uslaw
Member
I am looking at loading up some Hornady 230Gr LRN rounds. Looks like 4.0 of Bullseye would be a good place to start, any suggestions. Thanks D.
45ACP Re-Loading
- Thread starter uslaw
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
From the new Hornady 8th edition for their 230 gr LRN the data for Bullseye is 4.4, 4.7, 5.1 and 5.5 max.
COL of 1.245.
4grs would be less than their tested min of 4.4 which gives 750 fps out of a Colt 5" barrel.
COL of 1.245.
4grs would be less than their tested min of 4.4 which gives 750 fps out of a Colt 5" barrel.
Sebago Son
Member
I suggest 5.0 Grains.
I use 5.0 Bullseye and a 230 grn plated or cast lead round nosed bullet. It functions everything and is a factory equivalant "Ball" load as per my early Lyman manuals.
Drew
I use 5.0 Bullseye and a 230 grn plated or cast lead round nosed bullet. It functions everything and is a factory equivalant "Ball" load as per my early Lyman manuals.
Drew
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
Fiochhi has a "range" type ammo that our local shop sells. It clocks out of all of our 5" 1911's at 790fps. In order to duplicate that with a 230gr plated round nose bullet, I use 4.7gr of Bullseye. It is accurate and mimicks the aforementioned ammo perfectly. Here is a picture of some results:
Wee Hooker
Member
3.8 of clays is a better place to start and finish IMHO but 4.8 of bullseye will work. It's just allot dirtier.
Murdock
Member
You may find that too light a charge of Bullseye gets dirty.
I have been using 5.0 grains under a 200 grain LSWC with great satisfaction for years as a practice load. Seems to duplicate the recoil of service loads well.
I have been using 5.0 grains under a 200 grain LSWC with great satisfaction for years as a practice load. Seems to duplicate the recoil of service loads well.
ScottJ
Member
I have found I prefer HP-38 to Bullseye in the .45 ACP.
Running 5.1gr under a RCBS 230gr LRN.
I haven't clocked it yet.
Running 5.1gr under a RCBS 230gr LRN.
I haven't clocked it yet.
TSQUARED
Member
I have not loaded 230 gr. lead for a long time but a fellow shootwer uses 3.5 gr. Trail Boss for a very mild load. He shoots an old Colt Gold Cup 1911 with a 10 lb. recoil spring and a S&W 625 revolver.
With 230 gr. plated or jacketed bullets I have used 3.5 - 3.7 gr. VV N-310 for ca 600-650 fps and 3.6 gr. Clays for ca 650 fps - both mild loads.
Last edited:
James57
Member
45acp loading
I have found that very light charges with just about any powder will burn dirtier than loads with more pressure. It is just a matter of what your requirements are when you load. If the aim is a soft load to practice with; then a little extra cleaning might not matter. I use lighter loads most of the time when I am just shooting/plinking for fun. But when things are more serious; such as practicing for defense situations; the pressure and velocity goes up. I use W231 in the .45acp mostly and I like it. It can be a little dirty but I really don't mind the extra cleaning. I don't shoot round nose very much as I prefer the truncated cone style but I shoot 4.5 grains of W231 in my 225 grain TC bullets and they are accurate out of my S&W 22-4 revolver. James
I have found that very light charges with just about any powder will burn dirtier than loads with more pressure. It is just a matter of what your requirements are when you load. If the aim is a soft load to practice with; then a little extra cleaning might not matter. I use lighter loads most of the time when I am just shooting/plinking for fun. But when things are more serious; such as practicing for defense situations; the pressure and velocity goes up. I use W231 in the .45acp mostly and I like it. It can be a little dirty but I really don't mind the extra cleaning. I don't shoot round nose very much as I prefer the truncated cone style but I shoot 4.5 grains of W231 in my 225 grain TC bullets and they are accurate out of my S&W 22-4 revolver. James
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
No offense to anyone but trying to build a load that looks good on paper by reducing the charge to a place below a minimum listed load does you no good as a shooter.
Run the caliber up to the point of midrange or above and learn to control it, or shoot it well. If you cannot handle that caliber, go to one that you can.
As for the TB loads in this little case, they are useless for anything but letting young or beginning shooters a chance to handle a big caliber gun. Other than that, they are useless. A 230gr bullet going 600fps? Come on, folks...............
Run the caliber up to the point of midrange or above and learn to control it, or shoot it well. If you cannot handle that caliber, go to one that you can.
As for the TB loads in this little case, they are useless for anything but letting young or beginning shooters a chance to handle a big caliber gun. Other than that, they are useless. A 230gr bullet going 600fps? Come on, folks...............
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Not to sound like a wise guy but a good reloading manual would be a good place to start.
As for powders I agree with the above suggestions for using W231/HP-38 instead of Bullseye.
S&W HE
Member
A favorite .45 ACP load to make major caliber.
Shoots well in the Model 25s/625s and the 1911s.
6.0 Grains WW-231
200 Grain hard cast H&G SWC
Federal or WW standard primers
Taper crimp
1.260" OAL
Averaged 925 fps in the 1911s according to Mr. Oehler's Chronograph
Shoots well in the Model 25s/625s and the 1911s.
6.0 Grains WW-231
200 Grain hard cast H&G SWC
Federal or WW standard primers
Taper crimp
1.260" OAL
Averaged 925 fps in the 1911s according to Mr. Oehler's Chronograph
Last edited:
OldW
Member
I use a very similar load, but I use WIN231, which is the same as HP-38, and plated round nose bullets, which use same load data as lead. If you don't mind me asking, what is your COL? I am going at 1.270, as called for by my Speer manual. I have occasional failures to go into battery, so I don't think I am at optimal overall length. Either that, or I might have to adjust my crimp. Just brainstorming here....
Thanks!
Dave T
Member
I started reloading the 45 ACP in 1974. My first powder of choice was Red Dot. After several years I finally shot a serious, aimed group with it and was disappointed in the accuracy. Switched to Unique and the groups were much better. Several years after the switch I got a chronograph. The variation with my Unique loads, due to the poor performance of Unique's flakes in a powder measure, made me switch to 231 which I used for the next 15 or so years. Quit loading about 6 years ago (health problems) but got back into it last year.
For years I shot 6g of 231 under a H&G #68, 200g SWC which gave right around 900 fps and was more accurate than I was. I don't have an exact number but based on the number of WLP primers I bought (by the sleeve) I fired several hundred thousand of those. When I got back to it I decided to go with Berry's plated bullets, both a 200g Round Shoulder (RS) and their 230g Round Nose (RN).
The 200g plated bullet loaded over the same old charge of 6g of 231 is 10 or 15 fps slower than the lead 200g was. I can live with that. I thought with the 230g I would have to drop down to get my objective of Ball duplicate (830 fps) performance. I started with 5.4g of 231 and didn't even break 800 fps. Eventually got an average of 834 fps out of one 5" Government Model and 832 fps out of another GM, but that was with 6g of 231, the same load I was using for the 200g plated bullets.
I've mentioned this load on a couple other internet boards and I generally get yelled at for being over max. Well, the Speer #13 manual I have says 6.2g of 231 is max with a 230 FMJ. I suspect/believe the plated bullets will generate less pressure than a FMJ so I believe this load is OK. It shows no signs of excess pressure at all and in fact shoots, ejects and feels exactly like some mil surplus Ball I compared it to.
Not recommending anyone else use this load, just relating my recent experiences. Also, I'm convinced the majority of the loads Ive seen listed earlier in this thread for 230g bullets are under performing, some significantly.
YMMV,
Dave
For years I shot 6g of 231 under a H&G #68, 200g SWC which gave right around 900 fps and was more accurate than I was. I don't have an exact number but based on the number of WLP primers I bought (by the sleeve) I fired several hundred thousand of those. When I got back to it I decided to go with Berry's plated bullets, both a 200g Round Shoulder (RS) and their 230g Round Nose (RN).
The 200g plated bullet loaded over the same old charge of 6g of 231 is 10 or 15 fps slower than the lead 200g was. I can live with that. I thought with the 230g I would have to drop down to get my objective of Ball duplicate (830 fps) performance. I started with 5.4g of 231 and didn't even break 800 fps. Eventually got an average of 834 fps out of one 5" Government Model and 832 fps out of another GM, but that was with 6g of 231, the same load I was using for the 200g plated bullets.
I've mentioned this load on a couple other internet boards and I generally get yelled at for being over max. Well, the Speer #13 manual I have says 6.2g of 231 is max with a 230 FMJ. I suspect/believe the plated bullets will generate less pressure than a FMJ so I believe this load is OK. It shows no signs of excess pressure at all and in fact shoots, ejects and feels exactly like some mil surplus Ball I compared it to.
Not recommending anyone else use this load, just relating my recent experiences. Also, I'm convinced the majority of the loads Ive seen listed earlier in this thread for 230g bullets are under performing, some significantly.
YMMV,
Dave
My purpose for reloading is to create loads to the purpose in mind. I mostly load light loads for several Hand Ejectors and 1917s, as well as M25, 625 and various 1911s. I also have a Mauser 98 converted to 45ACP.
I currently load of 4g of Titegroup and it works great in all. I believe dirty/smokey is more related to the cast bullets and lube. I now prefer RN in 1911s and TC in the revolvers for general sporting target work. They are starting loads from Hodgdon website and are easy on the shooter and old guns. I also load 185-200 SWC for special purposes. I spent several hours with a HE 1st 455 converted to AR and a Braz 1917 Friday, shooting close to 100 rounds at my property in the Adams Co hills and had a GREAT time.
I currently load of 4g of Titegroup and it works great in all. I believe dirty/smokey is more related to the cast bullets and lube. I now prefer RN in 1911s and TC in the revolvers for general sporting target work. They are starting loads from Hodgdon website and are easy on the shooter and old guns. I also load 185-200 SWC for special purposes. I spent several hours with a HE 1st 455 converted to AR and a Braz 1917 Friday, shooting close to 100 rounds at my property in the Adams Co hills and had a GREAT time.
I've loaded 230 gr FMJ bullets with 4.0 gr Bullseye, so it should work fine with lead bullets too. They were accurate at 25 yards, less so at 50. For the long line I think they need a little more oomph. It was very dirty, but that doesn't affect functionality, it is just cosmetic.
My current FMJ load is 5.5 gr W231, but when I get my 231 used up (getting close now), I plan to switch to Bullseye exclusively for my target loads. My new hardball load will probably be about 4.8-5.0 Bullseye.
My current FMJ load is 5.5 gr W231, but when I get my 231 used up (getting close now), I plan to switch to Bullseye exclusively for my target loads. My new hardball load will probably be about 4.8-5.0 Bullseye.
Maximumbob54
Member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2010
- Messages
- 7,202
- Reaction score
- 1,928
suggestion?
Heck yes, learn to cast your own. It's easier than you think. Proof:
Heck yes, learn to cast your own. It's easier than you think. Proof:
USSR
Member
^^^^^ Hmm, looks suspiciously like a .45-200gr MiHec mould.
Got one of those myself.
Don
Got one of those myself.Don
Similar threads
- Locked
