accurate #2 powder . 45 acp combat loads

[robbt]

hi guys , I find my self lacking in factory .45 acp.
I have a lot of 210 gr truncated cone round nose
lead bullets , I also have a lot of accurate #2 powder
, can someone assist me in a combat load for defense??
I am using my Colt Officer Model.
please post , many thanks, robbt

 

[LoboGunLeather]

AA #2 is a pretty good choice for cast lead bullets in .45ACP. I have used quite a bit with 230-grain cast lead TC bullets. Similar in performance (although not identical by any means) to Bullseye. My old Accurate brochures indicate a max load of 5.4 grains AA#2 with a 210-grain SWC, no COL indicated and bullet type/profile is different, so this should be used only as a rough guideline.

I would suggest a starting load of about 4.5 grains, see how that functions in your pistol, then work up very cautiously until you achieve reliable functioning. Beyond that level there is little to be gained within the performance envelope of the .45ACP, so why beat up your good pistol in search of the edges of that envelope?

Personally, I do not load for maximum performance, and in semi-auto pistols I limit my loads to a level that provides reliable functioning. Never had a problem with that approach. YMMV

 

[robbt]

hi , cannot go to range , not feasible with the virus , I live in NY and am becoming concerned with the virus ,
I would like to have a couple of hundred 45 acp combat rounds
sitting here just in case. hoping a close duplicate to hard ball, ammo died up faster than expected.
I previously used #2 in my 38 super target loads and have two cans ,
I was guessing at about 5 grs, using federal brass, win primers.
please post.

 

[M29since14]

You’re on the right track. Here is some info purely for the sake of discussion. A while back I was experimenting with AA2 in my Model 25-2. I was looking for a load with the Lee 230 gr cast flat nose (“Air Force style”) bullet. With 5.3 grs, Federal cases, and Federal 150 primers, my 6-1/2” revolver was giving me 864 FPS average with 12 extreme spread for 6-rounds. I’m not sure where I got my starting data. I just have a chronograph record. I tried as much as 5.5 grs, but it was unnecessarily fast, so for my purposes 5.2-5.3 grs was better. I never load .45 revolver loads that I would think are usable in my 1911s, so the fact that I was testing in the 25-2 is not significant, in that way. As I said, “for discussion” - not a “recommendation.”

 

[tominboise]

Accurate has their complete loading manual available on line. There is a whole section of AA#2 and 45ACP. You might want to take a look there for data.

 

[stansdds]

Definitely go to the Accurate Powders site and get their reloading manual.

Well, here is the link to the manual in pdf.

https://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/WPHandloading-Guide-7.0-Web-REV.pdf