Superlight .45 200 gr SWC Bullseye?

[dandean316]

Anyone have a superlight load for a .45 ACP 200 gr SWC with Bullseye powder? I think the minimum listed is 3.5 grains, but was hoping for something "lighter" for a recoil sensitive wife.

I am new to reloading, but is there any danger in superlight loads, besides the round getting stuck? Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[HankB]

The 3.5 grain Bullseye load with a 200 SWC is the classic "midrange target" load. Go much lighter, and a 1911 may not function properly. In fact, Colt National Match autos used to have slightly lighter slides to function better with midrange loads. (they milled away some metal on either side of the firing pin channel.) The recoil springs NM pistols were shipped with were usually lighter, too. (Though oddly enough, Colt's listed the same part number for NM and GM recoil springs.)

This load actually clocks at about 650 ft/sec out of my Colt NM . . . manuals claim 730 or so. (4.2 grains of Bullseye will give 730) This puts recoil slightly below a standard velocity, 115 grain 9mm load. If your better half can't cope with this, I suggest you get her used to shooting with a .22 first.

 

[dandean316]

The recoil springs NM pistols were shipped with were usually lighter, too.

Ok that brings up another point: In these light loads should I be using a lighter spring? I am shooting a Para Ordnance P14 - I think it's shipped with a 16lb spring. Would a 12lb spring do it you think?

My P12 compact has a 22lb spring and is a 34 oz steel gun, and so far I have gotten some FTF's with light loads.

As far as the recoil, I know we'll be fine with the light loads. She shoots a 9mm pretty good, and a .22 awesome. It's just I am only setup for .45 to reload at the moment, so I wanted a 9mm feel.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[MoNsTeR]

A 12lb spring would be a good investment. I've taken to shooting no heavier than 14lb in a 5".

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

My target load for my Kimber is a 200gr swc over 4.0 grains of bullseye, recoil is very light. Maybe you could have your wife try some of these loads and see if she can handle them. You might have to switch to a lighter recoil spring for these loads.

 

[Jim Watson]

I started a Lady with an accurized .45 with loads of 3.8 gr 700X, about the same as 3.5 gr B.E., and she preferred it to all others, including .22, .38, and 9mm. Go for it.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I started loading .45 A.C.P. rounds with 3.5 grains of Bullseye behind 200-grain semi-wadcutters. They were reasonably accurate in my Kimber, but I noticed the slide didn't always lock back after the last round. I've now moved up to 4.0 and 4.2 grain loads.

 

[happy old sailor]

3.5 BE and 200gr. swc is a mild load and works great on 25/50 yd. targets. you may have to go up a point or to just for function.

pick up another standard recoil spring, or an old one that has seen its day. clip a half turn off it and stretch to original length. fire five rapid fire into the butts. dont work, take off another half coil and restretch. keep at this until everything works. file the clipped end smooth of sharp ends and burrs. a much used, and old, recoil spring may work without modification.

this is the way it was done in the 50's and an el cheapo way to do it now. purchasing a predetermined weight spring could certainly work, if you know what weight. DIY is surefire. maintain standard length. if, and i say if, the reloads are not chambering, check to see that they are not at fault and not the recoil spring. hope this helps.

 

[dandean316]

Well I checked out my Lyman book last night and noticed they list the minimum load for a 185 gr at 3.5 gr for Bullseye. That's where I got my 3.5 number from. It's not for the 200 gr, but the 185.

But it sounds like from you guys the 3.5gr of Bullseye will work for the 200 also. Nice. Now I wonder how low I can go on the 185gr?...

 

[Sven]

Most loading manuals don't recommend going lower than published minimums for a reason.

 

[Khornet]

After reading Charles Askins'

1940 book about pistol shooting, where he discussed some ridiculously light .45 ACP loads, I began working my way down.

For over a decade I've been shooting 3.3 gr Bullseye with 185 or 200 gr LSWC bullets in my Gold Cup with complete satisfaction. Shot up 100 of them yesterday.

I did invest in a lighter spring from Wulff, but that's all I've ever had to change. I have no idea what these loads would chrono, and don't much care. They function fine- I have never had a failure- and they are accurate and comfortable.

Yep, that's 3.3 grains. Taper crimp. Lighter spring.

 

[Quantrill]

3.5 of 700X works for me with a 185 or 200gr. bullet. I did go to a lighter spring though. Colt National Match Quantrill

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Light 45 loads

When I came to the net last year I sold the last of my stash of California Saeco 180 grain 45acp 4 cavity bullet molds to a old timer bulletcaster for a gun club in the North East which club all members had highly accurized weapons using around 3-3.1 grains of Bullseye. I dont remember if they sized their bullets to .451 or .4515 diameters

As a police competitor I used standard diameters and standard police charges. I likedthe Ca Saeco 068 bullet which design I modified to punch paper better and I used 4 gr of 700X or 5 gr of WW231. In my Gold Cup for the 185 grain I used the same load as my Progressive and automated loaders were set for those charges.

Paul Jones Retired
Police Weapons Instructor