.45 ACP major power factor with Win 231

Malpasowildlifer

Malpasowildlifer

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Still relatively new to reloading.

Any advice on where to start to come up with a .45 ACP load with Winchester 231 to make major power factor? Bullet is the old Rainier 230 grain plated Hex hollow point.

The Hodgdon website listed 4.3 to 5.3.

Is there a stand-by/go to load that makes it?
 
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What is major these days? I haven’t kept up with that for quite some time. When I did, most guys were shooting 205 grain LSWCs at around 850 FPS - eons ago. Now I gather things have changed. I’ll be interested to see what makes the grade presently.
 
It's been quite a few years since I shot a 1911 in .45 ACP in an IPSC match, I think the last go-around was in 2004. I was using a 200 grain H&G style LSWC and the load was 5.8 grains of 231.

I remember at the time that the required PF for Major was 170 and I was told I was nicely "in" but I don't remember the details. I was up visiting from Mexico and using a borrowed gun, borrowed ammo, borrowed gunbag and a borrowed shooting cap.

Things have probably changed, and I was shooting under IPSC/Canada rules in an IPSC/Manitoba match at the time.
 
W-231 in 45 ACP to make major power factor in USPSA was done when major power was 175, today it's only 165 power factor. I stopped shooting matches before the drop in power factor, so I do not have any specific loads for the lowered major power factor.
 
First, you need to pick a bullet. Major PF is 165 minimum.
For my Lee mold, 200 grain cast .45, I use 4.8gr WIN231.
For 230 gr HDY FMJ, I use 4.2gr WIN231 (HP38). My 5" S&W likes this one.
 
Last edited:
You need to chrono whatever recipe your decide or start with. Need the FPS and bullet weight to determine PF. So to answer you, load several and chrono them. Can't be determined by powder type/weight only.

My load for 45acp with 200g swc is 172. 7 above 165 for any atmospheric conditions (elevation etc) changes. Some level II uspsa events have a chrono stage and your ammo will be verified by taking them taking a cartridge apart, weighing bullet, and chrono 3 rounds for FPS to determine PF. 7 points up gives me some confidence lol. Last thing you want is to be shooting a 45 and get stuck with min PF.

PF=W∗V/1000

Variables:

PF is the Power Factor ((gr-fps))
W is the bullet weight (grains)
V is the velocity (fps)
 
More power to you if you can reach those numbers with w231 powder
in the 45.

In my 9mm 3.5 to 5" pistols, w231 could not meet a 115 or 124 Gold Dot +P loading.
Bullseye power, even had higher fps over the chrony, in my pistols.

A great powder but not my choice for, Maximum fps loads.
 
Malpasowildlifer said:
Still relatively new to reloading.

Any advice on where to start to come up with a .45 ACP load with Winchester 231 to make major power factor? Bullet is the old Rainier 230 grain plated Hex hollow point.

The Hodgdon website listed 4.3 to 5.3.

Is there a stand-by/go to load that makes it?
Click to expand...

Way back when IPSC started (before USPSA), a standard load in a 5" 1911 was 5.4 grains of 231 under a 230-grain RNL. The power factor back then was 175, so you had to hit at least 761 fps. Chronographs were rare, bulky, and expensive back then, so there's really no telling how close that was.

Current power factor is 165, which requires 718 fps with a 230-grain bullet. How much 231 it'll take to get to that velocity depends on your gun and the lot of powder. I'd start at 5.0 grains and expect to increase the charge.

The only way you'll know the velocity is with a chronograph. Now they're common, small, and fairly cheap (~$120). If you don't have one and don't want to buy one, you'll need to borrow one. The velocities you see in loading manuals are kinda-sorta-maybe in the ballpark...a really big ballpark.
 
H Richard said:
You also want to consider the temperature. 231 is temp sensitive. If you are shooting winter months it might make the power factor it did in the summer. Load it up a little on the higher side to be sure. You really need a friend with a Chronograph.
Click to expand...

I've never found 231 to be temp sensitive. However, I did get DQ'ed at the Bianchi Cup one year when I found by accident that WW 452 is inversely temperature sensitive. The higher the temp, the slower my velocities got. :mad:
 
heres a load with W231

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

MV of 711 gives a PF of 163 from my gun.

Heres what the chrono gave me with Freedom munitions, just to compare.
45 ACP Load Freedom Munitions 230 FMJ Gun Springfield XD Mod II
3.3 inch Barrel
MV 689.4 - 712.3 - 726.2 - 744.5 Ave 718 Max spread 55.1
Hodgens Load Data Start load 4.2 w231 MV 751 Max Load 5.3 w231 MV 832
Col 1.20 5 inch Barrel
 
My load was also using a 200 grain H&G style LSWC and the load was 5.8 grains of 231. Never had a problem making major even in a Commander length.
 
Don't know anything about this, but I gather that for these matches you have to have a minimum velocity so you can't use powder puff loads? Is that a correct assumption? First time I have heard the term. I don't shoot competitively.
 
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