45 ACP original loads

Thanks AA.

I chronographed the range ammo that our local shop sells, Fiochhi. Their 230gr FMJ ammo is right at that 780fps mark too. That was why we chose the 4.7gr load for the plated 230gr bullet. Something to duplicated the range ammo that everyone in our group shot in our "league" that didn't reload. We weren't trying to develop the "weeniest" or rounds that would cycle our guns, we were trying to keep folks interested enough to return.

If I spanked someone on the line, I didn't want them to think I did it with cream puff loads. Now, there were others that were only to happy to use 200gr LSWC bullets at 600fps to compete. Only problem was, I still beat them too! ;)

The 45ACP is one of the "funnest" rounds to reload and cast for of them all. Lots of choices of both powders and projectiles!
 
smith crazy said:
The original 45 load was a 200gr @ 900fps. That was for the 1905 pistol. Then for the 45ACP load for the 1911 pistol, it went to a 230gr @ 850fps.

In days of old, there was only one load for the 45ACP with a 230gr FMJ bullet and it incorporated Bullseye powder. 5.0gr was the standard for years and years. I noticed on the Alliant website that their data now goes to 5.7gr of Bullseye for a maximum charge.

I can tell you this, most ammo today that is considered "range" fodder, is only about 780fps from a 5" barrel. My load that duplicates that is 4.7gr of Bullseye under a 230gr Plated Round Nose bullet.

Hope this helps!

Here are some bullets I cast for the 45ACP now. These are from an original H&G #68 mould.
PHOT0016.jpg


Here is the cast bullet that I cast to duplicate the original ammo. It is from a Saeco #496BB.

100_2685.jpg


Both are economical to shoot and cast easily.

When shooting indoors, I use a plated bullet. Either Ranier or Berry.
Click to expand...

This! Original was a 200gr at 900fps, later changed to a 230gr at 850-860fps. Full metal jacket (base jacketed) bullet. Everything else is a pretender. Me? I run Federal 230gr HST's for serious use.
 
FMJ bullets are a little more accurate for me than plated, but plated are fine for casual range use. I use the 5.0gr Bullseye charge for both bullets. I tested various loads a while back for 100 yard accuracy and Bullseye won, with Unique a close second and W231 third.
 
While I was in Vietnam (US Army, Oct '69-May'71) I came across a spec sheet for military ball. It listed the velocity of the 230g FMJ as 830 fps, +- 15 fps, which make anything from 815 fps to 845 fps with milspec.

Despite numerous loading manuals recommending from 5.2g to 5.7g of 231 for about 850 fps my chronograph tests say those loads don't break 800 fps with a 230g bullet. I am currently loading 6g of 231 behind Berry's 230g RN for an average of 834 fps from a 5" Government Model Colt. My 5" 625-2 gives the same performance, within ~5 fps.

Dave
 
I see several Bullseye and WW231 loads here, but not any Unique loads.

Who's loading Unique? with 230gr FMJ and 180gr LSWC.
 
OAL for cast SWC bullets

Lyman makes 2 molds for 200 grain 45 cast swc. Lyman #452630 or H&G #68 uses an oal = 1.250" [long nose load].

The short nose Lyman #452460 lists an oal = 1.165" . Using the wrong over all length can cause a lot of jamming frustration at the range and other possible problems.

My old Colt Series 70 Gold Cup (I'm the fourth owner) shoots anything that fits in the mag. A couple of newer, match built guns only like mold #452630.

I don't like bevel base bullets because of the sizing/lube mess. My mold, #452630, has about 0.030" machined off the face to remove the bevel base feature. Resulting bullet weight is 185 to 187 grains. Oh so sweet!:D
 
I get ave. 850-860 with 5.4 Bullseye under Hornady's 530 grn FMJ-FP out of my Lightweight Government 5in.
 
230 gr. at 825-875 is the generaly accepted norm for old .45. my old grease gun only works with 230 gr. ball. they were designed to operate only with this fmj. good luck, and love the .45. its an American icon.
 
Revolver-time said:
Thank you all very much. The more I shoot the more I find myself letting the under 40 cal stuff just sit at home. I always have at least one 1911 with me at the range. I guess I just need to go buy another 1000 FMJs to load up. For some reason I don't have as much luck in the accuracy department with the plated bullets.
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The manufacturers tell us to use cast lead data loading the plateds. They're soft lead with a thin plating.

I've found with Berry's 230gr RN plated the accuracy drops off noticably at about 4.6gr of Bullseye.
My go-to load with those is 4.2gr.
 
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Hey SmithCrazy,
How do you like that PT1911? I have one with I bet close to 10K rounds. I put in a wide spur hammer, GI loop MSH, GI thumb safety, GI grips and I shoot it every week. Also, I took out the 80 series stuff and put in a spacer plate. I shoot that pistol more than anything I have and it has NEVER failed me. Many poo-poo the Taurus but I think it is great!
 
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Revolver-time said:
Many poo-poo the Taurus but I think it is great!
Click to expand...

For all the poo pooing that goes on I can't say I recall seeing a PT1911 in the consignment cases I frequent.

If I ever spotted one with a finish like my '82 revolver I don't think I'd stand a chance. ;)
 
Revolver-time said:
Hey SmithCrazy,
How do you like that PT1911? I have one with I bet close to 10K rounds. I put in a wide spur hammer, GI loop MSH, GI thumb safety, GI grips and I shoot it every week. Also, I took out the 80 series stuff and put in a spacer plate. I shoot that pistol more than anything I have and it has NEVER failed me. Many poo-poo the Taurus but I think it is great!
Click to expand...

I really like mine. In fact, I shot competition with mine and that thing is a tack driver.

Never failed me either. Chambers everything, shoots everything!

Now, a Taurus revolver, that is a different story. Their PT1911, top of the line. I even had a PT99, that is their Beretta 92, 9mm with adjustable sights.
It was pretty good until someone dropped the slide on an empty chamber, had extraction problems after that.
 
Revolver-time said:
Hey SmithCrazy,
How do you like that PT1911? I have one with I bet close to 10K rounds. I put in a wide spur hammer, GI loop MSH, GI thumb safety, GI grips and I shoot it every week. Also, I took out the 80 series stuff and put in a spacer plate. I shoot that pistol more than anything I have and it has NEVER failed me. Many poo-poo the Taurus but I think it is great!
Click to expand...

Kinda like what the Dillon Crowd around here says about Lee;)
 
You might give Montana Gold projectiles a try....they shoot VERY well in all of my guns.
Randy
 
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