Ram Load

[gasboffer]

I'm looking for a load that will take rams at 100 yds, (Metallic Silhouette, big-bore targets) in 45 ACP. I have 230 RN boolet, and 230 TC. Have BE, 231, Power Pistol, and Blue-dot. Expect to have some ringers, but hope to hit a respectable number of them. Wishful thinking? Clyde

[DragoonDrake]

Now, first my disclaimer. My 1911 that I built, with a 22lb spring that I worked up from 4grs of clays.

I have used the LEE 230 TC bullet with 4.9grs of clays to shoot for fun on the field pistol targets. I first tried 4grs of clays with a 200 gr bullet and besides the hold over, I would have some targets fall very slow. I switched to a heavier bullet and worked up .1 gr at a time. This load is above book max, but I have not had any cases fail.

I use WIN cases and I only use them 3 times. I use CCI LP primers.

Please be careful.

If you are trying to shoot full-sized rams, I have no idea if my load would work.

[fecmech]

Are you talking Hunters Pistol rams?? I use a .38 spl with a 158 gr RN about 900 fps and have rarely lost 1 that I hit. My suggestion would be go for accuracy and practice. Any HP ram you hit with a 230 gr bullet should fall, key word here being hit!

[gasboffer]

Are you talking Hunters Pistol rams?? I use a .38 spl with a 158 gr RN about 900 fps and have rarely lost 1 that I hit. My suggestion would be go for accuracy and practice. Any HP ram you hit with a 230 gr bullet should fall, key word here being hit!

No, these are full-size targets at hunter-pistol distance. Standing, straight-wall cases.

[excess650]

Are you shooting an auto or revolver? Keep in mind that slower burning powders that can work well in a revolver or singleshot may be hard on an auto.

I use 9.5gr Blue Dot behind a 255gr cast in Auto Rim cases for my S&W 625, but I wouldn't recommend that load in an auto(1911). A heavy boolit combined with slow burning powder can result in the barrel unlocking too quickly. Adding a heavier recoil spring may cause problems of its own as in causing the slide to cycle forward too fast for the rim to slide up under the extractor.

[fecmech]

No, these are full-size targets at hunter-pistol distance. Standing, straight-wall cases.

So you are shooting full size rifle silhouettes at 25,50,75 and 100 yds ??

[waksupi]

Keep in mind, that slower can be better. Dwell time on target pushes them over.

[crabo]

BD45 should be a good boolit for this.

[44man]

Keep in mind, that slower can be better. Dwell time on target pushes them over.
This is right. Also a heavy boolit.
Now a full size 50# ram is going to be standing and laughing at an ACP no matter what! :bigsmyl2:
The Marine I watched at Quantico long ago was such a fantastic shot with his .45 that he hit almost every target to 200 meters OFF HAND.
But even chickens at 50 meters would laugh at him. He didn't care about a score and it was very, very low. But if I remember, he hit 36 or 37 of them.
He was all smiles and a wonderful man, a tribute to the Corps!

[Aunegl]

A full size 50 lb. + ram was used for the 200 m. IHSMA big-bore matches. I used to set up and put away enough of those targets, when I was a match director in NM. Tylenol was a buddy of mine, after every match. IHSMA field pistol used half size rams at 100 m. and was about half the weight. I think NRA hunter pistol used the half size rams also.