45 Auto Rim, second time around

[41wyom]

In the late 70's I had a S&W Model 25-2 but sold it. In Oct. I picked up another one (6.5") that left the factory in 1973. A 0.452" ACP bullet slides into the cylinder throat. A 0.455" bullet just barely goes in. Testing 4 different bullets at 50-yards off the bench, a RCBS 45-255 SWC was the "best". I have 500 new Starline Auto Rim cases to play with. Not interested in the moon clip route.

I've tried Bullseye, Uniue and 231, but want to try a few other powders. I've heard good comments about 452AA but that's out of print? So maybe wil try WST and Target.

Any non-magnum load suggestions with these or any other powder?

Thanks!

Tom

[Wayne Dobbs]

I've used 6.5 Unique with several 255 SWCs in Starline .45 AR brass with complete satisfaction. The whitetails shot with them had exactly the opposite opinion.

Revolver used is a S&W Model 625 Mountain Gun 4" (pre-lock).

[ShooterAZ]

I use the Noe version of the 454424 boolit (sized .452) you might could go larger. I use it with 6.0 grains of Unique. I've gone a bit higher than that, but see no reason to push it any harder than that. Accuracy is very good from a 5" Model of 1989, and it's a thumper.

[Outpost75]

WST replaced 452AA and is very similar. I am still using 452AA in .45 ACP which I got in 1990 and recently fired some rounds assembled with fresh WST for comparison with H&G68 and 4.2 grains and could tell no difference. If your Star machine is set up to meter a safe, standard-pressure charge of Bullseye, you can empty out the measure, fill it with WST and keep loading without further adjustment. Velocity will be a wee bit less than with the Bullseye load, but the difference is typically less than the sample standard deviation for the ammunition and off the Ransom rest you won't be able to tell the difference at 50 yards, even mixing both loads into the same group.

Same goes for .38 Special wadcutter.

[Walks]

I use 6.0grs of UNIQUE under the old Lyman/Keith #452423 cast of 50/50 - COWW/#2.

Just bought a N.O.E 5CAV version. Gonna be lots more bullets then a Real (old) Ideal 2cav.

[TNsailorman]

Just for the heck of it, I tried some 700X and WSL and both ran pretty well with a 200 grain LSWC. I loaded 4.8 grains of the 700X and 4.8 grains of the WSL. Both ran around 800fps as I remember. I normally load W231 in my 45's and so those two loads were just for curiosity sake. Went back to W231 that I had a lot more of and had always used. I competed with a 25-2 for several years and W231 was my powder of choice for those loads. james

[Rick B]

45 Auto Rim in a Revolver is a great combination. Several years ago I did some extensive testing with a Ransom Rest. Single Action Ruger Bisley Blackhawk S.S. 5.5”. 45 ACP cylinder had been modified to accept 45 Auto Rim case. Was testing M&P 200 grain RNHP at 50 yards. Most consistent load was 4.4 grains of WST with a F150 primer. Case mouth taper crimped to .469. This would agg in the vicinity of 2”. One group was 1.750 with 4 out of 5 in 1”. This was in a Ruger Cylinder that had the throats uniformed to .4525.
Rick

[Bookworm]

WST replaced 452AA and is very similar. I am still using 452AA in .45 ACP which I got in 1990 and recently fired some rounds assembled with fresh WST for comparison with H&G68 and 4.2 grains and could tell no difference. If your Star machine is set up to meter a safe, standard-pressure charge of Bullseye, you can empty out the measure, fill it with WST and keep loading without further adjustment. Velocity will be a wee bit less than with the Bullseye load, but the difference is typically less than the sample standard deviation for the ammunition and off the Ransom rest you won't be able to tell the difference at 50 yards, even mixing both loads into the same group.

Same goes for .38 Special wadcutter.

Oh, mercy me, what a trove of info.

I have about a 1/2 pound of Hodgdon Trap100 (Win 452AA), left over from the late 1980s, that I have been jealously doling out, mourning it's passing.

I'm going to fetch me some WST.

[Lloyd Smale]

my favorite for the 45acp/auto rim is aa2. Bullseye and 231 are good choices too.
In the late 70's I had a S&W Model 25-2 but sold it. In Oct. I picked up another one (6.5") that left the factory in 1973. A 0.452" ACP bullet slides into the cylinder throat. A 0.455" bullet just barely goes in. Testing 4 different bullets at 50-yards off the bench, a RCBS 45-255 SWC was the "best". I have 500 new Starline Auto Rim cases to play with. Not interested in the moon clip route.

I've tried Bullseye, Uniue and 231, but want to try a few other powders. I've heard good comments about 452AA but that's out of print? So maybe wil try WST and Target.

Any non-magnum load suggestions with these or any other powder?

Thanks!

Tom

[Jtarm]

Just for the heck of it, I tried some 700X and WSL and both ran pretty well with a 200 grain LSWC. I loaded 4.8 grains of the 700X and 4.8 grains of the WSL. Both ran around 800fps as I remember. I normally load W231 in my 45's and so those two loads were just for curiosity sake. Went back to W231 that I had a lot more of and had always used. I competed with a 25-2 for several years and W231 was my powder of choice for those loads. james

Good cause I’m about to start loading for a 25-2 and have about 3 lbs of 700x purchased in desperation during the ammo/powder famine. I bought it to load .38 spl but it won’t shoot for **** with any boolit.

[Lloyd Smale]

I never had real good luck with 700x either. I was given a keg of it once and used it up but never saw results good enough to make me want more.

[Divil]

Try 5.1-5.3 grains of Red Dot under a 225-230 pill. I have used 5.3 grains of Red Dot under 230gr. RNL for my 1911’s with success. I have 200 ready to go now. I have loaded 5.1 grains of Red Dot in Auto Rim brass under Western Bullet Co’s 235gr. RNWC ( Lyman 452309 actual weight was avg. 238gr.) with decent accuacy in my S&W 1917 repro revolver. When I finally get a chance to cast my RCBS 230gr. CM mould, I will load the (hopefully close to the advertised weight) 230gr. Bullets with 5.3gr. Of Red Dot.

[Forrest r]

Couldn't even count how much AA452 I've burned up over the decades in the 38spl/44spl/45acp. Used to buy #10 kegs and pour it into a #1 can for ease of use. Always store my powder in cool dark dry place and take the kegs out as needed to fill the smaller containers.
https://i.imgur.com/yDylkSb.jpg

WST is a fantastic replacement for AA452 as others have already pointed out. Clays is another powder that delivers excellent accuracy, a little goes a long way. Took me 3 years to chew thru the #16 of clays and the #4 of am select.
https://i.imgur.com/FxXIxev.jpg

[gwpercle]

Some other powders that have worked when Unique and Bullseye dried up a few years back :
700X
HP38
AA #2
Red Dot
Titegroup
AA #5

AA#5 is a good substitute when Unique is not around... Unique was my go to until I tried AA #5 , this one is looking like a good powder..... Give it a try .

With a 255 cast boolit start with 6.0 grains of AA #5 and work up to a max. of 7.3 grains . This is not a +P load according to Western's Load Data.
Gary

[Baltimoreed]

I’ve used 4.5 gr of Red Dot for years in my 45acp and auto rim with a 200 gr lead bullet. Works in my 1911s, 625s and pcc ARs. Clays and Clay Dot work well too.