boatbum101
Member
In 45acp a jacketed bullet will be the most accurate . Jacketed bullets of good quality will be extremely uniform in weight , which means they'll all fly the same . They're expensive & unless you're a military team member or well heeled , most shooters reserve them for slow fire @ 50yds .
Next up will be swaged lead . Again they're extremely uniform , shoulder are sharp & bases filled out also no voids . They will consistently outshoot commercial cast bullets for ever . Bullseye is about accuracy , has no power factor to be met & at 50yds bad loads are quickly sorted out .
Cast bullets can also be accurate if carefully cast . A nose pour mold will assure that bases are consistant , shoulders sharp & bullet weight will be uniform . Commercially cast are generally too hard , have bevel bases & lube used leaves much to be desired . A flat base will generally outshoot a bevel base , but requires careful loading technique .
The following loads are accurate & have been tested @ 50yds to be consistently so . By tested I mean literally thousands have been shot from match accurized 1911's in machine rests @ 50yds . Just because a load will perform @ a shorter distance does NOT guarantee it'll perform @ 50yds . Believe me 50yds separates the wheat from the chaff rapidly .
All loads were shot from 1911 wadguns built by Clark , David Sams , Dave Santurri , Dave Salyer , Ed Masaki & Bob Marvel . All were tested in a Ransom Rest . Range was 50yds . Majority of the barrels in these are Kart Super Match . Mixed cases , WLP or CCI primers , Star or Zero 200gr swaged lead bullets , taper crimped .469 @ case mouth .
3.8 to 4.2grs Bullseye
3.6 to 4.0 VV N310
4.6 to 5.0 W231
4.0 to 4.4grs WST
4.0 to 4.3grs Titegroup
3.8 to 4.2 Clays
4.0 to 4.2grs Solo 1000
4.0 to 4.2 AA #2
3.6 to 4.0 Nitro 100
3.8 to 4.1grs 700X
All were capable of excellent 50yd accuracy . Guns like people often have distinct preferences . Testing is the only way to determine what powder / bullet combination shoots best in a particular gun . Rules of thumb are : 1) Swaged bullets on the average will outshoot cast . 2) Velocity envelope for best accuracy was between 720 to 800fps . 3) Bullets similar in shape to the H&G 68 generally shot better than the shorter nosed type like the H&G 130 . 4) Flat or plain base bullets on the average out shot bevel based . 5) Plated bullets are only fit for casual plinking . H&G 78 shot better in revolvers . RCBS 201gr cast shot as good & better in some guns than the H&G 68 . 6) Faster powders shot better than slower in these type loads . 7) Mixed cases shot as well as same headstamp / make cases with lead target loads . 8) Fed 100 primers on the average shot better in revolvers & you had to increase powder charges also 9) Swaged lead generally shot better with lower charges , whereas cast shot better with loads on the higher end . I figured I'd share these in the spirit that it might save other shooters some time , money &/or aggravation . These test were conducted with Neil Kravitz of NSK Sales . He's a commercial loader catering to the match pistol crowd . If you don't reload Neil sells loaded ammo ( either new brass or used ) , bullets & a host of other ammo related items . I'll be posting other load info on testing done with jacketed & 38 special loads too .
Next up will be swaged lead . Again they're extremely uniform , shoulder are sharp & bases filled out also no voids . They will consistently outshoot commercial cast bullets for ever . Bullseye is about accuracy , has no power factor to be met & at 50yds bad loads are quickly sorted out .
Cast bullets can also be accurate if carefully cast . A nose pour mold will assure that bases are consistant , shoulders sharp & bullet weight will be uniform . Commercially cast are generally too hard , have bevel bases & lube used leaves much to be desired . A flat base will generally outshoot a bevel base , but requires careful loading technique .
The following loads are accurate & have been tested @ 50yds to be consistently so . By tested I mean literally thousands have been shot from match accurized 1911's in machine rests @ 50yds . Just because a load will perform @ a shorter distance does NOT guarantee it'll perform @ 50yds . Believe me 50yds separates the wheat from the chaff rapidly .
All loads were shot from 1911 wadguns built by Clark , David Sams , Dave Santurri , Dave Salyer , Ed Masaki & Bob Marvel . All were tested in a Ransom Rest . Range was 50yds . Majority of the barrels in these are Kart Super Match . Mixed cases , WLP or CCI primers , Star or Zero 200gr swaged lead bullets , taper crimped .469 @ case mouth .
3.8 to 4.2grs Bullseye
3.6 to 4.0 VV N310
4.6 to 5.0 W231
4.0 to 4.4grs WST
4.0 to 4.3grs Titegroup
3.8 to 4.2 Clays
4.0 to 4.2grs Solo 1000
4.0 to 4.2 AA #2
3.6 to 4.0 Nitro 100
3.8 to 4.1grs 700X
All were capable of excellent 50yd accuracy . Guns like people often have distinct preferences . Testing is the only way to determine what powder / bullet combination shoots best in a particular gun . Rules of thumb are : 1) Swaged bullets on the average will outshoot cast . 2) Velocity envelope for best accuracy was between 720 to 800fps . 3) Bullets similar in shape to the H&G 68 generally shot better than the shorter nosed type like the H&G 130 . 4) Flat or plain base bullets on the average out shot bevel based . 5) Plated bullets are only fit for casual plinking . H&G 78 shot better in revolvers . RCBS 201gr cast shot as good & better in some guns than the H&G 68 . 6) Faster powders shot better than slower in these type loads . 7) Mixed cases shot as well as same headstamp / make cases with lead target loads . 8) Fed 100 primers on the average shot better in revolvers & you had to increase powder charges also 9) Swaged lead generally shot better with lower charges , whereas cast shot better with loads on the higher end . I figured I'd share these in the spirit that it might save other shooters some time , money &/or aggravation . These test were conducted with Neil Kravitz of NSK Sales . He's a commercial loader catering to the match pistol crowd . If you don't reload Neil sells loaded ammo ( either new brass or used ) , bullets & a host of other ammo related items . I'll be posting other load info on testing done with jacketed & 38 special loads too .
Last edited: