45 acp load recommendations

[jski45]

I’m looking for True Blue load recommendations for .45 ACP:


230 gr HC (hard cast) RN and
185 gr HC SWC.

Low end of the +P range would be nice.

Based on what I could find from the Hodgdon’s website and Handlloader magazine:

230 gr HC RN: 7.2 - 8.4 gr True Blue
185 gr HC SWC: 8.8 - 9.2 gr True Blue

Does that seem reasonable?

[Thumbcocker]

231 is never a bad choice in .45 acp.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[jski45]

I chose True Blue because it’s always done well for me (performance wise) and it meters so damn well because it’s so fine grained.

[Winger Ed.]

I'm a big Unique or Bullseye fan.
But it wants to be accurate, and about anything in the listed data will do well.

[Kai]

I’m looking for True Blue load recommendations for .45 ACP:


230 gr HC (hard cast) RN and
185 gr HC SWC.

Low end of the +P range would be nice.

Based on what I could find from the Hodgdon’s website and Handlloader magazine:

230 gr HC RN: 7.2 - 8.4 gr True Blue
185 gr HC SWC: 8.8 - 9.2 gr True Blue

Does that seem reasonable?

Ramshot says 6.7-7.4 for your 230 cast bullet and 8.5-9.4 for the 185gr bullet. I load the 230 cast bullet with 7gr True Blue. Works well

[justindad]

I got 800 fps from a 3” barrel, using 7.5 grains (+P) of True Blue under the NOE 45-237-RN seated to 1.275” OACL with CCI LPP in Starline +P brass. Underwood Ammo rounds marked 1,000 fps & +P give 850 fps in this gun.
*
Lyman’s #49 gives a max charge of 7.0 grains under the 225 gr 452374, for 884 fps. Take that as a caution and work your loads up from somewhere safe.
*
True Blue is my main powder for the .45 ACP. It burns clean at the top end of .45 ACP pressures, and gives single digit SD numbers, if that matters to you.
*
How long is your HC bullet and what is your OACL?

[jski45]

324872
This is reload data from Handloader magazine for hard cast RN 230 gr bullets: 7.2 - 8.4.

[Kosh75287]

I'M with WingerEd on using Bullseye or Unique in .45 ACP, but I cannot imagine why True Blue wouldn't work perfectly well. Given the velocities vs. charge weights, True Blue appears to burn faster than, but otherwise similar to Alliant Blue Dot (hence the name, perhaps?). There are more economical propellants with which you can obtain your desired performance, but if you are particularly comfortable and experienced with the use of True Blue, it makes great sense to stick with what you know.
Unless one is trying to do something very unusual with the .45 ACP, almost any shotgun/pistol propellant with a burning rate between Alliant Bullseye and AA#7 (including those) will work very well in the cartridge. One must decide at what point they are willing to sacrifice a bit of performance for greater economy, or the converse.

[jdgabbard]

OP asked for True Blue Data. I agree BE, Unique, or even Red Dot would work great - and do for me. He's looking for True Blue, and that is what he is comfortable with.

Here you go: https://www.lhs-germany.de/fileadmin/media/Mediathek/Pulver/2020/Ramshot_Load_Guide_handgun_rifle_Edition_4.5.pdf

For 230gr Lead: 6.7gr - 7.4gr (822fps - 913fps)
For 180gr Lead: 7.7gr - 8.5gr (947fps - 1052fps)

For the 185gr, I'd probably reduce to 7.5gr - 8.0gr.

Either way, you'll likely find a load that works in that range.

[charlie b]

I am a bit less picky with pistol loads and especially the .45acp. I have always used whatever powders I could find on the shelf. Red Dot, Green Dot, Blue Dot, Unique, 231, AA5, AA7, etc, etc. Once I got my progressive press I 'migrated' to the fine grain powders that would meter better through the powder measure. My measure for pistols is the Lee disk. I don't really care what powder it is as long as I can find a book load for it.

When picking a load I find the max charge and then pick the disk closest under max, usually a few tenths. Above the halfway point on the book min-max range. Then go shoot. And, yes, I do check the load thrown by the powder measure, about every 10 cartridges.

PS if you shoot competition ignore all this :) Fine accuracy needs more consistency in loads.

[justindad]

324872
This is reload data from Handloader magazine for hard cast RN 230 gr bullets: 7.2 - 8.4.

The exact bullet matters, especially when you’re going after +P charges. Are you using that Oregon Trails bullet?

[405grain]

About the slowest powder that I use in 45 acp cast loads is HS-6. Unique, hands down, is the best general all around powder for this cartridge. Other powders like Bullseye, Red Dot, AA5, etc. work really well. Blue Dot can be used, but it is a little on the slow side. I assume that "Blue" is similar to Blue Dot, but I've never used it.

[jski45]

I want to stay in the low to mid range +P loads.

[jski45]

The reason I’m focusing on True Blue is because it meters extremely well, I have 5 lbs, and my son-in-law uses it with his Ruger 1911 with good results.

I’m loading for a S&W model 25-14 wheelgun with a 3” barrel. It was manufactured in 2007, so it’s a modern gun designed for +P loads.

[jski45]

Using hard cast RN bullets from Space Coast Bullets in Melbourne, FL. They offer an excellent product. The only difference I could imagine that might make a difference is BHN. Space Coast hard cast bullets have a BHN=18.

[jski45]

One other thing. I found this in the Western Powder load data pdf:
324930
This is for 45 ACP. The LC SWC 180 gr entry is the one of interest. That COL=1.267” seems shallow?

[schutzen-jager]

jmho - 4.5 to 5.0 grains of red dot under a 230 gr. hard cast bullet will do anything that the other powders listed + using 1/2 the amount of powder -

[Sandspider500]

324872
This is reload data from Handloader magazine for hard cast RN 230 gr bullets: 7.2 - 8.4.

That's 45 auto rim load data.

[jski45]

That is correct. I should have made that clear. Mea culpa!

But I am loading for a S&W 25-14 wheelgun using Starline 45 ACP +P brass. That data should apply.

[Sandspider500]

One other thing. I found this in the Western Powder load data pdf:
324930
This is for 45 ACP. The LC SWC 180 gr entry is the one of interest. That COL=1.267” seems shallow?

That one has a long nose on it. Probably over .6 long.

324975

[jski45]

324980
324981
This is the 185 gr SWC Space Coast bullet in question.

[Sandspider500]

Your bullet is an hg 130 clone. The 180 swc from the data is a laser cast 180gr, which is probably from the same magma mold that Missouri bullet company uses. That Missouri bullet is the bullseye #2 and is .61 long.

[justindad]

Using hard cast RN bullets from Space Coast Bullets in Melbourne, FL. They offer an excellent product. The only difference I could imagine that might make a difference is BHN. Space Coast hard cast bullets have a BHN=18.

No one has ever been able to imagine and demonstrate all factors of bullet design that impact the pressures developed for a given velocity.

[jsizemore]

Could you post a pic of the base of the bullet showing the sprue cut and one of your caliper showing the diameter, please?

[jski45]

325033
325034

[jski45]

The question I have is seating depth. How far past the lube ring should this bullet be seated?

I noticed that the geometry of Berry’s 185 SWC bullet and my Space Coast bullets are close (they have the same size nose). The Western Powder pdf recommends a COL=1.195” for the Berry’s 185 gr SWC. Does that apply for my hard cast Space Coast bullet?

[jsizemore]

I have loaded that bullet in the past. I load it and about all lead bullets in auto loaders so 1/16th or 1/32nd of an inch of the driving band is exposed to take the brunt of being banged against the feed ramp or hood going in the chamber. Ultimately seating depth is controlled by how the round passes the plunk test in the chamber with the bullet seated out to my previous dimensions or shorter.

[jski45]

Of course that’s not an issue for me because I’m using a S&W model 25-14 wheelgun.

[Delkal]

Once you get away from a published load with the exact bullet any OAL is little more than a suggestion. Every different bullets nose shape / ogive is different and so is the OAL.

For pistols my feeling is that the amount of the bullet is seated in the case (potentially reducing case capacity) is the most important pressure factor followed by how hard the bullet is jammed into the rifling (assuming it will chamber). For an unknown bullet like this with little data on the powder you are using I would find a mid powered target load and be happy. Unless you want to use these for more than punching paper why do you need a max +P load? Start with the the 230 grain loads and maybe work it up a bit. Then shoot them up.

[jski45]

I plan to use mid range non +P loads. In addition, all S&W wheelguns and autoloaders chambered for 45 ACP since 1996 are manufactured for +P loads. My S&W wheelgun was manufactured in 2007.

[jski45]

I plan to use:

185 gr SWC, COL=1.2” with 8 gr of TB
230 gr RN, COL=1.267” with 7.3 gr of TB

Those seem moderate for non +P loads.

My son-in-law has had good results with 7.3 gr of TB with the 230 gr RN bullets in his Ruger 1911.

[jski45]

BTW, this is the Hodgdon description for TB:

TRUE BLUE is the perfect powder for classic calibers such as the 38 Special, 44 Special, and 45 Long Colt. Its a double-base, spherical powder with great metering properties that make it an ideal choice for consistent results using high volume, progressive reloading equipment. It works well with cast bullets and is also an excellent choice for 9mm law enforcement rounds. Made in Belgium.

Seems ideal for 45 ACP loads.