.45ACP-230gr.LRN and Bullseye

[Timothy]

I have about 600 45ACP range brass ready to load, a whole bunch of 230 gr. LRN, and a pound of Bullseye that I want to use up for light plinking rounds. Looking at the Alliant load data, I see that they give the maximum load for this lead bullet as 4.0 gr. of Bullseye. Looking at my records(when I used to load 230 gr.) I see that I was loading 4.5 to 5.0 gr.. Not being one to push the limits, I can't figure why I was loading this heavy. Is their data extremely understated or was I suffering a brain cramp when I was loading this recipe?
Maybe you could also share you pet loads for Bullseye.

Thanks

 

[redmule]

Five grains of bullseye is the traditional load for the 230 grain bullet. Watch your overall length. I think its 1.25 inches, please double check my memory. Four to four and a half grains of bullseye makes an excellent mid-range load. Play with the mixture till you find what shoots best in your pistol.

 

[moxie]

According to Speer # 11, the range for Bullseye is 4.7-5.1 with 778fps-844fps, respectively, so you should be in good shape. I'ver used these loads succesfully, although now my standard load for the 230 in my 625 is 5.0 grs Unique. For some reason I like Unique in .45 ACP better than Bullseye. "Feels" better. I should point out that the newer Speer #13 has no loads for the 230 RNL with Bullseye. Don't know why.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

5.0 grains of bullseye is what I use with a 230gr lead bullet.

 

[Sunray]

4.5 for me but it isn't Alliant. I just went with the accuracy load for the powder I had and that was 4.5 of Bullseye, but was it Hercules? Not Alliant. It'll make one hole groups at 25 yards on a good day.

 

[BluesBear]

As I recall the older manuals listed around 5.0 gr of Bullseye powder for Jacketed bullets and a little lower charges for lead bullets to reduce barrel leading since softer lubes & allows were more common.

With todays improved lubes and slightly harder alloys you should have no problem with 4.5 to 5.0 gr of Bullseye.


Sunray, you are correct Bullseye, Unique, 2400, Blue Dot, Green Dot, Red Dot, Herco, Reloader 7 and a few others I forget, used to be made by Hercules. Now they are made by Alliant.

 

[Poodleshooter]

The data you're looking at references for 230gr FMJ,not lead. Lead can usually take slightly larger charges for some reason. I've gone through about 1500 230gr LRNs from NBC and various other casters. I usually used 4.5grs of Bullseye. 5grs is pretty warm, but not too hot. I actually gave up using 4grs as it failed to slidelock on my Glock 30.

 

[Timothy]

Poodleshooter

The data you're looking at references for 230gr FMJ,not lead

Looking at the Alliant 2002 Reloader's Guide it shows 45ACP 230 L (target)as 4.0 gr. of Bullseye. There is a statement near the front of the guide that says all their loads are stated at maximum. I assumed that 230 L means lead. Am I incorrect?
Your thoughts...

 

[BluesBear]

Lead can usually take slightly larger charges for some reason.

Nope.

I think if you'll look closer at the manual you'll find higher charges listed for jacketed bullets than for lead.

Dug out my old 2000 Alliant Reloader's Guide today.

230 L (target) Bullseye 4.0 - Red Dot 4.0 - American Select - 4.5 - Green Dot 4.3 - Unique - 5.0 - Herco 5.2
230 FMC ------ Bullseye 5.0 - Red Dot 5.0 - American Select - N/L - Green Dot 5.4 - Unique - 6.0 - Herco 6.2
230 JHP ------- Bullseye 5.4 - Red Dot 5.0 - American Select - 4.9 - Green Dot 5.4 - Unique - 6.4 - Herco 7.0

Both JHP and FMJ loads are higher than Lead. Not so much because a higher load would be dangerous with lead bullets but because lead bullets will start leading the bore if the load gets too hot.

If you're using gas checks, hardened alloy or linotype alloy you can get away using hotter loadings without leading.

 

[Poodleshooter]

Yes, lead CAN take heavier charges than jacketed bullets in handgun loads. You're comparing apples to oranges when comparing Alliant's lead 230gr to it's FMJ or JHP loads Blues Bear. Go to alliants online data. The lead load of 4grs of Bullseye is loaded to only about 2/3 the pressure of the FMJ load,and is clearly marked "target". They are NOT max pressure loads. Given equal weights, lead bullets almost always generate less pressure with identical charge weights in handguns. I've shot enough .44 Mag to see this over the chronograph. FMJ and JHP are higher than lead for the simple reason that those are designed to provide top end loads. Unless you are using a really soft swaged lead bullet, normal cast bullets can tolerate anything a .45 ACP can generate with little or no leading.

 

[dandean316]

I was going to make a new post, but my questions are along the same lines...

I got some 230 gr .45 lead round nose bullets from an estate sale recently. One batch I am real familiar with the company (Cast n Blast - local guy) and the other were just in a bucket. They were either Midway or Meister I think. They were slightly longer than the Cast n Blast, but not by much.

Anyway, what OAL should I be looking at here?

I seated them to 1.255, but I am sure a couple sources said OAL should be 1.275, but that seemed way to long. I seated them to 1.255 because there just is a little "ledge" on the bullet (much like SWC's) so I seated them to that depth, because they looked right.

I ran 4.2, 4.4, and 4.6 of Bullseye. The 4.6 seemed to have a decent recoil and muzzle flip. I loaded some more with 4.8 and 5.0, but haven't shot those yet.

Because of the shorter than published OAL, should I expect more pressure, thus more recoil with the 1.255? Is loading them to 1.255 not a good idea? I saw no signs of excessive pressure.

The 1.275 just looked way too long to feed properly.

Any suggestions or comments are appreciated!

 

[BluesBear]

Poodleshooter, in the original post by Timothy he mentioned the Alliant data and was worried if he was exceeding safe loadings.

True that a hard cast (not swaged) lead bullet can take almost anything a .45acp can dish out, you must certainly know that this is NOT the case with a .44 magnum. Especially if you have a revolver with oversize throats.

 

[shooter1]

Got a washtub of 45ACP loaded up with WLP primers and 4.2 grs of Bullseye under a cast 230gr RN by Valiant bullets. It makes power for IDPA and takes the steel down with authority. I haven't chrono'd them since I started using the Lee Factory Crimp Die, but they feel a little stouter now?? Feels like the increased bullet pull generates a little higher pressures. I've experimented with other powders and bullets but keep coming back to this load. I use a Lee disk powder measure and have no problems metering it like I have when using my Uniflow.
Will