45 ACP match ammo recipe assistance?
- Thread starter lrrifleman
- Start date
Decades ago when I switched from Unique to 231 I settled on 5.5 grains behind the H&G #68 SWC lit off by Winchester primers.
I originally used CCI exclusively, but switched to Winchester during a dry spell in the CCIs a couple of decades back
I originally used CCI exclusively, but switched to Winchester during a dry spell in the CCIs a couple of decades back
fredj338
Member
Powder choce is way down the line for accuracy in most calibers. Your w231 load is too low for optimal burn rate. If you want softer shootng 45acp, go to a faster powder. I like wst over powders like BE or TG but other faster powders work fine.
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tndrfttom
Member
I shot Bullseye for about 30 years til urban encroachment closed the two nearest ranges. When I started I listened to what the old-timers recommended. For 25 yards it was the 185 grain Hensley & Gibbs 130 wadcutter with 3.7 grains of Bullseye. For 50 yards the 200 grain H&G 68 semi-wadcutter with 4.0 grains of Bullseye. I believe the 200 grain H&G 68 bullet is the best all-around combination if you only load one Bullseye target load but I told myself that the lighter bullet gave me better shot to shot recovery in the timed and rapid fire stages. I've also tried 231 and Unique with good results but tend to revert back to Bullseye for most of my target loads.
As with anything in reloading - your results may vary so use caution working up your handloads.
As with anything in reloading - your results may vary so use caution working up your handloads.
My favorite 45 ACP load uses 4.0 Bullseye with a 200 grain SWC. My lyman manual has 2 different 200 grn bullets. The starting load for Bullseye is 3.5 for on and 4.9 for the other... 4.0 is a light load but it has worked well in various 1911's even with stock springs and my Glock 34.
FWIW shooting a handgun at 25 yards takes a lot of practice. Shooting at 50 yards takes tons of practice. If I visit the range 2 or 3 times a month and practice at 25 yards every-time I can get groups in the 1 to 2 inch range after a couple of months. At 50 yards i can get a 4 inch group but need to use a scope. At 100 yards I'm happy to hit a 12 inch gong a majority of the time with iron sights. These all assume I'm having a good day, using an accurate gun and using accurate handloaded ammo for that gun. After a long winter of minimal shooting group sizes often double.
FWIW shooting a handgun at 25 yards takes a lot of practice. Shooting at 50 yards takes tons of practice. If I visit the range 2 or 3 times a month and practice at 25 yards every-time I can get groups in the 1 to 2 inch range after a couple of months. At 50 yards i can get a 4 inch group but need to use a scope. At 100 yards I'm happy to hit a 12 inch gong a majority of the time with iron sights. These all assume I'm having a good day, using an accurate gun and using accurate handloaded ammo for that gun. After a long winter of minimal shooting group sizes often double.
Never got to shoot matches with the Government Model M1911, just fix them, when I was in the Navy.
Ammo was the standard Ball 230gr FML, that would fall between 760 to 850fps , in the old war horses that we had.
Just had to put up with the standard 16 pound spring unless it got old with use and got down to 14 pounds.
We knew, if the ejected cases landing at three feet or six feet from the shooter, when the springs needed to be retired.
Back then, only time at the range was the only way to improve scores.
Today with the Variable style springs and custom parts at your use and tight bushings, a ACP can cut its groups in half, without even reloading with different powders and components.
The 45 ACP has come a long way, from when I had the pleasure of having them laying on the work bench, in front of me.
No matter what load you come up with to shoot your matches with.....
Just know that you are a winner, just having that fabulous weapon, to enjoy.
Stay Safe.
Ammo was the standard Ball 230gr FML, that would fall between 760 to 850fps , in the old war horses that we had.
Just had to put up with the standard 16 pound spring unless it got old with use and got down to 14 pounds.
We knew, if the ejected cases landing at three feet or six feet from the shooter, when the springs needed to be retired.
Back then, only time at the range was the only way to improve scores.
Today with the Variable style springs and custom parts at your use and tight bushings, a ACP can cut its groups in half, without even reloading with different powders and components.
The 45 ACP has come a long way, from when I had the pleasure of having them laying on the work bench, in front of me.
No matter what load you come up with to shoot your matches with.....
Just know that you are a winner, just having that fabulous weapon, to enjoy.
Stay Safe.
OP
I am currently using a 14# Wolfe that is a hair over a year old and has seen about 800 rounds.
oysterer
Member
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I tried a variety of loads including BE and various others.
My 220 SSE makes one big hole at 25 yards with 200gr. Blue Bullet SWC and 5.0 gr. W231, Cci 300s. My Baser likes those too. I went to that from 4.7 gr. Bullsye 230 Gr. Sierra RN. The BB 200 SWC and W231 is a better recipe. So accurate and easy on the guns.
My 220 SSE makes one big hole at 25 yards with 200gr. Blue Bullet SWC and 5.0 gr. W231, Cci 300s. My Baser likes those too. I went to that from 4.7 gr. Bullsye 230 Gr. Sierra RN. The BB 200 SWC and W231 is a better recipe. So accurate and easy on the guns.
fredj338
Member
Accuracy always starts with the shooter, then gun, then a good bullet. Powder is way down the list. Hard to beat Sierra or Hornady match grade JHP for accuracy. Nosler 185gr are popular too. You can certainly get a cast 200gr LSWC to shoot but might take more tinkering with bullet alloy & size & lubes.
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Hey Rockquary I am using a RCBS tapper crimp die to crimp to .464-.465 and accuracy is good, (X ring at 25 yards) now the jerk pulling the trigger is a completely different story. Several bullseye gunsmiths have suggested the tighter crimp for the lead bullets when shooting reloads. Since the crimp is just at the edge of the case it does not deform the bullet enough to be a problem. The tight crimp also helps with the feeding. My 1911 is a Springfield milspec done over by Dave Salyer then reworked by another smith since then.
fredj338
Member
You must have a tight bore most cast bullets will size down if the crimp is that tight.
Fwiw, have met very few gunsmiths that know anything about reloading.
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I'm old fashioned in most of my ways but after years of inspecting and cleaning 45's...............
I would think there is a better way than pushing jacket and lead bullets down a barrel?
The new style syn coated bullet would be my first try to see if they worked getting accuracy...........
in order to keep the brass brush and solvents strokes to a minimum.
They were pretty good in my 9mm's and needed minimum barrel passes.
Have to agree with the accuracy with the ($) Hornady and ($$) Sierra bullets, though.
For me it was hard getting real good, tight groups with the plated bullets, in the 9mm.
I know this thread is about the 45 ....... but I just don't own one at this time.
Tight groups.
I would think there is a better way than pushing jacket and lead bullets down a barrel?
The new style syn coated bullet would be my first try to see if they worked getting accuracy...........
in order to keep the brass brush and solvents strokes to a minimum.
They were pretty good in my 9mm's and needed minimum barrel passes.
Have to agree with the accuracy with the ($) Hornady and ($$) Sierra bullets, though.
For me it was hard getting real good, tight groups with the plated bullets, in the 9mm.
I know this thread is about the 45 ....... but I just don't own one at this time.
Tight groups.
fredj338
Member
Plated bullets are my last choice if putting together accuracy loads in any caliber. They are very crimp sensitive. I find a good cast bullet to be more accurate, but good jhp seem to rule the accuracy dept.
ChuckS1
US Veteran
Bullseye shooter here. for the short line, my Les Baer .45 shoots best with 3.6 grains of Bullseye and a H&G 200 grain SWC. At 50 yards, it likse 4.0 grains of Bullseye, same bullet. Best of all, no need to adjust sights. My avatar is the 3.6 grain load at 25 yards.
AJ
US Veteran
A soldier living in Stafford? Just outside Quantico? Shooting Bullseye in that area. Must be some jarheads involved. Watch them close! Some of them can do mystical things with a M1911............
For the original poster I almost forgot there is a huge amount of info on Bullseye-L Forum for bulleye shooters and lots of them are great shooters with tons of experience with reloading (much more than me) the 1911 for bulleye shooting.
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ChuckS1
US Veteran
Sadly, so true. But I learned my my S3 NCOIC, who had been assigned to the Army Marksmanship Unit pretty much his whole career (E4-E8), at least until it was time for him to get some First Sergeant and staff time in a line unit so he could make E9. As I recall, he spent most of his time in our maintenance company's small arms shop.
caduceus
US Veteran
Wst 4.2 grs. or American select. Both exceptionally accurate. Buy lb of wst load some up you will be pleasantly surprised.
Bullseye 2620
Member
For an accuracy load at the short line, I'd recommend using a Nosler 185 grain JHP over 5.6 grains of 231 lit by a Federal or Winchester Large Pistol (not Magnum) primer. You want once-fired Federal brass if you can find it. This load will shoot 10 Xs at 25 yards all day long if you do your part.
