Looking for some plinkers for a 1911 and a 625 for plinkers. Thinking a 200 grain RN, RNFP or SWC cast bullet would be about right. I have Titegroup, CFE Pistol, 231, Bullseye, Unique and a few others that would probably work. What are some of your favorites?

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Todd

All I've ever used were 200g SWC wheelWeights and 231. Well, looking in my book it appears I was using 5.5 grains of 231 which according to the Speer #10 book I wrote it in is a half a grain too much, so don't do that. I have shot a pile of those. M.ainly in a 1911 but also a Springfield XDs, probably a few in my G21 too. They always worked well. I would also a very mild roll crimp, contrary to normal practice.

Here’s some of mine:

200gr Berry’s/Acme SWC
5.1gr HP-38, 1.223” COAL, Win LP

5” 1911 Berry’s: 840fps
2.5” 325NG Acme: 816fps


250gr Acme RNFP
6.6gr Silhouette, 1.20” COAL, Win LP

5” 1911: 845fps


255gr SWC
4.7gr Herco, 1.17” COAL, Win LP

5” 1911: 795fps
4” 625-8: 730fps

The NRA has published some load info that should fill your needs.

American Rifleman June 1993, pgs. 44-45

Loads to simulate Hardball recoil and energy 850 +/- 30 FPS vel
200-220 WC lead (such as Lyman 452460) OAL 1.16"
4.6-5.0 gr BE, Red or Green Dot, 700X
6.0-6.5 gr Unique
5.5-6.0 gr WW231

The above loads can also be used with a 230 gr FMJ bullet to get 850 FPS
+/- 30 with overall length of 1.25"

American Rifleman January 1987, pg. 66

Loads to Duplicate Military Ball Ammo
230 gr FMJ
4.6 gr BE
5.6 gr WW231
6.5 gr Unique

I ♥♥♥ 200 gr lead SWC with 3.8gr Bullseye.

Accurate, pleasant to shoot, cycles the gun just fine.

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I've still got it made.

My Shield likes 200g hand poured, sized .452 LSWC, and 5.3g 231, std primer.

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"Don't Give Up the Ship"

My favorite loads? I like a lead SWC at 900 fps.

Another of my favorites, a Nosler 185 JHP at 1100 fps. Very accurate.
200 XTP at 1000 fps.

I don’t a whole lot of those fast jacketed loads, but I’ve always have a couple hundred on hand. Shooting the occasional liquid filled container is always fun. Hydrostatic pressure is a wonderful thing. lol Plus I’m well prepared for the Zombie apocalypse.

In one of my old Lyman reloading manuals, a 230 grain full metal jacket bullet atop 6.5 grains of Unique powder is listed as a "factory duplication load". It is around 877 fps according to the manual.

This functions flawlessly in my Springfield Professional Model.

HTH

JPJ

I am responding merely to find information about the 200 grain bullet and loads.

I currently use a 235 grain full wadcutter (SAECO 453) over a hardball dose of powder for my everyday load.

I have been testing 255-260 grain bullets but never really thought of going lighter.

Does the 200 grain SWC give decent penetration?

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

My long time favorite (loaded-my-30-000th-round-45-today) is the 200 gr swc and 5.0 of 231.

200 grain swc over 4.0 grains red dot

A fun plinking load and quite accurate is 230gr bullet & 3.2gr Bullseye. Very Light Recoil and cycles fine.
Serious shooting 185 Zero JHP or 200 Lead SWC over 3.9gr Bullseye or 4.2gr N310.

200 grain SWC over 4.2 grains of Bullseye or 4.0 Red Dot/Promo.

6 grs. Unique, 200 gr. SWC, 841 FPS, S&W M1917. Larry

Not 200 grain but a nice target load for 230 grain.

45 ACP Load Gun Springfield XD Mod 2
230 grain Delta Precision RN FMJ 3.3 inch Barrel
5.5 Grain W231
Fed SPP
COL 1.165
Mixed brass
MV 731 - 688 - 731-725.2 - 681.2 - 708.4 Ave 711 Max spread 50.4

This I did as a comparison of my load to Freedom Munitions reman. ammo
45 ACP Load Freedom Munitions 230 FMJ Gun Springfield XD Mod
3.3 inch Barrel
MV 689.4 - 712.3 - 726.2 - 744.5 Ave 718 Max spread 55.1

Here's Load data from Hodgens, as you can see this load is over Max.

Hodgens Load Data Start load 4.2 w231 MV 751
Max Load 5.3 w231 MV 832
Col 1.20 5 inch Barrel
Disclaimer not responsible for use of this load.
Not responsible for Idiot's reloading, shooting or crossing the street.

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Carry on....

I use Bullseye in all of my plinker loads, if only because I have 8 pounds of it.
4 grains behind a Lee 225 gr RN tumble lubed, does well in both my 1917 and Tisas 1911. It is a little dirty though.

John

Easy - 6.5 grains Longshot behind any 230 jacket bullet. Max is 6.8 (don't need max), minimum is 6.0 (it's a little inconsistent).

Berry 200 gr SWC or THP, 5.8 gr 231. You can seat a 230 GR JHP over the same load and get 850 f/s. Maybe a tad less with the FMJ.

BE86 under the same JHP= 6.4/825 f/s, 6.6/845, 6.8/870-880.

200 grain SWC - cast lead Lyman 452460

4.5 grs. W231 / HP38 @ 808 fps
4.5 grs. Bullseye @ 830 fps
4.7 grs. AA #2 @ 830 fps
4.0 grs. TiteGroup @ 860 fps
4.2 grs. Red Dot @ 795 fps
4.0 grs. 700X @ 824 fps

These are my target loads with 200 gr LSWC that have proven accurate .
AMT Hardballer - 5 inch barrel , Colt 1911 , Star model PS , Colt Gold Cup and Taurus model 455 revolver .
Load Safe,
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

185 grain cast SWC with 3.5 grains of Bullseye. Have been shooting this load for over 30 years. Good for Bullseye competition, IPSC and just plinking.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

My favorite for my 1911 is 3.7 grains of Bullseye and a 185 grain Bayou SWC with a .464-.465 taper crimp. If Bullseye is not available I use 3.9 grains of HP-38

200 gun. LSWC coated.
3.8 grn N310
Meters great, accurate

5grs bullseye under a 205 gr rnft bearcreek moly bullets close to 900fps.alsoworks well with 230 gr slugs.

For Bullseye shooting I use 3.6 BE with Lyman 452460 in a Goldcup.
For plinking and walking through a pasture, same bullet with 4.0 BE in a Ruger SR1911.

It's actually pretty hard not to find an accurate load for the 45acp. Best thing to do is stick with 1 weight (+/- 200gr or +/- 230gr) and dial a load in. Then start switching bullets using that same load. It may take several tries, but you'll find a load that does extremely well with several different bullets.

I've cast a lot of different bullets/different molds for the 45acp over the decades. Ended up thinning the herd and kept these 3 molds.


That bullet on the far right is the cramer version of the 200gr swc. It a hollow based mold that produces an extremely soft shooting swc hb bullet that was initally designed to expand/fill the oversized chambers of the 1917 revolvers. The cramer 5f swc hb mold


Those 3 different bullets loaded up and ready to go.


No hand/cherry picked target by any means. Using those 3 bullets pictured above testing 4.0gr and 4.3gr loads of clays.


These are only 5-shot groups @ 50ft but all 3 bullets grouped under 1" (1" squares on the targets).


A 10-shot group @ 50ft, was testing bullseye powder loads that day (3,6gr/3.7gr/3.8gr/3.9gr/4.0gr) using a cast h&g #68 clone.


I like the springfield armory range officer 1911's. I have 1 chambered in 45acp and 1 chambered in 9mm. They are both box stock with burris fast fire III's installed.


And yes the 9mm ro holds it's own also. 10-shot group @ 50ft with it's favorite load. A 125gr fn hp doing 1100fps.

No idea Kevin. I have used the Lyman 452460 as my only 45 acp mold for the last 20+ years but never ran a penetration comparison test. Anybody else?

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Front sight and squeeze

For the last 40+ years ... No gel test ...
but it penetrates Tin cans and paper targets ...
through and through .

I would cast them on the soft side and with a max load of Unique
Wouldn't be afraid to hunt Louisiana hogs and maybe deer at 50 yards or so ... The 45 acp was never meant to be a Hunting gun but when the chips are down a 200 gr. 45 cal. slug at 950 - 1000 fps will get the job done if the game isn't huge and the distance reasonable .
Gary

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Certified Cajun
NRA Member

My two usual .45ACP loads for the past 25 years or so:

1. Cast 230 TC-FP with 4.5 Bullseye.
2. Cast 200 SWC with 4.8 Bullseye.

Neither is a heavy load. Both have functioned in all of my pistols from 3.5" S&W 4516-1 to 5" Kimber Custom CDP, as well as USGI M1911A-1 pistols.

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