45acp + bullseye
- Thread starter biogenic
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I'm going to follow this thread; I'm likely curious about what else others have found.
This is on a sw1911 with a 5 inch barrel... I've had 'ok' success with 4.3 grains of Bullseye. Usually get 2-3 inch groups. (5 shot groups @ 25 yards; not a formal bench but resting my hands on a towel or something)
I did some load development/testing the other day and tested loads from 4.1 to 5.9 grains. 4.7 gave some impressive 2 inch groups and 5.9 was REALLY good! 1.5-1.75 inches for the 5.9. I didn't have a lot of batches of these to run so I'm going to go back with more of the 4.7 and 5.9.
I was curious if 5.9 was too hot. My manual says that 6.1 is max. There is no pressure signs but it did bite the hand during recoil a bit.
4.7 may be more accurate than my 4.3 loads. 4.3 is such a sweet shooting load on the hands though. 4.3 didn't wasn't leading for me. I'm not sure which one finally leaded my bore - it may have been the hot 5.9 loads. The leading was in the first inch of the bore towards the chamber.
I'm using 200 grain lead swc from Missouri Bullet Company.
This is on a sw1911 with a 5 inch barrel... I've had 'ok' success with 4.3 grains of Bullseye. Usually get 2-3 inch groups. (5 shot groups @ 25 yards; not a formal bench but resting my hands on a towel or something)
I did some load development/testing the other day and tested loads from 4.1 to 5.9 grains. 4.7 gave some impressive 2 inch groups and 5.9 was REALLY good! 1.5-1.75 inches for the 5.9. I didn't have a lot of batches of these to run so I'm going to go back with more of the 4.7 and 5.9.
I was curious if 5.9 was too hot. My manual says that 6.1 is max. There is no pressure signs but it did bite the hand during recoil a bit.
4.7 may be more accurate than my 4.3 loads. 4.3 is such a sweet shooting load on the hands though. 4.3 didn't wasn't leading for me. I'm not sure which one finally leaded my bore - it may have been the hot 5.9 loads. The leading was in the first inch of the bore towards the chamber.
I'm using 200 grain lead swc from Missouri Bullet Company.
LiveLife
Member
Current Alliant load data - http://www.alliantpowder.com/reload...owderlist.aspx&type=1&powderid=1&cartridge=35
2004 Alliant load data - glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalogs/2004AlliantPowderSM.pdf
200 gr SWC (#452460) 1.161" OAL W231 6.0 gr (987 fps) 18,000 CUP
200 gr SWC (#452630) 1.235" OAL Bullseye 6.0 gr (909 fps) 17,000 CUP
Current Hodgdon load data - http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp
2004 Alliant load data - glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalogs/2004AlliantPowderSM.pdf
Lyman #49 lists these as potentially most accurate loads:biogenic said:
200 gr SWC (#452460) 1.161" OAL W231 6.0 gr (987 fps) 18,000 CUP
200 gr SWC (#452630) 1.235" OAL Bullseye 6.0 gr (909 fps) 17,000 CUP
Current Hodgdon load data - http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp
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Loc n Load
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Target loads
I competed in PPC, IPSC and bullseye for years with the .45 acp....I shot two 1911's....one was a military 1911 with a MMC rear sight on it, and the other was a custom built Colt that was built specially for PPC. I shot a Lee 190 gr SWC which is a stubby little bullet, I cast this bullet out of wheel weights and ran it over 4.5 bullseye. It was very accurate and functioned well in both pistols. I also shot a cast 200 gr. SWC over the same load and I loaded a 230 gr RN cast over the same charge of bullseye. Over a period of 10 years I shot thousands of these rounds through my guns, they functioned well, the SWC's would cut "rat holes" in the 10 & X ring" ( provided I was doing my job).....these loads also shot well in my 1917's.
I competed in PPC, IPSC and bullseye for years with the .45 acp....I shot two 1911's....one was a military 1911 with a MMC rear sight on it, and the other was a custom built Colt that was built specially for PPC. I shot a Lee 190 gr SWC which is a stubby little bullet, I cast this bullet out of wheel weights and ran it over 4.5 bullseye. It was very accurate and functioned well in both pistols. I also shot a cast 200 gr. SWC over the same load and I loaded a 230 gr RN cast over the same charge of bullseye. Over a period of 10 years I shot thousands of these rounds through my guns, they functioned well, the SWC's would cut "rat holes" in the 10 & X ring" ( provided I was doing my job).....these loads also shot well in my 1917's.
hueyville
Member
Adhering to my rule of not giving exact data, for a 185 grain cast SWC, low to mid fives is a good range to work with. Personally, I load 90%+ of my .45 acp loads with unique. Have an 8 pound keg with another backing it up. That said, experimenting with HP-38 and having good results. I only use Bullseye for .38 special and smaller. Personal preference, not saying anything bad about Bullseye. I used it for almost every pistol caliber early on due to budget. Figured out price difference per round is negligible and that can get a tad better accuracy with specific powders in most larger calibers.
(thanks for pasting) Lyman #49 lists these as potentially most accurate loads:
200 gr SWC (#452460) 1.161" OAL W231 6.0 gr (987 fps) 18,000 CUP
200 gr SWC (#452630) 1.235" OAL Bullseye 6.0 gr (909 fps) 17,000 CUP
I'll second that. 5.9 grains seems very accurate. I was worried that it was getting too hot. It had a much bigger kick than my usual 4.3 loads too.
200 gr SWC (#452460) 1.161" OAL W231 6.0 gr (987 fps) 18,000 CUP
200 gr SWC (#452630) 1.235" OAL Bullseye 6.0 gr (909 fps) 17,000 CUP
I'll second that. 5.9 grains seems very accurate. I was worried that it was getting too hot. It had a much bigger kick than my usual 4.3 loads too.
bluetopper
Member
I heard from a reliable source that in the 60's Jim Clark used to shoot nothing but 5.0gr of Bullseye at competitions behind a 200gr cast SWC.
I personally really like 4.6 grains.
I personally really like 4.6 grains.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
5.9 might be getting a little energetic!
Alliant shows MAX loads of 4.6 with lead bullets and 5.8 with jacketed bullets.
What kind of bullets are you using??
rc
Alliant shows MAX loads of 4.6 with lead bullets and 5.8 with jacketed bullets.
What kind of bullets are you using??
rc
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Or 4.8.
Current Alliant data is for Speer soft swaged bullets.
Your cast bullets will take more pressure & velocity.
But probably not 5.9 if you are looking for target accuracy and no leading.
The old standard NRA Bullseye mid-range match load was 3.5 Bullseye with a 200 SWC.
But it likely won't run with a standard 16# recoil spring.
BTW: Factory equlivent for a 230 grain GI mil-spec load was 4.6 Bullseye.
rc
Current Alliant data is for Speer soft swaged bullets.
Your cast bullets will take more pressure & velocity.
But probably not 5.9 if you are looking for target accuracy and no leading.
The old standard NRA Bullseye mid-range match load was 3.5 Bullseye with a 200 SWC.
But it likely won't run with a standard 16# recoil spring.
BTW: Factory equlivent for a 230 grain GI mil-spec load was 4.6 Bullseye.
rc
Last edited:
Missouri Bullet Company.
I was using Lyman's data and it showed 6.1 as the max.
Yeah, 5.9 is a bit energetic! No pressure signs but I think that is what caused the leading. It's accurate though! My smallest groups easily.
4.7 showed promise. I'm going to make more of that (or 4.6) and see if it beats my current load of 4.3. The lower loads are better for follow up shots anyway.
I'll have to try the 3.5; wow, that's leaves a lot of empty case. I bet it'll make that canister of Bullseye last forever though!
I was using Lyman's data and it showed 6.1 as the max.
Yeah, 5.9 is a bit energetic! No pressure signs but I think that is what caused the leading. It's accurate though! My smallest groups easily.
4.7 showed promise. I'm going to make more of that (or 4.6) and see if it beats my current load of 4.3. The lower loads are better for follow up shots anyway.
I'll have to try the 3.5; wow, that's leaves a lot of empty case. I bet it'll make that canister of Bullseye last forever though!
I was just thinking:
4.3 is just about half an inch low at 25 yards. I'm shooting a 1 inch diamond/square and it always hit just the bottom of the shape.
4.7 was just right on. Interestingly, 5.9 was right on also.
How much lower would 3.5 grains POI be?
(I guess I'll try it hopefully this weekend)
4.3 is just about half an inch low at 25 yards. I'm shooting a 1 inch diamond/square and it always hit just the bottom of the shape.
4.7 was just right on. Interestingly, 5.9 was right on also.
How much lower would 3.5 grains POI be?
(I guess I'll try it hopefully this weekend)
This load was outstandingly accurate in all my M1911’s.
Code:
[SIZE="3"]Kimber Custom Classic M1911
200 LSWC 4.0 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WLP
21-Jun-06 T = 97 °F
Ave Vel = 748.2
Std Dev = 10.86
ES = 41.52
High = 763.2
Low = 721.7
N = 22
Mild recoil, very accurate, excellent target load.
[ATTACH=full]652872[/ATTACH][/SIZE]Attachments
RC
I also have used lyman # 49 load dat for 45 , i am loading MBC 45 bullseye #1 200 grain swc, brinnell 12
i have ran 100's of 5.4 grain loads of bulls eye and never had a problem , but recently have become concerned seeing others recommended loads
i have 2 questions
why is there such a difference between lymans load data and others
with the difference of load data between manuals, how can beginning loaders ensure they are using the best possible data and at the same time being safe
example lyman lists a starting load of 4.9 and alliant's data shows a max load of less than 4.9
thank you very much for sharing your vast amount of knowledge
to the op , my load of 5'4 grains has been a tack driver in my smith 1911 with a 5 '' barrel
I also have used lyman # 49 load dat for 45 , i am loading MBC 45 bullseye #1 200 grain swc, brinnell 12
i have ran 100's of 5.4 grain loads of bulls eye and never had a problem , but recently have become concerned seeing others recommended loads
i have 2 questions
why is there such a difference between lymans load data and others
with the difference of load data between manuals, how can beginning loaders ensure they are using the best possible data and at the same time being safe
example lyman lists a starting load of 4.9 and alliant's data shows a max load of less than 4.9
thank you very much for sharing your vast amount of knowledge
to the op , my load of 5'4 grains has been a tack driver in my smith 1911 with a 5 '' barrel
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Like I said in post #13.
Alliant data is for soft-swaged Speer bullets.
Lyman data is for real cast bullets.
rc
highbrow
Member
I worked up some loads for Bulls Eye competition. Started with 3.5gr Bullseye and 200gr SWC. Very mild and accurate load but would not always cycle my 1911 with a 16 lb recoil spring. Had to swap it out for a 12 lb spring.
HighExpert
Member
Highbrow is right. I have shot bullseye competition for years and you will need a light spring to shoot loads in the 3s. I shoot a Les Baer Premier II and a custom Gold Cup with a Les Baer barrel both equipped with red dot sights and my load go into 1.4" at 50yds. Loads as follows:
.45ACP
SWC 200gr (National)
3.5 (Hot) to 3.7 (Cold) Bullseye
1.241 OAL
Match
.45ACP w/Red Dot Sight
SWC 200gr (National)
3.9 Bullseye (5.7)
1.241 OAL
.45ACP
SWC 200gr (National)
3.5 (Hot) to 3.7 (Cold) Bullseye
1.241 OAL
Match
.45ACP w/Red Dot Sight
SWC 200gr (National)
3.9 Bullseye (5.7)
1.241 OAL
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