I've decided to step out of my comfort zone and load 200gr LSWC's for use in all of my 45 autos.
I got my first batch of these bullets from Everglades (which I feel confident in).
It's just an accuracy experiment on my part. I've never loaded LSWC's for my 45acp's.
I'll be using HP38 and Titegroup.
I have several manuals, but would like the opinions of some experienced reloaders using these in combinations of the powders mentioned. Any 45's that I own that don't like LSWC's?
I've got a brand new M&P that I can't wait to try these in, along with an old P345 Ruger and a Kimber.
Thanks.

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" I don't recall, senator."

YMMV on lswc in any given pistol. Some just wont feed them. OAL may matter, may not. I load to an oal that allows just a bit of shoulder above the case mouth, but that may vary with individual pistols. All my 1911 feed lswc just fine. My xd & xdc, no. I expect your kimber & ruger will be fine.
Never been a fan of TG but hp38/231, middle of book data, usually pretty accurate. You already bought the bullets but you really eany 0.452" dia when running lead or coated lead.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

For the last 30+ years I've used a 200gr H&G LSWC load I think I got out of Bill Wilson & Michael Bane's book "The Combat .45 Automatic". The load has worked/functioned well in every 1911, Glock (plated bullet) and M&P that will feed LSWC's. It is 5.4gr of W231 with either a Lead H&G 200gr SWC or a plated SWC. Not abusive to shooter or gun and yet it still has a decent recoil. I've shot 1000's of this load. I believe W231 and HP38 are exactly the same powder just marketed by different companies under different names.

A 200 grain SWC and 5.0 grains of Bullseye is all you need. Anything else is just reinventing the wheel.

I've been loading a 185 grain Lee LSWC over 5.5gr. of HP38/WW231 since 1984! Not only accurate, but an extremely high penetration round. To simulate a car door I had a late 60's Kenmore refrigerator. Steel wall, 2 inches of cork insulation, another steel wall. The interior. Repeat. GI Ball would hit the far inside wall and stop. That hand load would through & through! It would enter at .452 diameter and exit the fourth wall of steel at .355+/-! 357MAG 158 gr JHP would not get total penetration!

Ivan

One of the nicest loads I ever used in bowling pin matches was the Lyman 238 grain Keith LSWC for the 45 Auto Rim. I used 6.0 grains of Unique and seated the bullet with the front of the driving band flush with the case mouth. Very, very accurate and never once malfunctioned in either 1911 I had at the time.

With Lyman #452460 - 200 gr. cast lead SWC (my bullet of choice)
try from 4.0 grs. to 4.5 grs. of Titegroup to find your pistols "sweet spot" .

Some other accurate Target Loads in the 45 acp / 200 gr. cast SWC you might want to try :
4.7 grains AA #2
4.5 grs. Bullseye

My favorite all around "pet" load is with 5.2 grs. Unique .

Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

Agreed. That load will get about 850-875 fps from a 5" 1911-type pistol. However, I've found, at least in my guns, all 200 grain cast SWC designs don't feed with 100% reliability in unmodified guns. The H&G #68 and copies of the #68 usually will feed reliably in anything and they are accurate.

With the powders you have with the 68 style H&G I target shoot with 4.7 of the HP38 and 4.5 of the Titegroup. An H&G flat base without a bevel is what I make. These are middle of the road loads. Before you load a lot make sure the bullet will drop free in your barrel and fit at least flush with the hood.

I have been loading the Lyman 452460 over 4.0 gns of BE for years. Very accurate in my Colt, Ruger and Philippine 1911s. Functions fine and, best of all, deposits the brass just a few feet from your right foot.

Can’t even guess how many thousand 200 gr swc’s I’ve loaded and shot with 231/HP38 behind them. Never a feeding issue in any of my 1911’s. They feed with no issues with ramped and unramped barrels. Accuracy is fine and easy recoil. This is my standard for fun and competition.

185’s are excellent too. Some say they’re more accurate but can’t verify. 230 RN, never been a fan. Flat nose cast, ok but like swc’s better.

Over the years, I have loaded over 25,000 rounds with mostly lead swc's and 231. 5.0 is a good place to start and you can go up somewhat. I load with the edge of the band sticking out a "bit" over the case. I had to have my Gold Cup polished and relieved a bit to shoot them 40 years ago. My Ruger and Commander shot them just fine first time I tried.

I have no idea how many 45 ACP cast 200 grain LSWC bullets I have launched over the decades. Back when I was in IPSC/USPSA shooting, this was my favorite bullet. Accurate, reliable in my pistols, and cuts a very clean hole in paper and cardboard targets. Bullseye and HP-38/W-231 are great powders for this style of bullet, at least in my experience.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

The load I used was an RCBS 45-201 LSWC over 5.0 grains of W231/HP38. Gave +/- 840 FPS out of a commander length barrel. It gave reliable cycling and good accuracy.

Yep, it is all about a fraction of a hair in COL. Just a teeny tiny bit can make the difference in feeding or not. Many say just a fingernail of the driving band which is pretty good estimate.
Any fast to medium powder will work.

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Still Running Against the Wind

My Glock 30 refused to feed 200-grain LSWCs under any circumstance, the only bullet it doesn't like. COL didn't make any difference.

For many years my primary load for all purposes (practice, sd, hunting, competition) in my 1911’s has been the 200 gr H&G SWC at about 1,000 fps powered with Unique or 231.

The gentleman that runs the Handloading list on groups.io and Yahoo described how the H&G LSWC mimics 230 gr ball. When seated to the "right depth" the H&G bullet touches the ramp and chamber in the same place as ball. He suggested comparing the location of the driving band and bullet nose with a loaded 230 gr ball cartridge.

While I've never made a dimensional comparison, eyeballing photos make this believable. In my experience, an LSWC with the driving band protruding 0.030" - 0.050" from the mouth will feed in all my 1911s.

Ya but it's a Glock.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I bought 230 grain LSWC bullets when I got my first .45, a CMP 1911. I then bought an M&P 2.0 .45. I used HP38 and they all fed and functioned fine. I switched to plated bullets but the lead worked fine.

I used to load 200 grain lead semi-wadcutters by the bucket full back when I was competing in USPSA matches. My favorite load was 5.4 grains of 452AA back when it was still available. I then switched to WST, but can't lay my hands on my old load data at the moment, so can't give you a load. Kind of irrelevant now anyway, since the power factor for major has been lowered to 165,000. Back when it was 175,000, I loaded for 183-184,000 to make sure I was never beaten by the chronograph!

The above 452 load is definitely in that range.

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Dave Brown
SWCA #3279