Had you not read into my posts you would see I never said bullseye will produce 1000fps. What I said was given my results it would take 7+grs to get to a 1000fps which BTW I already knew because I had consulted several reloading manuals as well as alliant's site. I used 1000fps to make a point. Based on 3 data points 971fps is realistic.
185gr JHP in 45ACP-1000fps impossible
- Thread starter Charlie 1
- Start date
Had you not read into my posts you would see I never said bullseye will produce 1000fps. What I said was given my results it would take 7+grs to get to a 1000fps which BTW I already knew because I had consulted several reloading manuals as well as alliant's site. I used 1000fps to make a point. Based on 3 data points 971fps is realistic.
JJEH
Member
BB better appreciates the free advertisement. Just kidding
I'm not getting paid to mention their name. If I'd had a $ every time.... oh well...
I'm not questioning re-loaders and their capabilities. I'm questioning myself and my abilities to produce a better product than BB. I'm satisfied with their products and don't know what to change and why.
Believe me, I thought about getting started but just didn't see the point. Guess the bug didn't bite. Yet. I don't know... maybe in the future.
Regarding their ballistics, they have everything posted on their website. If you have more questions feel free to email or call them. Tim and Suzie are great people to deal with.
I'm glad the OP found the help he was looking for. We've got a very good community here!
Something BB DOES have....
First off, I've NEVER bought BB or any 'boutique' ammo, but something they have that I don't is a laboratory with powder and pressure testing. With that and tight quality control I could push the edge of the SAAMI specs w/o worrying about powder variations and overly conservative safety factors that take into account things like guns made in Lower Slobbovia out of pot metal.
They also have access to powders that we don't.
But I don't have those things, but I do have a fair amount of reloading data and a notebook full of loads I've had experience with.
I'd weigh and measure a large sample of bullets.
and use new and consistent brass for my own 'boutique' loads.
One place I have freedom is that in the house I use .357 ammo that is between .38+P and lower end .357 to keep from blowing our ears out. I have confidence using those in closed quarters.
BB better appreciates the free advertisement. Just kidding
I'm not getting paid to mention their name. If I'd had a $ every time.... oh well...
I'm not questioning re-loaders and their capabilities. I'm questioning myself and my abilities to produce a better product than BB. I'm satisfied with their products and don't know what to change and why.
Believe me, I thought about getting started but just didn't see the point. Guess the bug didn't bite. Yet. I don't know... maybe in the future.
Regarding their ballistics, they have everything posted on their website. If you have more questions feel free to email or call them. Tim and Suzie are great people to deal with.
I'm glad the OP found the help he was looking for. We've got a very good community here!
First off, I've NEVER bought BB or any 'boutique' ammo, but something they have that I don't is a laboratory with powder and pressure testing. With that and tight quality control I could push the edge of the SAAMI specs w/o worrying about powder variations and overly conservative safety factors that take into account things like guns made in Lower Slobbovia out of pot metal.
They also have access to powders that we don't.
But I don't have those things, but I do have a fair amount of reloading data and a notebook full of loads I've had experience with.
I'd weigh and measure a large sample of bullets.
and use new and consistent brass for my own 'boutique' loads.
One place I have freedom is that in the house I use .357 ammo that is between .38+P and lower end .357 to keep from blowing our ears out. I have confidence using those in closed quarters.
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Bill Lear
Member
Bullseye is one of the fastest burning powders. It's generally not suitable for maximum velocity due to the sharper pressure curve, though it's perfectly fine when loading .45 Auto in the heavier bullet weights.
gwpercle
Member
Check out the data in Speer #8...WOW !
I purchased a brand new Ruger Blackhawk 357 magnum in 1971 along with the new Speer manual (1971 published) to reload with.
No internet, reloading sites or many ways to cross check load data. Being young I assumed Speer knew their stuff so used the data. Thank the Good Lord I was shooting those loads out of a heck-for-stout Blackhawk....it held up to some ... now questionable loads. That data got revised shortly thereafter , I still refer to it for cast bullet loads, but cross check it with other published data though.
Gary
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JJEH
Member
MichiganScott
Member
I always figured the reason to shoot a .45 is that an unexpanded bullet will still be .45 caliber. It seems to me that attempting to get a light weight bullet to expand is counterintuitive because it may or may not expand and certainly will not penetrate as deep if it does.
Rogeronimo
Member
Silhouette, Universal Clays, No. 5, Unique/Unequalled, N330, WST.
My 185 xtp's expand great at lower velocities. Ive tested them. The added bonus is Superb accuracy and controllability. Honestly worry more about proper poi/poa ACCURACY. Who cares what the velocity is if it's barking like a 44 magnum and throwing your hands sky high destroying your 2nd shot times. If it come out the barrel and you can put rapid accurate shots on target . Your done. Save the chrony for rifle loads.
BTW - Wst has proven to be the softest shooting most accurate 45 acp powder I've ever tested.
BTW - Wst has proven to be the softest shooting most accurate 45 acp powder I've ever tested.
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It seems to be very common for loaders to try to improve upon the .45 ACP as the US Army intended. Keep in mind that ball ammo at ~850 FPS stopped many Japanese suicide charges during MacArthur's Island Hopping Campaign. It worked well in Vietnam, too.
185 grain bullets are more target bullets than anything else. Get some Titegroup and see how tiny your groups are.
I load ALL .45 ACP rounds for paper punching. They're more fun to shoot, especially for kids. Believe me, my kid hand his friends can go through 500 rounds within a couple hours. Get kids together, and soon enough they'll compete for something, and with the .45 ACP, it's best groups.
For self-defense rounds, buy a box of 50 Federal 230 grain HST Tactical +P. One box should last you a lifetime.
Loading is a lot like hunting: you gotta match the right bullet for big game for which you have a tag, and you gotta match the right powder with bullet and your intended use.
You'll never go wrong with Unique or Power Pistol.
185 grain bullets are more target bullets than anything else. Get some Titegroup and see how tiny your groups are.
I load ALL .45 ACP rounds for paper punching. They're more fun to shoot, especially for kids. Believe me, my kid hand his friends can go through 500 rounds within a couple hours. Get kids together, and soon enough they'll compete for something, and with the .45 ACP, it's best groups.
For self-defense rounds, buy a box of 50 Federal 230 grain HST Tactical +P. One box should last you a lifetime.
Loading is a lot like hunting: you gotta match the right bullet for big game for which you have a tag, and you gotta match the right powder with bullet and your intended use.
You'll never go wrong with Unique or Power Pistol.
nachogrande
Member
VELOCITY FREAK MUCH?
1,ooo FPS is pretty close to top end for a 45acp, especially using BE powder. Assuming no mechanical issues with your gun/chrono & a 5" barrel, Hornady #8 manual lists starting BE @ 5.4 gr = 850 fps, & max load of 6.6 gr BE = 950 fps. WITHOUT KNOWING your gun & barrel length my first thought would be to look at more manuals that use your particular bbl length in their test gun, & try a different powder.
1,ooo FPS is pretty close to top end for a 45acp, especially using BE powder. Assuming no mechanical issues with your gun/chrono & a 5" barrel, Hornady #8 manual lists starting BE @ 5.4 gr = 850 fps, & max load of 6.6 gr BE = 950 fps. WITHOUT KNOWING your gun & barrel length my first thought would be to look at more manuals that use your particular bbl length in their test gun, & try a different powder.
Lyman's 50th Anniversary book lists several powders that will get 185 grain bullet into the mid 900's and four that will exceed 1000fps (plus one that hits 999). The fastest is 8 gr of WSF at 1,047fps, but that is a maximum load. They were able to get 976 out of 6 grains of Bullseye, also a maximum load. FWIW, their most accurate load reported was 5.8 gr of HP-38 at 960fps, which again is a maximum load.
Although I use several books, the Lyman is my favorite because outside of lead bullets, they use a wide variety of jacketed without being tied to the product like Speer, Nosler, Sierra and others are.
Although I use several books, the Lyman is my favorite because outside of lead bullets, they use a wide variety of jacketed without being tied to the product like Speer, Nosler, Sierra and others are.
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I have crooned that load.. From a Springfield 5 inch gun, it made 1150 fps. Haven't tried the new incarnation.. Dean
Charlie,
The Speer #14 manual has a load with their 185 Gold Dot HP and 6.4 grains for BE at 986 fps from a Sig 220. I have loaded their 200 gr hp with 5.7 gr of Bullseye and got 965 fps from a 5 inch Springfield.
Bullseye does not make hand grenades, bad loading practices does. That's why I bought an 8 pound container a while back. Dean
The Speer #14 manual has a load with their 185 Gold Dot HP and 6.4 grains for BE at 986 fps from a Sig 220. I have loaded their 200 gr hp with 5.7 gr of Bullseye and got 965 fps from a 5 inch Springfield.
Bullseye does not make hand grenades, bad loading practices does. That's why I bought an 8 pound container a while back. Dean
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scooter123
Member
I've chronographed a load featuring a 185 grain Gold Dot over 10.0 grains of Accurate #5 at 1050 fps from my 5 inch Ruger SR1911. I'll also note that it feels a lot like shooting a 180 grain Winchester Ranger T in 40 caliber which also cruises along at 1050 fps. In other words it's a bit "snappy" but is easily controlled in an all steel 1911.
fredj338
Member
Nothing to do with bullet weight but pressures & vel. Generally, heavier bullets will work better with slower powder.
fredj338
Member
Sorry, I can buy the data reiresented that a slower powder hits max pressure before a faster powder, never seen it in dozen diff calibers. Hp38 is w231, so not sure what that is all about. Then again, lyman does not use guns to test their loads.
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Bill Lear
Member
Impossible in general, or just with a Bullseye load?
I chrono'd a load with AA-7, CCI 300, and Xtreme plated 185 gr. TC from a 5" RIA Tactical at 1,057 fps/459 fpe average.
The same load from my Colt Defender 3" barrel averaged 971 fps/387 fpe.
So basically, 1,000 fps is easy with a 185 grain.
Accurate load data starts at 11.7 up to 13 grains. I used the more conservative Lyman manual starting load data.
I chrono'd a load with AA-7, CCI 300, and Xtreme plated 185 gr. TC from a 5" RIA Tactical at 1,057 fps/459 fpe average.
The same load from my Colt Defender 3" barrel averaged 971 fps/387 fpe.
So basically, 1,000 fps is easy with a 185 grain.
Accurate load data starts at 11.7 up to 13 grains. I used the more conservative Lyman manual starting load data.
