45 ACP pet load

[Willie T]

Let’s see them. I will go first. I’m new here. Just recently found this forum. I learned what I do mostly from reading the Lyman cast bullet manual and figuring out what works for me through trial and error. I mostly shoot revolvers. I do enjoy shooting my 1911 less the Easter egg hunt for my brass though.

Bullets are cast from a 50/50 mix of clip on wheel weights and pure soft lead cast from a six cavity Lee Tumble lube 230 round nose mold. I have other .45 molds but these are what I usually cast for my 1911. Holding my alloy as close as I can to 720F, once the mold is up to temp and a consistent dwell time and pouring tempo, the Lee TL mold drops them at .4525 with consistency.
299190
I size to .452. Through trial and error and maybe somewhat against conventional practices, these micro band Bullets get conventional lube on my RCBS Lube A Matic. Bullets are seated and crimped on the same stroke with a Hornady taper crimp seating die. I know a lot of loaders prefer to seat and crimp separately but i do not experience any ill effects with this taper crimp seating die.
299191
Pistol is a 1911 colt government model. Old school flat mainspring housing and short trigger. Powder charge is 5.3 grains of W-231 and a CCI large pistol primer. The load has no leading and shoots better in this pistol than I can shoot it. It makes this combo a lot of fun. At age 61, my eyes and shoulders fatigue sooner than they used to. In light of that if I shoot for groups these days, it is while the eyes are fresh at the start of a range session. My nerves betrayed me yesterday. I started off with one magazine of slow fire at the 25 yard line. The low one was the last one in the magazine and I pulled it out of the group but that is what it is….
299192
I dug one of the slugs out of the dirt bank I was shooting into. For expansion and weight retention I like the 50/50 alloy. Overall a solid load in my government model.
299193

[Thumbcocker]

You have a working formula. Good job.

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[fastdadio]

Some nice shootin there Willie! Wish my 65 year old self could still print like that.

[derek45]

3.9gr CLAYS

any 230gr bullet.

[vhntr1]

Darn nice shooting looks like you have a good load,i use WST in my 45acp with a 200gr swc i have a good supply of that powder.

[1006]

4.0 BullsEye, any bullet will do..

[pworley1]

I don't get very fancy. The Lyman 452460 over 4g of Bullseye, 4.5g of Red Dot or 5.5g of Unique. I haven't found a 45 that didn't like at least one of these.

[Dieselhorses]

5.2 HP38 under a 230 gn powder coated RN does well for me. Great shootin'!

[44MAG#1]

Let’s see them. I will go first. I’m new here. Just recently found this forum. I learned what I do mostly from reading the Lyman cast bullet manual and figuring out what works for me through trial and error. I mostly shoot revolvers. I do enjoy shooting my 1911 less the Easter egg hunt for my brass though.

Bullets are cast from a 50/50 mix of clip on wheel weights and pure soft lead cast from a six cavity Lee Tumble lube 230 round nose mold. I have other .45 molds but these are what I usually cast for my 1911. Holding my alloy as close as I can to 720F, once the mold is up to temp and a consistent dwell time and pouring tempo, the Lee TL mold drops them at .4525 with consistency.
299190
I size to .452. Through trial and error and maybe somewhat against conventional practices, these micro band Bullets get conventional lube on my RCBS Lube A Matic. Bullets are seated and crimped on the same stroke with a Hornady taper crimp seating die. I know a lot of loaders prefer to seat and crimp separately but i do not experience any ill effects with this taper crimp seating die.
299191
Pistol is a 1911 colt government model. Old school flat mainspring housing and short trigger. Powder charge is 5.3 grains of W-231 and a CCI large pistol primer. The load has no leading and shoots better in this pistol than I can shoot it. It makes this combo a lot of fun. At age 61, my eyes and shoulders fatigue sooner than they used to. In light of that if I shoot for groups these days, it is while the eyes are fresh at the start of a range session. My nerves betrayed me yesterday. I started off with one magazine of slow fire at the 25 yard line. The low one was the last one in the magazine and I pulled it out of the group but that is what it is….
299192
I dug one of the slugs out of the dirt bank I was shooting into. For expansion and weight retention I like the 50/50 alloy. Overall a solid load in my government model.
299193

If you can shoot that good consistently offhand standing at 25 yards you sir HAVE ARRIVED in the shooting world. 99 percent of all handgun shooters envy you. What is your secret?

[faraim]

Hello from Central TN. It looks like you have found a combination that works.

[almar]

5 grains of w231 is my typical target load under 230gr round ball. For higher power i use 8gr cfe pistol under a 200gr RNFP.

[alfadan]

That is one dang nice pistol.

[almar]

Double post.

[Jal5]

Nice shooting sir!


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[Willie T]

If you can shoot that good consistently offhand standing at 25 yards you sir HAVE ARRIVED in the shooting world. 99 percent of all handgun shooters envy you. What is your secret?
I will take that like you meant it like you were looking me in the eye, rather than trying to be an Internet smart aleck making snarky comments behind a computer screen. Most pistols and loads won’t do that. If you shoot much, you already know that. That is what makes finding a combination for your handgun like I shared special. It is why a segment of us do it. There is no magic easy button to hit what you are shooting at. It takes putting in enough time to manage what limits you. It takes developing the coordination and the small stabilizing muscles to steady up and hold dead nuts through the break of the trigger. That is a perishable skill and it takes maintenance to maintain it. If you shoot well you already know that too. It takes that to take advantage of loading consistent ammunition that brings alive an accurate pistol. You probably already know that too. I don’t see any percentage in talking to you about what it takes to shoot silhouettes freehand at 200 yards with revolvers. That is a thing too. “We all set the bar in different places” and can all enjoy this hobby like that… This bug bit me as a kid. It was long before there was an Internet. We had alot more time to shoot than the young men and women today on account of it. A half a century later here I am, still scratching the same itch.
I thought maybe I had found some like minded hand loaders/shooters and a place for an old guy to share and continue to learn about loading, shooting, and casting.

[44MAG#1]

I will take that like you meant it like you were looking me in the eye, rather than trying to be an Internet smart aleck making snarky comments behind a computer screen. Most pistols and loads won’t do that. If you shoot much, you already know that. That is what makes finding a combination for your handgun like I shared special. It is why a segment of us do it. There is no magic easy button to hit what you are shooting at. It takes putting in enough time to manage what limits you. It takes developing the coordination and the small stabilizing muscles to steady up and hold dead nuts through the break of the trigger. That is a perishable skill and it takes maintenance to maintain it. If you shoot well you already know that too. It takes that to take advantage of loading consistent ammunition that brings alive an accurate pistol. You probably already know that too. I don’t see any percentage in talking to you about what it takes to shoot silhouettes freehand at 200 yards with revolvers. That is a thing too. “We all set the bar in different places” and can all enjoy this hobby like that… This bug bit me as a kid. It was long before there was an Internet. We had alot more time to shoot than the young men and women today on account of it. A half a century later here I am, still scratching the same itch.
I thought maybe I had found some like minded hand loaders/shooters and a place for an old guy to share and continue to learn about loading, shooting, and casting.

Calm down. I would like to know how to do what you do. Any handgun shooter would like to know. If they are honest they would. That is fantastic shooting at 25 offhand. I shot a lot with a high master bullseye shooter and he couldn't shoot like that anywhere consistently. Occasionally he could and he was a high master which is no small feat.
I sure would like to know how you do it. Instead of getting hateful share your knowledge with us.

[BJung]

That is a very good load and very good shooting. Both the load and my shooting is not as good as that. Congratulations.

[h8dirt]

H&G 68 cast with 92/4/4 sized to 0.452” and lubed with White’s BAC ahead of 4.1 grains of WST in sorted Starline brass sparked by a WLPP through a Wilson Combat Classic. Works great as a paper load for me. YMMV.

[Budzilla 19]

WillieT, I cast, load and shoot the exact same boolit ( 50/50 wheel weights/pure with 2% tin, though),in both of my .45’s. Only difference is I powder coat them, and use 4.8 grains of 700X.
Mighty fine shooting that is right there!
You DID find a place to share, learn and continue to learn about casting,loading and shooting!!
There is a wealth of knowledge here, and some of the nicest people on the net, also. Welcome aboard, fellow caster, keep us posted. We all can learn from each other.

[AlaskaMike]

Mine used to be an H&G 68 style bullet over 5.3 grains of 231.

However, these days it's a 210 grain SWC from a Lee group buy we did here many years ago over 4.0 grains of Clays.

The bullet is very similar to Accurate 45-210N:
299214

It requires a little deeper seating, but is still 100% reliable in all my .45 autos, and superbly accurate.

[Drew P]

4gr red dot, grooveless bullet with hitek coating. Nice gun.

[dondiego]

I will take that like you meant it like you were looking me in the eye, rather than trying to be an Internet smart aleck making snarky comments behind a computer screen. Most pistols and loads won’t do that. If you shoot much, you already know that. That is what makes finding a combination for your handgun like I shared special. It is why a segment of us do it. There is no magic easy button to hit what you are shooting at. It takes putting in enough time to manage what limits you. It takes developing the coordination and the small stabilizing muscles to steady up and hold dead nuts through the break of the trigger. That is a perishable skill and it takes maintenance to maintain it. If you shoot well you already know that too. It takes that to take advantage of loading consistent ammunition that brings alive an accurate pistol. You probably already know that too. I don’t see any percentage in talking to you about what it takes to shoot silhouettes freehand at 200 yards with revolvers. That is a thing too. “We all set the bar in different places” and can all enjoy this hobby like that… This bug bit me as a kid. It was long before there was an Internet. We had alot more time to shoot than the young men and women today on account of it. A half a century later here I am, still scratching the same itch.
I thought maybe I had found some like minded hand loaders/shooters and a place for an old guy to share and continue to learn about loading, shooting, and casting.

If you have really thin skin, you might not do too well here. You were complimented and took offense!

[StuBach]

3/3/96 MP 454-200 deep HP over 5.6g Bullseye has been a very nice performer in revolver, several 1911s from original 1918 to 2018 R1 DS, and Sig P220. Dad took down a ton of bowling pins with this load and it has served me well.

Personally, I love the old HG 130 (3/3/94) over 3.0gr bullseye. Makes an awesome mouse fart load that will just barely cycle my tuned 1911s but does and shoots great. Does very well in 1917s too.

[brassrat]

I called my Broker, E. F. Nuttin, and ordered popcorn shares

[Texas by God]

Bullseye, Red Dot, and AA#2 lately. Enough to push either the Lee 200gr swc or 230gr tc to around 800fps. My idea of a pistol cartridge since back when I weighed 125 pounds.....
Good shooting with a good looking pistol there!

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[Willie T]

If you have really thin skin, you might not do too well here. You were complimented and took offense!
No thin skin and no offense taken. I just didn’t register here to be goaded into trying to prove something. Just shared some of what I do hopefully to read what some of y’all had to say about casting and loading for 45acp. Thank you all for replying and sharing your pet .45 loads. With component supplies what they are, I doubt I’m the only loader with interest in what others are loading for
There 45’s with good results. Thanks to those that replied.
Willie

[Walks]

That's real good shooting. Could do that once upon a time myself, but days long past. These days it's hit the black consistently and I'm happy.

.45ACP in a Colt Gov't, a great combination.

Lyman #452488 - 3.5grs Bulleye in a Gold Cup
RCBS #45-201-KT - 5.2grs TiteGroup in a Combat Gov't Model
Lyman #452374 - 5.0grs Bullseye in a Gov't Model & Glock M21

All loads taken from Lyman handbooks over the last 60+ years.

[Rich/WIS]

Lee copy of the H&G 68, think it is the 452-200 SWC in the Lee catalog. This was a bevel base I milled down to flat base and comes in about 190 grs in range lead or slightly less with 96-3-1. Backed by 3.1 grs of Bullseye pleasant to shoot and accurate, although it does require a lighter recoil spring to function. That's some fine shooting, wish I could still do as well but age and arthritis have taken their toll.

[45DUDE]

Lee copy of the H&G 68, think it is the 452-200 SWC in the Lee catalog. This was a bevel base I milled down to flat base and comes in about 190 grs in range lead or slightly less with 96-3-1. Backed by 3.1 grs of Bullseye pleasant to shoot and accurate, although it does require a lighter recoil spring to function. That's some fine shooting, wish I could still do as well but age and arthritis have taken their toll.

I did the same thing with a file. The Lee mold was ugly on the back and nothing to loose. The boolit turned out good enough that I like it. I have done several Lee molds like that. You need to go slow as you can't unfile it. If you screw it up put it away and your wife can sell it when you kick the bucket. 4.5 of Bullseye is my favorite load for a 200gr. in 45acp.

[rbuck351]

I use the Lee 230gr TC with 5.2gr of W231/HP38. The secret to good handgun shooting is simple. Put the sights on target and hold them there until the round has been fired. Doing that simple thing is not so easy which is why I don't shoot nearly that well. Good shooting on your part.

[charlie b]

Even at my peak I wasn't anywhere close to that. Yep, takes a lot of skill development to do that kind of thing consistently, and a well tuned pistol with good ammo.

[SoonerEd]

Steel match loads

155 SWC
7.4 VV 340

This is for steel matches with a reduced recoil spring. It has a slow pressure curve and will drop the cases at your feet with very low recoil to keep you on target. Velocity is high enough you don't have to change POA from one stage to the other. The 155 SWC may require some work on the gun though to feed properly. But, if you need quick shots with the barrel staying on target this one to try. It's not a USPSA load so don't know the power factor.

[44MAG#1]

If I may interject a comment here with out making Mr. Willie T upset as I did on my first post on this thread if I had a load that shoots like his does (research the Al Dormant Military NRA Bullseye load for reference) I wouldnt worry not one bit what anyone else is using. If anyone looked at the photo of that target shot slowfire, at 25 yards, so evidentially offhand, it doesnt get any better
Six or seven shots in less than an inch is phenominal shooting. Even with the "flyer" it is still phenomenal.
I dont think that is a custom Bullseye set up 1911 either.

[scattershot]

Most accurate load I have shot is the H&G 68 (or copy) 200 grain SWC over 4.2 Bullseye.

[Willie T]

If I may interject a comment here with out making Mr. Willie T upset as I did on my first post on this thread if I had a load that shoots like his does (research the Al Dormant Military NRA Bullseye load for reference) I wouldnt worry not one bit what anyone else is using. If anyone looked at the photo of that target shot slowfire, at 25 yards, so evidentially offhand, it doesnt get any better
Six or seven shots in less than an inch is phenominal shooting. Even with the "flyer" it is still phenomenal.
I dont think that is a custom Bullseye set up 1911 either.

44Mag#1, I sent you a PM.

I just found this forum. I started before there was an Internet. Experimentation to understand what works for me is the route I have traveled. This forum opened up a whole new world of other casters/shooters to me. I shared what I came up with and have great interest in studying what some of y’all have came up with. No it is not a bullseye set up pistol. It has a match grade barrel and a nice tight barrel bushing. My interest in developing that load was accuracy without leading and expansion in that particular pistol. Of note to me is the number of competitors developing loads with minimal recoil for laying down faster shot strings on target. This forum is cool!!!

[StuBach]

44Mag#1, I sent you a PM.

I just found this forum. I started before there was an Internet. Experimentation to understand what works for me is the route I have traveled. This forum opened up a whole new world of other casters/shooters to me. I shared what I came up with and have great interest in studying what some of y’all have came up with. No it is not a bullseye set up pistol. It has a match grade barrel and a nice tight barrel bushing. My interest in developing that load was accuracy without leading and expansion in that particular pistol. Of note to me is the number of competitors developing loads with minimal recoil for laying down faster shot strings on target. This forum is cool!!!

It is a great place to sit and stay awhile. Thank you for joining us and we all look forward to what your experience can contribute.

[Echo]

Bingo...

[gwpercle]

45 ACP - Pet Load - AMT Hardballer - 5" barrel
Lyman # 452460 - 200 gr. - SWC - 50/50 alloy - sized .452"
5.2 grs. Unique @ 730 fps

Good accurate lower midrange load , not a powder-puff target load , and not a MAX load .
Gary

[Kosh75287]

My VERY FAVORITE is 6.5-7.0/Unique/215 gr. SAECO #58 LSWC.
I've shot 4.0/Bullseye/darned-near-everything and never had it NOT work.
When I had delusions of breaking into IDPA big time, I bought an 8# jug of Promo, b/c it was the least expensive of the "fast"-burning propellants & used it to make 20,000 - 30,000 reloads with it, easily. I still have some of it around. I used 4.2/Promo/230 gr. LRN or 225 gr. T/C for practice and competition. I used 4.6/Promo/200 gr. LSWC or RNFP. Both shot tightly, easily, and reliably.

[44MAG#1]

My VERY FAVORITE is 6.5-7.0/Unique/215 gr. SAECO #58 LSWC.
I've shot 4.0/Bullseye/darned-near-everything and never had it NOT work.
When I had delusions of breaking into IDPA big time, I bought an 8# jug of Promo, b/c it was the least expensive of the "fast"-burning propellants & used it to make 20,000 - 30,000 reloads with it, easily. I still have some of it around. I used 4.2/Promo/230 gr. LRN or 225 gr. T/C for practice and competition. I used 4.6/Promo/200 gr. LSWC or RNFP. Both shot tightly, easily, and reliably.

Then you would love the Accurate Mold 45-229N mold.

[WRideout]

After acquiring a one cavity Lyman 452460 in a box of components from an estate sale, I naturally felt compelled to buy a .45 ACP pistol ( wouldn't anybody?) After using up the partial canisters of obsolete Winchester powder that came with it, I settled on 4.5 gr Promo (Red Dot clone) which fills the bill. I had trouble feeding my handloads in the Star PD, until I purchased a taper crimp die and used it religiously. No idea what the velocity is, but recoil is manageable in my lightweight, Commander-sized Star.

Wayne