45 Auto Rim

[H Richard]

Getting ready to make u a batch of 45 Auto Rim, with 245 gr Powder Coated RNFP. I'm thinking 5.0 gr 231, as I look in the Lyman book with 5.5 gr a max load. 231 is listed as "Most Accurate Powder". (Why I like the Lyman book). I will be using a Taper Crimp as I don't have a seating dye with a roll crimp. It's always worked fine with 45 ACP over the past 40+ years. Has anyone made any loads up in this general vicinity?

 

[Outpost75]

Lyman's so-called "accuracy" loads are simply the ones which gave the most uniform pressure and velocity in their testing. They never shot them on paper with a practical gun.

Instead seek a good performing load which YOU can shoot well. Most of the time this will NOT be the maximum load. In my S&W 325PD I load #454424 with 4 grains of Bullseye or TiteGroup which approximate 650 fps from it's 2-3/4" barrel. Your 5 grains of 231 with a 245 RNFP should perform similarly. My loads enable controlled double-taps from a very light (21 oz.) Scadium N-frame gun with manageable recoil. Ballistics approximate the .455 Webley. "A little powda, a lotta lead, shoot'em good, they be dead."

 

[USSR]

Lyman's so-called "accuracy" loads are simply the ones which gave the most uniform pressure and velocity in their testing. They never shot them on paper with a practical gun.

Yep, and in my many years of 1,000 yard rifle shooting, I found that the loads with the lowest velocity variations were never the most accurate loads. I load a lot of .45 AR, so I bought a special .45 ACP seating die made by RCBS the provides a roll crimp. I believe MidWayUSA has it for $36.

Don

 

[Outpost75]

Yep, and in my many years of 1,000 yard rifle shooting, I found that the loads with the lowest velocity variations were never the most accurate loads. I load a lot of .45 AR, so I bought a special .45 ACP seating die made by RCBS the provides a roll crimp. I believe MidWayUSA has it for $36.

Don

Redding has a .45 AR roll crimp die. If you are lucky at gun shows or EvilBay you might find an older RCBS .455 die set which will do the job.

 

[HKSmith]

I've reloaded lots of .45 Auto Rim with bullets in the 230-255 grain range with 5.0-5.3 grains of HP38, so you should be fine. I do roll crimp using my Lee .455 Webley die.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

I would think it unlikely that a bullet that size would move much with an estimated velocity around 800fps (& 16K CUP or so?) with just a taper crimp...? I have not experienced bullets moving in my Model of 1955 with significantly higher velocities and pressures.

Your 5.0gr load of WIN 231 seems reasonable to me: personally I would load up a series from 4.8 and up in .2gr increments and see if one stands out, accuracy-wise?

Cheers!

 

[Eddie Southgate]

I load .45 AR with a .45 acp set , it will roll crimp if you know how to adjust the die. My Brazilian likes 5 grains of Red Dot with a 200 grain LSWC .

 

[Fessor]

I shoot 4 grains of 700X under a 185 grain Zero HP for a Bulleyes competition load. It's very accurate. Taper crimp with RCBS ACP dies.

 

[jculloden]

4.0 Bullseye and 185 gr. Zero SWC

 

[gwpercle]

Your load sounds like a good one .
Keep an eye on the un-fired rounds in the cylinder ... to check for bullet creeping out .
I taper crimp my loads but they just 200 gr. cast LSWC ... make sure those heavy 245 gr. bullets stay in the case and don't start walking out on you .
Good Luck , keep us posted ,
Gary

 

[Outpost75]

It is necessary to measure cylinder throats and to size bullets accordingly. My 325PD accepts a .451 zz minus pin gage, but not a .452. My 1950 Hand Ejector and M1917 accept a .455 but not a .456.

 

[biku324]

I use 245-255 grain LSWCs in 45 AR with 6.2 grains of Longshot. Powerful, accurate, pleasant to shoot.

 

[Chuck Edwards]

Redding has a .45 AR roll crimp die. If you are lucky at gun shows or EvilBay you might find an older RCBS .455 die set which will do the job.

You'll need this with coated bullets. I tried shooting my coated 230-grain RNL handloads (that run fine in my autoloaders) in my 22-4 and couldn't make it through a full cylinder without one or two bullets pulling free from the case in spite of a good taper crimp. I got the Redding .45 ACP "Profile Crimp" die and switched to 225-grain RNFPs with a crimp groove, and that solved the problem.

Note that I've never had this happen with uncoated bullets, just the coated ones.

 

[H Richard]

I finally got to shoot loads, 5 gr 231. The loads were taper crimped, and did creep forward. I marked one round, and set it to be in last position. Fired the other rounds and it did creep forward .017" for the first cylinder full, and the second test, a different round crept forward .009".
I did find a roll crimp, a buddy machinist/gunsmith had take a 45 Colt die and reduced it to 45 AR dimensions. It worked perfect, and no more bullet creep.

I'm going to try 8.3 Gr HS6 next with the 225 Gr powder coat bullets.

 

[Piwo]

I use 5.7 grains of 231 with a 255 grain swc cast bullet. I got this load out of an article in a Gun Digest. This is slightly over max for auto rim but I shoot it in a 625 mountain gun only. It is my accuracy load and it consistently gets 825 fps from my gun. I crimp with a Redding(I believe) profile crimp die and get no bullet pull. It is very clean burning and was the sweet spot among all the various charge weights with 231. This load actually duplicates the standard stated 45 colt factory load. It is a nice, easily handled load and the only load I need in this gun. It will handle anything in Ohio woods be it man or beast and then some. While safe in my gun, it may not be in yours. I publish it for information only. Oddly enough, I use 6.7 grains with a 240 grain bullet in my 4 inch 629 in 44 mag cases. Identical velocity and accuracy. It kicks like a 38 spl, in a service revolver.

 

[flyer338]

I like .45 AR in my 1955 Target revolvers. A 250 grain Keith bullet over 6.5 grains of Unique provides one hole groups at 25 yards and about (Oehler Model 33) 1000 fps. It is a fun load.
I use a fairly heavy roll crimp in the crimping groove. Brass life is very good.

 

[rockquarry]

I like .45 AR in my 1955 Target revolvers. A 250 grain Keith bullet over 6.5 grains of Unique provides one hole groups at 25 yards and about (Oehler Model 33) 1000 fps. It is a fun load.
I use a fairly heavy roll crimp in the crimping groove. Brass life is very good.

I've tried the heavy bullets (255 grain Lyman #4454424 .45 Colt bullet) with Unique powder. Too much recoil for everyday shooting but I recall that accuracy was decent. I've tried roll vs. taper crimp with the Auto Rim. Accuracy was slightly better with the taper crimp so that's all I use. My crimp is pretty mild; just enough to prevent bullet movement and no more. Never found a need for a heavy crimp with any cartridge and it can distort the bullet.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I like AR too...................

 

[David Sinko]

I have used 255 gr. cast bullets (RCBS and Lee molds) and heavy charges of 231 for many years. They shoot very well in my 625, Glock 21 and Springfield XDM. The Lee RF being shorter is best for the semiautos. I use a taper crimp without issues.

 

[silvertip1]

I use 5.2 grains of 231 in a starline auto rim case with a 230 grain jacketed FP & moderate taper crimp in my 25-2, and it has given me excellent accuracy out to 50 yards.