If the manufacturer's calculated velocities are correct (dependent upon using the correct B.C.), the fact that the .45 ACP 230 gr FMJ loses velocity so slowly means that it ought to offer some decent penetration against soft tissue for quite some distance down-range.

Using the JBM online ballistic calculator for this-

http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmtraj_simp-5.1.cgi

-at 500 yards , the 230 gr FMJ ought to still be buzzing along at about 565 fps which means that it should still offer about 18.4 inches of soft tissue penetration according to the Schwartz bullet penetration model.

 

[76shuvlinoff]

-at 500 yards , the 230 gr FMJ ought to still be buzzing along at about 565 fps which means that it should still offer about 18.4 inches of soft tissue penetration according to the Schwartz bullet penetration model.

What's the hold over on that?

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I expect factory ammo, 230gr RN FMJ, to be about 830 feet per second from a 5" auto barrel. Based on faith(?)

But, I have not chronographed the ammo I use despite the fact it would not be hard (a fellow shooter let me chronograph my .30-30 handloads using his equipment and my son has wanted to buy a chronograph). I have three weights of recoil spring for my .45, and I think knowing velocity would give me a better clue as to what recoil spring to use with what ammo.

I have used Speer, Federal, Winchester, UMC, IMI, etc. often based on local availability of various brands which appears at times to be seasonal. (Had one season I had to hustle to find ammo for the match season: .45ACP appeared to dry up.) I had problems one match because I was using the heaviest recoil spring and the ammo I scared up at the last minute was failing to eject.

 

[481]

What's the hold over on that?

Huge.

Depends on how you are "zeroed", not that it matters much in given the rainbow trajectory of the cartridge.

According to JBM, for a 50 yd "zero", "hold over" is 1124 inches (93.7 feet) and for a 100 yd "zero" it is 655 inches (54.6 feet).

Feel lucky?