45 acp 200 gr load

[Mike Hughes]

I recently cast some MP 452-200hp boolits(very nice mold). Last night, I loaded 150 rounds with data from Lymans 48th edition handbook. Loaded 50 with 4 gr of clays, 50 with 5 gr of bullseye, and 50 with 6 gr of bullseye. OAL is 1.24. The Lyman manual shows the 6 gr bullseye in bold print as possible most accurate load. After checking data from other sources, this is quite a bit more than others recommend. Lee shows 4.0 for start and max. I have looked around the net and most people use anywhere from 3.5 to 5.0 of BE. I am worried that the 6 gr load may be too much. Have any of you used these loads? What do you guys think? I will be shooting these through a Hi-Point carbine

[randyrat]

All depends on YOUR gun. i wouldn't be surprised 6 grains of BE is a little stiff for an accuracy load. All you can do is work em up and find your accuracy loads for that bullet.
6 grains of Bullseye under a 200 gr boolit is around 950 ft/sec of fun. It may work in your gun and it may not. It can be safe if you work your way there.

[StratsMan]

I have loaded 6 grains of Bullseye... It's more "sporty" than I care for... All 3 of my 45's run just fine with 4.0 grains of B'eye, so that's what I load nowadays... If I really wanted a zippy load with a 200 grain projectile, I'd punch it up to 5.2 max... But that's just me... 4.0 - 4.4 should make any 45ACP hand-cannon function well... Bullet selection/quality must match, of course.....

[garym1a2]

Good loading practice is to start 10% under and slowly work up. 6gr of BE is very stout for 45acp.

[zomby woof]

WST is my go to powder for 200grain boolits. Low recoil and clean, very accurate. I'm right around 3.8-4.5 grains.

[Larry Gibson]

5 gr Bullseye is my standard "go to" load for the 45 ACP with 190 - 205 gr bullets. It has been for yeears and I've shot thousands through many different handguns, sub guns, my Contender and a M98 Mauser converted. I've also measured a bit of psi's with the Oehler M43 in the Contender barrel. The psi of 6 gr is right at the SAAMI MAP for the 45 ACP with a 200gr cast bullet ( hardcast Laser Cast). It is asnappy load in M1911s and isnot quite as accurate as the 5 gr load. The 5 gr load made IPSC Major w/o problem and I've used that load for years.

Larry Gibson

[HANDYMAN]

3.7gr clays works great in my .45's for 25yd paper punching with my Lee 200gr SWC.

[Beau Cassidy]

I habe had good luck with clays and super target. Clays seems to max much quicker. WST is much smoother throughout the spectrum and doesnt spike pressures as fast.

[Moonie]

3.7gr clays works great in my .45's for 25yd paper punching with my Lee 200gr SWC.

I've used down to 3.2gr of clays in my PT-1911 with factory spring, VERY light, empties at your right foot. VERY clean burning even that low.

[xringshutr]

Try 4.5 of Red Dot. For some reason all my 45's love this load. I have 5....or 6 45 ACP's. It just works...and with this exact boolit too. It's my favorite boolit in the 45, shoots almost as good as his H&G 68 clone and feeds like butter. Mihec is a magician.

[Boyscout]

I have done well with 5.5 grains of Win 231 and 200 gn cast. 6 gns is a little stout and not as accurate.

[gray wolf]

4 of BE will get err done just fine, 4.8 of tite group is about the same load,
both are one hole shooters for me at combat range.
A safe way to step it up is with long shot powder, no spike and pressure stays down. 6.5 with that bullet will end any argument, 6.8 is max for about 1000 FPS.
Always check the hodgons site before using anyone Else's data.

[Mike Hughes]

Thanks to you guys for the suggestions, I am going to try some of these loads and I don't think I will be firing those rounds with 6 grains of bullseye. I never start at the max, but with Lyman showing it as most accurate, the temptation got the best of me. I am surprised they show this load in bold print (seems like it might be borderline to dangerous pressure)

[Sven]

I use 3.7 gr Red Dot for timed and rapid fire bullseye loads and 4.2 gr Red Dot for the 50 yard slow fire -- both with SWC boolits and I get excellent accuracy. I would think 4.2 would work well with your carbine.

Mike -- are you from Minnesota? I did a double take when I saw your name!

[Mike Hughes]

I use 3.7 gr Red Dot for timed and rapid fire bullseye loads and 4.2 gr Red Dot for the 50 yard slow fire -- both with SWC boolits and I get excellent accuracy. I would think 4.2 would work well with your carbine.

Mike -- are you from Minnesota? I did a double take when I saw your name!

No, I'm from Texas. Don't think I've ever been to Minnesota. Monday, I am going to pick up a pound of the Red Dot. Seems to be a lot of peoples favorite in the 45 acp
Thanks

[buyobuyo]

I've been loading this bullet with Unique. I started out loading 6 gr which is stiff. I was getting 950 fps. I've since gone down to 5.5 gr and it is much nicer to shoot.

I get a lot of velocity variation because Unique doesn't meter well through my LNL powder measure, so I'm going to switch to AA7.

[fouronesix]

Thanks to you guys for the suggestions, I am going to try some of these loads and I don't think I will be firing those rounds with 6 grains of bullseye. I never start at the max, but with Lyman showing it as most accurate, the temptation got the best of me. I am surprised they show this load in bold print (seems like it might be borderline to dangerous pressure)

The reason you'll see many load manuals give a "potentially most accurate load" is NOT that they actually went out and shot a bunch of them thru different guns at paper targets. Usually it simply means that those loads, in their test platform using their pressure and velocity equipment, showed the lowest standard deviations of pressure and velocity within the "Maximum Average Pressure" (MAP) limits as determined by SAAMI.

BTW, I shoot 200 grain plain base bullets out of my 1911, equipped with an average weight spring, using mild loads of Trailboss. Accurate, easy on the gun, accurate powder metering thru the measure, fairly clean burning, no leading and no chance for double charge.

[saz]

4 grs of red dot is my go to load with any 200gr boolit.

[williamwaco]

I really love Bulls Eye.
I favor it in nearly all handguns.

The load you are quoting, in my opinion is too hot for best results.
Lyman lists 5.6 to 6.0 depending on bullet.

I like 4.2gr and for sure would not exceed 5.0.

HOWEVER:

For occasional use for hunting or self defense, I wouldn't argue with a hotter load. But even then, I wouldn't exceed 5.5gr.

[dnotarianni]

6.0 of BE will probaly be a bit sporty but still safe to shoot as opposed to take apart. My preference for steel plate shoots is 4.2 with a 185 or 200gr or 4.0 with a 230. Does the job but give fast follow up shots.
Dave