LUCKYDAWG13
Member
What is a wadcutter prepared pistol ? I'm asking because I just ordered some to try out in my 1911
45acp
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I am in a similar position, lot's of loaded .45 ACP and no reason to work up a load with WST yet, despite the rep. I like WST too, but it will be sometime before I try it in .45 ACP.
PWC
Member
Carried a Remington Rand 1911 fifty years ago in a shoulder holster for the USAF. Always wanted one; got it last Nov. Don't shoot it as well as I used too......
W231/HP38 is a good powder for 45 ACP.
My favorite 45 ACP is 5.0 grains of 700-X under a 230 RN bullet. This is max so work up to it.
700-X meters poorly but it is very flexible in that respect. Some folks do not like the residue it leaves behind on the pistol.
Recentl, I got a Gold Cup Trophy and have been loading 185/200 grain SWC over Accurate #2. Nice loads and meters well.
In reality, many powders work well with 45 ACP.
Enjoy your 45 ACP handgun..
My favorite 45 ACP is 5.0 grains of 700-X under a 230 RN bullet. This is max so work up to it.
700-X meters poorly but it is very flexible in that respect. Some folks do not like the residue it leaves behind on the pistol.
Recentl, I got a Gold Cup Trophy and have been loading 185/200 grain SWC over Accurate #2. Nice loads and meters well.
In reality, many powders work well with 45 ACP.
Enjoy your 45 ACP handgun..
Dudedog
Contributing Member
AA#2 meters great, works well for me in .45 as well.
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1MoreFord
Member
WW231/HP38 is the same powder. Buy and use whichever one you can find or is cheaper. 5.8 grains behind an H&G 68 200gr swc always made 175PF IPSC Major for me. I also used 5 grain and the same bullet for shooting steel games. I don't know anything about the new powders.
WST with Berry's 185 gr. HBRN has been a light and accurate load for a while.
CFE-P and Silhouette for my stouter loads.
I do want to try out AA #5 here soon, before the weather goes south.
Ah, so many loads to try, and so little time.
CFE-P and Silhouette for my stouter loads.
I do want to try out AA #5 here soon, before the weather goes south.
Ah, so many loads to try, and so little time.
Toprudder
Member
45acp is, in my opinion, at little more picky about powder than 9mm, since it operates at lower pressure. Having said that, there are a lot of powders that work well in 45acp. W231 works well, but I will agree with those that Longshot is not one of the best powders for 45acp.
For full throttle loads, CFE-P, BE86, Power Pistol are good. For lower velocity loads that my wife likes, my favorite powder is Clays. Trailboss even works well.
The negative about 45acp are the two primer sizes that exist. A lot of the new 45acp ammo on the market are now using small primers. So, you have to sort the brass according to primer size. Large primer has been the tradition since the cartridge was first developed, and all of the load data you will find were developed using large primers. Generally speaking, you will not notice a difference in performance between the two unless you use a chrono, and then you will see about 35fps difference in velocity. There have been two powders I have tried where I saw over 100fps difference, those being PB (discontinued) and Trailboss. So, just be aware that the primer size and powder used may have an effect. I actually prefer small primer 45, as I don't have to change the primer size on my press, but I have settled on using small magnum primers as I get closer to the results I get with large primers.
For full throttle loads, CFE-P, BE86, Power Pistol are good. For lower velocity loads that my wife likes, my favorite powder is Clays. Trailboss even works well.
The negative about 45acp are the two primer sizes that exist. A lot of the new 45acp ammo on the market are now using small primers. So, you have to sort the brass according to primer size. Large primer has been the tradition since the cartridge was first developed, and all of the load data you will find were developed using large primers. Generally speaking, you will not notice a difference in performance between the two unless you use a chrono, and then you will see about 35fps difference in velocity. There have been two powders I have tried where I saw over 100fps difference, those being PB (discontinued) and Trailboss. So, just be aware that the primer size and powder used may have an effect. I actually prefer small primer 45, as I don't have to change the primer size on my press, but I have settled on using small magnum primers as I get closer to the results I get with large primers.
This reminds me, I have used this combination and it shoots well. Dang memory, here I was thinking I hadn't tried it in .45 ACP. Just looked it up, it's been a few years. (07 & 09)
You get no smirk from me.
My time in reloading pales in comparison to yours! And yet, you did remember.
CrankyCraig
Member
All I use in 45acp and 38SPCL Target loads
Reloadron
Contributing Member
WW231, Unique and Bullseye are what I load most and generally 230 grain FMJ bullets. I haven't really had a need to load any lately as there is likely a few thousand rounds laying around here. When I do go to a JHP I like Speer Gold Dot and Hornady XTP 230 grain bullets.
Ron
Ron
Those are my big three for .45acp. For no apparent reason I bought some CFE, it goes bang without any muzzle flash and seems to burn clean. I've got to do a chrono session soon and see how it compares.
Archie
Member
From the days of NRA 2700 bullseye shooting and the M1911A1 as the issue sidearm in the Armed Forces.
A 'normal' full sized Government Model type pistol, but tightened up, trigger worked and sights installed to give the maximum accuracy possible for target shooting. Usually has a somewhat reduced recoil spring for light loads. Designed to be shot with 'wadcutter' loads. Normally a lead or jacketed bullet of 185 or 200 grains at around 700 feet per second.
This is different from the same sort of pistol, but designed to handle issued 'hardball' ammunition; a 230 grain FMJ bullet at between 850 and 925 feet per second. This second version is a 'hardball' gun.
[QUOTE="LUCKYDAWG13]I'm asking because I just ordered some to try out in my 1911[/QUOTE]Wadcutters will normally work in 'regular' guns and they will not harm anything. However, there are two possible problems-annoyances. One is the wadcutter may not feed well in a 'regular' gun; not prepared for such ammunition. This preparation entails polishing the feed ramp and beveled entry into the chamber to reduce restrictions. The second annoyance is it may not consistently cycle the arm fully.
LUCKYDAWG13
Member
Thank you for all of the information hopefully they will work I my Ruger sr1911
Bat Rastard
Member
I have used a lot of 231 over the years. If I remember correctly, I loaded hs-6 in 45 acp too.
My only complaint about loading 45 acp is that some manufacturers have started using small primers . That is WRONG!
My only complaint about loading 45 acp is that some manufacturers have started using small primers . That is WRONG!
Vern Humphrey
Member
Years ago, I bought a Lee 6-cavity gang mould for the 230 grain tumble lubed bullet. It worked great EXCEPT tumble lube really gums up your dies. So I quit using that mould.
Then a couple of years ago, I got into powder coating. I use Harbor Freight red powder coat for the .45 and bake it on in a $20 Wal Mart toaster oven. I happen to have a huge amount of wheel weights, and I broke out the old 6-cavity mould and cast up about 2,000 bullets and coated them. I'm shooting them loaded over 5.0 grains of Bullseye. Function is prefect and accuracy is very good.
Then a couple of years ago, I got into powder coating. I use Harbor Freight red powder coat for the .45 and bake it on in a $20 Wal Mart toaster oven. I happen to have a huge amount of wheel weights, and I broke out the old 6-cavity mould and cast up about 2,000 bullets and coated them. I'm shooting them loaded over 5.0 grains of Bullseye. Function is prefect and accuracy is very good.
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