Hey everyone,I wanted to share my favorite +P handload for my .45 acps,I've been loading this load since 1995 it consists of a Speer 230 grain Golddot on top of 7.3 grains of Unique in a Remington +p Nickelplated case and Federal large pistol primer,I have a rather large battery of .45s and this load shoots the most consistent out of all I've tried.From my Sig-220 to all my 1911s,S&W645,G-21,H&K USP and my S&W wheelguns in 45 acp this load normally shoots a one inch ragged hole at 25 yards,out of the short barreled 220 it chronographs between 941-950fps and out of the 5" barrels 950 to 963fps,not sure what kind of muzzle energy Im producing,but there are no signs of excessive pressure signs,good extraction and a hell of a deer round out to 50 yards,I have a lot of factory +p H.P.s and none of them give me these type of results,I even trust and carry this load for CCW.
Equalizer

That's even hotter than Speer #8. Go for it!

quote:

...not sure what kind of muzzle energy Im producing...

The equation you use for kinetic energy is: (VxV/450240)XWt. V=velocity, Wt=bullet weight in grains. Example for 230gr at 950fps. 950x950=902500, 902500/450240=2.0044864, 2.0044864x230=461ft/lbs.

My formula is google = http://www.airhog.com/convert.htm

Jeff Cooper, back in the '70's, recommended replacing the powder charge of GI ammunition with 7.2gr of Unique. In my Mod 70, MKIV, it was a "one holer" at 25yds.

quote:

Originally posted by pinkymingeo:
That's even hotter than Speer #8. Go for it!

Hang on to your hats folks!


There are loads out there that are hotter than the Speer #8! OHHHHHHH NNNOOOOOOOOO!




Hey with all seriousness I did find some interesting things out with the older manuals.

They all stop with 7.0gr with the 45ACP but go all the way up to 8.0gr with the 45AR. Now the only difference in these two rounds is the rim. If you are going to shoot them out of a revolver there is no difference in my opinion. I would watch using this load in the Glock only because of the unsupported chamber. At any rate there are even some 2400 listings in the Speer #6 for the 45AR! Out of the 6 1/2" bbl of the 1955 Target they list a 240gr LSwC going 1119fps. They also list a 255gr going 1040fps with 2400 as the propellant!

The same bullets are listed with a charge of 8.0gr of Unique. The 255gr @ 968fps and the 240gr @ 1083!

Just when you thought the hottest thing going was the Speer #8!

Skip,

I just got through shooting a couple of 13.5 gr of 2400 with a 270 gr bullet in .45 Super brass. It felt about like it was getting close to 1100 fps, but I'll have to check it on the chrony to make sure.

Hey Smith Crazy,
Out of my 25-2 1955 Target I use the autorim case which I shoot a 255 Keith SWC in the AR case on top of 14.5 grains of 2400 and a Federal primer with a MV of 1137fps with a average extreme spread of 11.This load in the little AR case duplcates Elmer Keiths load of 20 grains in the Long Colt case with the same bullet out of the 6 and 1/2" barrel of the 1955 compare to the 7 and a 1/2" Blackhawk. I sometimes substitute the 255 with a Sierra 240grain JHC and back the charge weight down to 14 grains with a MV of 1027 fps with a extreme spead of 29,taken that Im still loading from a large lot of Hercules 2400,I think Alliant since they taken over the name have a little faster burn rate,so if you try these I'd back them down a bit,I don't advise a steady of diet of these rounds(which the 1955 can take it) but they are very controllable and take medium to large game easily,the 255 load out of my 1955 will shoot a inch or better at 25 yards.
Equalizer

Jellybean,
thanks for the equation on figuring out my muzzle energy.
Equalizer

I'll have to give that a try in my 625. I have some auto rim that is looking for a "one-hole" load.

DJINCO,
You might want to back your charge weight off a little at first and check for pressure signs,like I said im still loading from a old powder lot of Hercules not Alliant,but I believe you'll be safe the 625 is a strong revolver like the 1955,I get a 1083fps out of my 5 inch 625 with this load load and the accuracy is almost identical as the 1955 25-2.
Equalizer

DJINCO,don't forget a heavy roll crimp on that autorim.
Equalizer

It is well to remember that all 255 gr LSWC bullets are not created equal. There are different designs and different compositions that change things somewhat.

When I load 13.0 gr of 2004 vintage Alliant 2400 in ACP brass, all with a taper crimp, I get different results depending on the bullet. Using a 270 gr (it's marked as a 255 gr) Ohaus/NEI Keith bullet in a M625-4, I get 960 fps with an ES of 8 fps. When I use the same load in the same brass with an Oregon Trails 255 gr LSWC, I get 1045 fps with an ES of 44 fps.

The width of the driving bands, the depth and width of the grease groove and the length of the nose change how much bullet weight is actually in the brass, which changes the pressure too.

Here's an article by Glen E. Fryxell on the subject of .45 Keith bullets, that has pictures of the differences in Keith bullets. ARTICLE

quote:

Originally posted by Santos:
Jeff Cooper, back in the '70's, recommended replacing the powder charge of GI ammunition with 7.2gr of Unique. In my Mod 70, MKIV, it was a "one holer" at 25yds.

+1

I've used 7.2 gr of Unique behind 215-230 for years. It is warm not quite hot and very very very consistent!

quote:

Originally posted by Santos:
Jeff Cooper, back in the '70's, recommended replacing the powder charge of GI ammunition with 7.2gr of Unique. In my Mod 70, MKIV, it was a "one holer" at 25yds.

Santos,
What kind of velocity are you getting out of that load?