.45 acp

[Slugster]

Since I have had excess time on my hands, I decided to do some reloading for my 1911. Have tested several loadings with Red Dot as my propellant of choice. I have settled on the following load:
Lee 225 gr. (with my alloy of pure lead with 3% tin) Round Nose Bevel Base Boolit, sized to .452. Tumble lubed with LLA.
Winchester cases.
Winchester large pistol primers.
4.8 grains of Red Dot.
COL is 1.270

Tried a few lighter loads and a few heavier ones, but this is the load that performs to my expectations. This load gives me "minute of saucer" accuracy at 25 yards. I have experienced a little leading with hotter loads, but this load seems to be pretty clean. My 1911 is factory Auto Ordnance G.I. style that I have had since 1990. I tuned the trigger pull to a crisp 3.3 lbs.

Question: What is your favorite cast boolit load in the 1911?


The above load works very well IN MY firearm. You should work up loads cautiously for YOUR firearm. It works for ME, but maybe not for THEE.

[tazman]

I use the Lyman 452374 for full power loads and the Lee 452-200-rf for light loads.
Other boolits are the H&G 68 clone from LEE and the Lyman 453460.
I use several different powders depending on what I am trying to do specifically.
Bullseye, WST, and Titegroup are the major players for me. WST , especially, gives good accuracy and burns very clean.

[Slugster]

Thanks for the input Tazman. I have never used WST, but I will purchase some and try it out as soon as the virus craziness subsides. I have a lot of Red Dot and was trying to find a load that would be accurate and use up some of the RD. Only problem with my load is that it is pretty dirty. WST sounds like a good powder.

[Finster101]

I like the HG68 over 4 grains of Promo. 4.8 seems a little hot.

[tazman]

Thanks for the input Tazman. I have never used WST, but I will purchase some and try it out as soon as the virus craziness subsides. I have a lot of Red Dot and was trying to find a load that would be accurate and use up some of the RD. Only problem with my load is that it is pretty dirty. WST sounds like a good powder.

Data for WST is available online at the Hodgdon data site. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

[toallmy]

I use red dot as well in 45acp , I find it a little dirty to , but I don't mind . I shoot outside . I use a few different stile cast boolits in them one prefers a saeco #130 , another seams to do better with the saeco # 68 , but I always keep a bunch of Lee 230 tc loaded up for my brothers when we get together shooting . Red dot between 4.3-4.8 works well for me + I keep quite a bit on hand for the shot shells .
I don't mind getting my noise makers dirty as long as the barrel is clean .

[sghart3578]

I like either the Lee 230 gr tumble lube RN or the Lee 200 gr LSWC over 5 gr of Bullseye.

[mr surveyor]

230 gr RN and AA#2

[alamogunr]

Thanks, toallmy, for the information. I've got a new Dan Wesson in 1911 style to go with several other 1911's. I've also got a 8 lb jugs of Red Dot and Promo. Since my older son also has a 1911, I've been looking for loads to use these powders.

I've got a 4 cavity mold for the SAECO 130 but haven't loaded it yet. Will have to try it. My #68 molds are MP 4 cavities(2) which look like the SAECO and both look like a copy of the H&G 68. I've had good luck with the #68 in several .45ACP's.

[Littlewolf]

range pickup brass
ideal/lyman 452374 230gr RN pb powder coated
5.3gr GreenDot
CCI large pistol primer

[Ed_Shot]

I use Promo (load as Red Dot by weight) for 45 ACP in 1911's, G21, G30 and CZ97. I've been up and down the ladder and have settled on Promo 4.5 gr. for 45 ACP 200~230 gr. boolits for best performance. Mine chrony @ 800~830 fps.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Red Dot was my go to powder until I tried 231 now i just keep it around for 9mm loads

[GhostHawk]

I like the Lee .452 130 gr truncated cone (6 cavity, also works in my .45 colt)
Like the OP I like Red Dot.
4.5 to 5 grains will put them on target. Less than 4.5 gave me sooty cases.

I don't shoot mine much, It is a mid 90s Springfield Armory.
I got bitten by the .32 bug and they are pretty much at opposite ends of the power curve.
For me the .45acp takes real intestinal fortitude to shoot. Where the .32's are a joy.

Mostly shooting .32sw long and .32acp in one of those sweet Beretta 81's.

Virtually no recoil, minimal muzzle flip, or blast, no fireballs, and very thrifty with powder and lead.

[daloper]

I also use Red Dot. My go to is Layman 452460 SWC 200gr. with 4.5 gr of Red Dot.

[EMC45]

190gr Lee SWC, 200gr Lee H&G 68 clone and Lee 230gr TC bullet over Bullseye. I have a 2 cav 452-374, but it drops undersized with my alloy so it doesn't get used.

[Wild Bill 7]

I generally use 4 grains of Bullseye with the Lyman 200 grain mold. Powder coated and sized to 452 and they are very accurate.

[Budzilla 19]

Lee 230 grain TL, powder coated, over 4.7 grains of 700X works wonders.

[Nick Adams]

230gn coated RN bullet.
Mixed brass.
4.9/5.0gns Bullseye.
CCI 300 Lg PP.

I'm just looking to duplicate a standard 'ball' load without any drama. The above combo yields decent accuracy out of several .45s. Four are some flavor of 1911, while one is an old S&W 4566.

Haven't had any issues with this load in any of them, other than the Bullseye seems to dirty them up after a long range session.

[Thumbcocker]

Lyman 452460(200 grain swc) over 5.8 of 231.

[Brad Cayton]

Like Tazman, my favorite load is a H&G 68 clone and WST. I first used WST a few years back during the component shortage and it's become my go to for 45 ACP. I use 4.7 grains behind the Arsenal 453 210 Gr. TC – H&G 68. Very accurate and clean.

[charlie b]

I've shot so many different powder and bullet combinations in my .45's (all 1911) that I can't say I have a real favorite or most accurate.

Because I used to shoot skeet I would have one of the Hercules powders around most of the time. Bullseye, Red Dot, Green Dot, Blue Dot, Unique, 2400. Used all of them in the .45 at one time or another. Then tried WW231 and liked the way it metered. About that time AA 2,5,7,9 became available to me and I switched to them. Have stayed with them ever since for the .357, 9mm and .45. About the only one I didn't like was 2400. It was perfect for heavy loads in the .45 and .357 but it was dirty.

Cast bullets have ranged from 185 to 255 with most being the Lee 200SWC or 230TC.

[BNE]

230 grain cast with 4.0Gr of Clays. Clean and nice to shoot.

[nicholst55]

I have probably shot more Lyman 452460 200gr SWCs over varying charges of Unique than any other cast boolit in various .45 ACP pistols over the decades. Yup, Unique, aka 'flaming dirt.' Yes, it makes you gun(s) dirty. So, clean them. I've also found that HS6, 700-X (although sometimes a pain to get to meter well), and Win 231 work well in this cartridge. Although Bullseye was THE original powder used in factory ammo for this cartridge, I have never tried any in it.