.45 acp

[nicknack2]

All,
I just started loading .45 ACP, I used the .7 dipper with Red Dot powder which came to 4.7-4.9 on the scale. I'm using 230g boolit from a Lee mold(tumble lube grooved) boolits were made with 100% WWs. Shot 6 strings of 7 shots at a time with the highest boolit speed 760s...having 2" groups @ 10 yards...gun used was a Kimberly ultra carry and no malfunctions.

What you guys think???

[sghart3578]

Outstanding results! I use that same bullet with Bullseye or HP38 at the same muzzle velocity. Shoots great out of my Auto Ordnance 1911.

For just starting out you are doing fantastic.

[nicknack2]

Thanks, did noticed a small amount of leading, nothing bad...barrel was not too bad an 8 in the leading department with 1 bad and 10 best.

[rond]

5 gr. of Red Dot was my load for years til I ran out and switched to TiteGroup.

[w5pv]

I love 4.4 grains of titegroup under a 230 grain lrn

[GhostHawk]

4.6 grains of Red Dot is my prefered load. Just a touch less recoil, with very good accuracy.

Not sure what you are using for lube. For me it is Ben's Liquid Lube on everything.

I think 2" groups at that range is what most would call sucess.

[DerekP Houston]

I think that's pretty great for starting handgun reloads! Most people come here when the reloads don't work the first time =). Personally I've been using titegroup for 45 acp but that is simply because it's what I had. I use lee alox or powder coat depending on how lazy I am. If you haven't looked up PC'ing take a gander in the other forum. So far 0 leading issues and I am using range scrap off fleabay.

[nicknack2]

Just to clarify, this is not my very first time reloading I been working a little bit on .40 as well, but this .45 was much better than my first .40 loads...for the .45 I'm using LLA for lube, also forgot to mention the boolit is a TC type. Next time I load I'm going go move to the 15 and 25 yard line and see how accurate the load is then...my only disadvantage is the ultra carry Kimber is a very short barrel, which might have an impact on accuracy.

[osteodoc08]

Sounds good to me. Keep up the good work.

[ddixie884]

Sounds to me like you have a good grasp of casting and loading with low cost tools. The .45 is a very forgiving round. Congrats on your success. Keep up the good work.

[cherokeetracker]

Just to clarify, this is not my very first time reloading I been working a little bit on .40 as well, but this .45 was much better than my first .40 loads...for the .45 I'm using LLA for lube, also forgot to mention the boolit is a TC type. Next time I load I'm going go move to the 15 and 25 yard line and see how accurate the load is then...my only disadvantage is the ultra carry Kimber is a very short barrel, which might have an impact on accuracy.

If you do not get good accuracy then try WST about 4.3 grains. I hear you on that short barrel. But it fits in my jacket pocket.
I also have used a 185 grain with AA#2 WST is very clean, and AA#2 is not!!

[Boolseye]

Sounds great. I used to shoot 5 grains of Red Dot under that boolit and it worked very well.

[RobS]

Which Lee 230 grain boolit??? Is it the TC TL design or the 2RN TL design. Considering a 3" barreled 1911 at 760 fps, you would be pushing around 800-810 fps from a 5" barrel. The RedDot load you are working is in the upper end with a 230 grain boolit. If for practice then you are doing well. Should you be looking for a little more velocity then a slower powder will be needed. I use BE-86 with great success pushing 230 grain boolits out of a 3" 1911; a self defense load.

[nicknack2]

Which Lee 230 grain boolit??? Is it the TC TL design or the 2RN TL design. Considering a 3" barreled 1911 at 760 fps, you would be pushing around 800-810 fps from a 5" barrel. The RedDot load you are working is in the upper end with a 230 grain boolit. If for practice then you are doing well. Should you be looking for a little more velocity then a slower powder will be needed. I use BE-86 with great success pushing 230 grain boolits out of a 3" 1911; a self defense load.

Yeah, truncated cone-tumble lubed type of boolit...main reason I'm using RedDot is because that was the only powder I could get my hands on when I started reloading...I bought the 8 lbs bottle... since then I was able to get 4 lbs of WST and 4 lbs of WFS, both still unopened.

[RobS]

Winchester WSF is a good powder for 230 grain cast when pushing the velocities to or past standard ball ammo velocities (850ish fps from a 5" barrel). 800 fps and lower the powder tends to run a bit dirty and sooty cases occur. I would run WST for your light target loads as it will burn clean at the lower velocities then run RedDot where you are now, maybe back it off a touch so you don't have leading, and then pickup with WSF where the RedDot left off.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

With 25-230 grain RN bullets like the RCBS and the H&G #34 I have used 4.0-4.1 grains of Red Dot. They feed reliably, the recoil is mild so there is no battering, no leading and the grouping is decent out of a 1911A! and a gold cup. The same combo works well in a M25 Smith and a 1917. Casting is done with WW and sized .452. A mild taper crimp of .471 is applied. LLS

[Ed_Shot]

I still experiment but I have settled on Red Dot/Promo 4.5 gr. for .45 ACP. I use the Lyman 452374 (230 gr) and 452630 (200 gr) and NOE 453-210-FP/HP (225 gr). I size to .452 w/ 2500+ lube. My CZ 97B clocks @800 fps with the 230 gr. and @830 with the 200 gr. My G30 runs @780 with the 230 gr. and @800 with the 200 gr. I settled on Red Dot/Promo because I haven't found anything that shoots better.