Loading .45 ACP ???

[stanley2]

Hi, I need some help, I have the following books, Modern Reloading by Lee, Lyman 48th Edition, and Handloading by NRA, and the information for reloading .45 ACP with bullseye, differs a lot from one to the other.

I have 2 moulds Lee 452-200 SWC and TL452-230-2R

For the 200gr –start load----vel-------max load----vel
Lee-------------4.0----------790-------4.0--------790
Lyman----------3.5----------645-------5.6--------869-----#452560
Lyman----------4.9----------840-------6.0--------909-----#452630
NRA-----------4.2----------744--------4.6--------807

For the 230gr –start load----vel-------max load----vel
Lee-------------4.0----------810-------4.0--------810
Lyman----------4.0----------695-------5.0--------815----#452374 225gr.
NRA-----------N/A---------N/A------N/A-------N/A

I loaded my first 50 with 4.1gr bullseye for both Lee 452-200 SWC and TL452-230-2R and will be trying them this weekend.

I am all ears.

Thanks all.

[USARO4]

Never exceed max loads and pay particlar attention to OAL. You can get into a dangerously high pressure situation if you seat your bullets to deep. A friend of mine blew up a pistol doing just that. You see in your Lyman data two differant max loads 5.6gr and 6gr, both for 200gr bullets. In my Lyman manual the lighter load is seated deeper,1.161 OAL, whereas the heavier load is seated to 1.235 OAL. My friend got into trouble by seating the bullet in the heavier load to the OAL of the lighter load. Fortunately he was not hurt but the gun was a total loss. Good luck to you in your hobby and pay attention to every detail.

[danski26]

As long as you stay within "any" manuals max you SHOULD be ok. I qualify that with following accepted loading proccedures and ALWAYS keep your eyes open for signs of pressure.

ALl those loads you quoted look reasonable. 45ACP is a realativly low pressure cartridge BUT the small case capacity makes it easy for pressures to spike. Crimp the boolit so it does not get drivin back into the case as it hits the feed ramp (i use taper crimp). Others use other crimps. find whats best for you.

It does happen that a manual load will be over pressure in your particular weapon so pay attention to the pressure signs. I loaded some 44 mag with 800X powder that was under max in the book but way over in my pistol.

Working up from the min load, watching for pressure signs and stopping at the max if there are none is a realativly "safe" practice. Good Luck.

[9.3X62AL]

Welcome to one of the two most lead-friendly autopistol calibers available--the other being the 32 ACP. As you begin, don't get in a hurry to achieve max velocity or factory duplication loads. Strive instead for functional reliability and accuracy. You'll "get comfortable" with these loads, and from there you can SLOWLY increase charge weights to refine performance--in the context of ACCURACY.

Enjoy the chase.

[fecmech]

Stan--Thats a pretty good starting point! There have probably been about 32 gazillion 200 gr swc's sent downrange with that load plus or minus a couple tenths of a grain of Bullseye. As Al said the .45 is a very lead and reload friendly cartridge. Enjoy the ride.

[35remington]

Speaking from personal experience, the 230 RN of whatever persuasion - cast or jacketed - is fine with 5.0 of Bullseye. Expect a duplication of factory load velocities with it, with lead bullets typically giving more velocity than jacketed. Last chrono session showed 830 f/s with the same 2R 230 you have, which is a good duplicate of ball ammo. Jacketed RN's loaded to 1.270 (same as the 2R) got around 805-810 f/s.

Up to 5.5 of Bullseye with the H&G pattern longnose SWC loaded to around 1.245-1.250" has worked well also. For a standard type load 5 grains for just under 900 fps works reliably. 4 grains is a load that will still cycle 1911's with standard springs, or most other standard sprung .45 ACP's as well, and is mild and accurate to boot. Velocity is around 720-760 f/s depending upon barrel length.

Alliant recommends up to 5.4 grains under a 230 JHP. Using this charge (5.4) under a Remington Golden Saber 230 loaded to 1.240" (Winchester case and primer) gets 832 fps average velocity in a 5 inch 1911. FWIW.

[mike in co]

while 45 acp is a fun and easy round to load for, it is still easy to find yourself in deep doo-doo.
when i first started loading for 45acp, i was using aa2i powder, and 230 rn boolits. the starting load gave me more velocity than advertised and more than i wanted. i had to fine tune my load and oal to get where i wanted to be.

just keep your eyes open.

mike

[Dale53]

I have loaded many thousands of .45 ACP, both "softball" (light target loads) and "hardball equivalent" heavy loads for IPSC and "serious" use.

The old standard target load is 3.5 grs of Bullseye behind a 200 gr SWC in a .45 ACP with light (12 lb) Springs. Some .45's require slightly more (say, up to 4.0 grs) to function reliably.

5.0 grs of Bullseye is the old "full " load behind a 230 gr lead round nose bullet. The heavier load requires the standard spring (16.0 lb) and I actually prefer the Wolf 18.0 spring.

A couple of precautions that would be wise to keep in mind:

1 - Springs sag (loose tension) with use and time. A weak spring can damage a good 1911 with normal loads. Check weight your spring at least once a year (or every 5,000 rounds).

2 - As was mentioned above, different design bullets extend farther into the case than other designs. Using a powder charge for a bullet that has greater space in the case when using a bullet that reduces case capacity can raise pressures seriously. I am an "expert" on this as I cracked a slide from using a book load of a different design but same weight bullet. This coupled with a sagged spring proved too much for a good Colt slide. LESSON LEARNED!:(

Dale53

[stanley2]

Thanks all for the great information, this are the first loads I have done, so all the input and recommendations you can give me are very welcomed.

The main use this boolits will see is Sunday plinking:-D And some unofficial IPSC shooting.

Regarding the springs I have all ready order some from wolff variable in 18.5lb, 20lb and 14lb the las one is for a colt .22lr conversion.


Thanks:castmine:

[KCSO]

I have been most fortuitious in finding a load that shoots to POA in both my 40 S and W and my 45 ACP. I shoot 4.2 of bullseye in both. The 45 with a Lee TC 230 and the 40 with the Lee 170 t/l. Both will group under 2" at 25 yards from my guns and so I can use one measure pre set for both calibers. Both loads correspond to my serious ammo, the 185 HP in the 45 and the 165 HP for the 40.