W231 and Powerpistol .45Colt 250gr loads?

[.45Cole]

The "custom search" isn't working all that hot for me. I know we have covered this before, but without the search working, and we like to talk loads, why not post?

I shot some factory Rem 250gr RN loads and was VERY impressed with the power and accuracy. For a factory .45 colt they were pretty zippy. From what I can tell, they are about 850fps. I hear that W231 at the top end will match this load. Can you guys give me some 250gr boolit loads using W231 and Power Pistol? I load extensively for the .45's (mainly the Unique and AA5 loads) and I would like to limit replies to 250(ish) grain boolits in the 900-1100 range using the above two powders please.

P.S. The rem loads were coming pretty close at ~300yds with decent groups using a 5.5" bbl. That's why I took notice:holysheep

[robertbank]

7.1 Gr of Win 231 gave me 786fps out of my Beretta Stampede 4 3/4 SAA. Load was stiff enough for me. Never went higher. SD was 9fps. I would be surprised if you can get much higher safer using 231.

Take Care

Bob

[Silver Jack Hammer]

One day I clocked my 454190 ww sized .454" lubed SPG Starline brass CCI300's with Power Pistol from a Colt SAA 4 3/4" as follows:
8.5 gr 784 fps. 9.0 gr 850 fps. 9.5 gr 898 fps.

[robertbank]

To the OP I just checked my Lyman manual and they don't show any loads over 931 fps using a bullet weighing 250 or >. They quote 7.4 gr of 231 giving 931 fps as a maximum load.

Take Care

Bob

[Hardcast416taylor]

As I recall it was 6.5 Gr. Of Red Dot powder with that 250 Gr. boolet that gave an almost equal velocity to the factory load of about 900 FPS +/-. Thirty years back it only took 6.0 Gr to do this, then Hercules/Alliant did some kind of change to their powders. I still use this load, but with a SWC boolet, for deer hunting.Robert

[.45Cole]

Thanks guys, I've been trying to replace Unique for some time as it's so dirty, and I might come off the 1000fps range and go to the 900fps loads. I have been eyeing Power Pistol for a while. Looks like Power Pistol can get me just under 1000fps. I'm surprised W231/Unique/ Power Pistol are so close in burn rates. Maybe I can find half a can of each.

Robertbank- loads are usually divided a few ways when it comes to .45Colts. Depending on the make/vintage/design/modifications you usually fall within roughly three levels. I have a strong modified Ruger that I feel I can live in the 25k cup range, so w231 can probably keep me just under 1000fps assuming your max load was for the 14k cup limit.

[doc1876]

I found the W231 to be dirty in my .45 Long, so when I was loading up some .44sp with IMR 4227, I gave it a shot, and I will tell you my accuracy improved, and the guns are not as dirty.

using the 230g hp and 5g of W231 shot around 800fps

using 13 g of IMR4227 should be around 950 according to research, as I don't have a chrono yet.
but it was more accurate off hand, not hard on the hand, and as I said much cleaner.

[Silver Jack Hammer]

You guys say dirty like it's a bad thing.

[robertbank]

You guys say dirty like it's a bad thing.

Given a choice between a dirty shooting powder and a clean one which would you choose if everything else was the same ie accuracy and velocity?

Take Care

Bob

[doc1876]

I have said it before, if I am going to shoot dirty powder, and have to clean up everything, I will just shoot BP

[Lex]

I like 10gr 231 or AA no5 with a 200gr wadcutter or 255r Keith bullet.

[.45Cole]

I've tried AA#5 in the 11-13 range, but there's so little of it and it's minorly position sensitive. Are you sure on the 4227, it's a little slower than H110 and AA#9 on the burn chart? If W231 is dirty, maybe I'll do Power Pistol.

You guys say dirty like it's a bad thing It's flaming dirt (Unique), as in uniquely dirty. But I bet you can load just about any centerfire pistol with it if you can handle a dirty holster.

[Dale53]

Check out Hodgdon's Data Center:
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

7.1 of 231 is max at 916 fps. with a 250 gr. LRF bullet. That's about equivalent with a case full of 3F black powder (the original US Army Calvary load) at SAAMI standard levels.

Dale53

[Silver Jack Hammer]

Were already shooting smokeless powder so dirty is a relative term. The only thing that has to be cleaned up afterward is holy black. With smokeless you can shoot a thousand rounds over a couple of months and not have to clean up a SA revolver. They were designed to operate with black powder fouling. A little smoke never hurt anybody when shooting a SA. I shoot the dirtiest lead from junk alloy, Unique and Alox lube and if I want to I can wipe down my gun to make it look shiny again. I used to spend a lot of time trying to scrub lead fouling stuck to the bore of my .357 from store bought bullets and their lube that stands up to the rigors of shipping but is worthless to provide lube on a boolit. That's work. Cleaning a "dirty" SA from Unique powder and lead is as easy as a couple of strokes with a rod and a wipe with a rag.

I actually phoned Alliant and IRM and suggested they produce a powder advertised as high smoke, high loft for low pressure large case cartridges.

When guys are shooting holy black at a match, everybody likes to watch them. After the match when we're sitting down enjoying a cold beverage and the black powder guys are scrubbing their guns, often in cold water and after dark, I'm glad I'm not one of them. But I like smoke when shooting the 45 Colt.

[.45Cole]

I have lined leather holsters and, in general, am very lazy. I tried Unique out of my .45auto and quickly turned back to bullseye as the SS 1911 took on a hardchromed appearance. Laziness is the father of invention (smokeless powder!).