I have been using 230 gr. Remington Golden Sabre bullets in my .45 ACP with 6.5 grs. of Unique with no problems. Speer #13 manual lists 230 gr. Speer God Dots at a max of 6.0 grs. Unique. I can't find any reloading info for Golden Sabre Bullets. Should I be backing off? Anybody using Golden Sabres and Unique?

I have a few boxes of Golden Saber Bullets. 230 gr and 185 gr.

I use the factory loads for SD ammo.

Never have seen load data for the specific Golden Saber Bullet, the closest I think is the Gold Dot. Closer than the XTP I think. So I use the Gold Dot recommendations.

Alliant only lists 6.0 grs. for the GD but list 6.5 for a 230 gr FMJ

Don't think the .5 gr is going to make a difference one way or the other.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I use 6.5grs of Unique for all of my .45ACP reloads. This for the past 30 years. For me, it is the right load.

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DEM

Depends on the COL, 1.25 should be safe. Any less of a COL and it would be over pressure.

Yes , COL is very important but where did you get 1.25?

If there is no specific data for the Rem GS bullet who knows what the OAL is? For the Speer GD they tested it at 1.20.

I measured some factory loads and use that as a OAL but of course I do not know what actual powder Remington uses.

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Still Running Against the Wind

My loads are all set at 1.25" or longer because that is what works in all of my firearms. From the PT1911 to the Glock 21 or the M625JM, for standard loads, that is the length. Now, when I make crazy LSWC loads for the M625JM the length may vary because of bullet profile.

As for changing your load, I guess I have to ask: Why? Everything seems to be working just fine. Accuracy is there (?), no signs of pressure, the cases fall to your right and slightly behind you (?), when you look at the parts inside the gun they look fine (?).

I mean, why would you change something that is working? Because a manual changed? Really? Only if I was having some kind of problem would I even think about it.

Skip,

I gotta laugh! Yeah, why change? I use 6.5 Grs. Unique for all of my 230 gr. .45 ACP loads. I have been using 6.5 grs of Unique for years. They are all accurate. I was shooting a 1948 Colt 1911 that I was double checking for reliability. All of the cases were sort of falling to the rear and to the right except the 2 that hit me in the forehead.

I was shooting my handloads and some factory Winchester. The recoil from the Winchester was noticeably lighter. Probably due to a different powder. Both shot to the same point of aim.

When I got home I checked the manual and noticed 6.0 grs. max for the Speer Gold Dot.

It seems that most of the loads in the Speer manual have been reduced for all the handgun calibers that I load. Is this because of liability or the use of smaller and lighter handguns?

So I just sort of wondered if I was missing something.


Thanks for the input guys.

The OAL for the 230 Rem GS is 1.20, I wouldn't use 6.5 grains Unique with it.

Where did you obtain the OAL number from? If it is a measurement of a factory load, what powder was used in it????????

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Still Running Against the Wind

I actually can't remember where but I did much research before finding it.

As for factory powder I don't know. I get great results using Power Pistol.

A load that I found that will closely duplicate the Remington factory load is:

Remington +P brass
Remington 2 1/2 primer
1.238 COAL
6.4 grains of Unique
880 fps MV - 5 1/2" barrel

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Doug

I ran some Remington GS 230 gr on top of 6.3grs of Unique in mixed cases lit by a Remingotn 2 1/2 large pistol primer over the chrono and the average velocity was 863 fps from a Government model 1911. OAL was set using a factory round.

Factory 230gr GS .45 acp ballistics is listed at 875 fps MV from a 5" barrel so 6.5grs +/- of Unique should get you there if your goal is to duplicate factory.

My manual says the hollow point makes the bullet longer, so you must seat it deaper, probably raising pressure. I too also like 6.5 unique,not for the girls!

I have been testing a 5" 1911, and a 3" Colt Defender with 230gr GS over 6.3gr of Unique at an OAL of 1.236-1.240 with good feeding and shooting results so far. I am still testing, but so far I am impressed. I can see the value of kicking up the load to 6.5gr to duplicate factory as the purpose of my testing is to serve as a test bed for the factory load I will carry if this works out. Yes I will test the lot of factory ammo I carry before giving it my blessing.

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Join the NRA

If you have both bullets, can't you measure the bullet lengths and seat each to the same internal depth, measure COL and work from there?
FWIW, Hornady 3rd Edition lists 4.8g to 7.3g Unique w/ the 230g FMJ #4518 (OAL:1.200").
Lyman 47 lists 4.1g to 6.7g Unique w/ the Speer 225 JHP #4479 (OAL:1.243") and 5.0g to 6.8g Unique w/ the Remington 230g JMC #B22892 (1.275")