Favorite .45 acp loads

[Tom Horn]

Hello all. This is my first post. I enjoy reading the different threads here. I've been hanging out in the rafters for some time reading threads. I've been reloading for 30 plus years. I am curious what some of you folks favorite loads are in the .45 acp. I realize this is dependent on the handgun and bullet weight. I have always been amazed how 2 identical guns have different appetites for different powders. I have 2 identical Kimbers in 45 acp and they both prefer different powders for accuracy. I also have Smith, Ruger and a Colt custom. All 1911's. (Smith is my favorite all in all). I have my opinions and favorites spanning many calibers. My question is one of curiosity more than anything. And I enjoy the different answers and opinions.

It's nice to meet you all and it is nice to read different views. Thank you for a great Forum.

 

[andy52]

Welcome Tom, the majority of my .45 acp loads are GT bullets 225 gr hollow points. I've loaded a lot of other bullets but these are outstanding for expansion and weight retention. These are loaded over 8 grs of AA#5.

 

[Mad_Charlie]

Andy, how much, if any, nose distortion do you get from hitting the ramp when chambering with those bullets?

 

[Tom Horn]

Hello Andy. One of my Kimbers LOVES Accurate #5. From 185 gr. to 240. My other Kimber loves HP-38. Identical Kimbers. One is my wifes. Thank you for your reply. I enjoy the information and the varying results. Have a great day.

 

[scattershot]

For plinking and general all around use, I like the 200 grain SWC ( H&G 68 clone) over 4 grains of Red Dot. 6 grqins of HP38 steps it up a bit for walking around in the woods and such, and is accurate. Hard to beat the old classic 230/5 Bullseye, too.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[andy52]

Andy, how much, if any, nose distortion do you get from hitting the ramp when chambering with those bullets?

So far I haven't had any distortion during feeding but the only semi-auto I use them in is a Sig P220 which has a pretty high feed angle. Obliviously in my .45 revolvers it's a non issue.

 

[max503]

I shoot the Lee 200 grain SWC over 6.4 grains of Unique. I've got a 6 cavity Lee mold. This load is very accurate.

 

[gwpercle]

Welcome Tom , the subject of 45 acp loads is near and dear as it was the first auto pistol I started loading for in 1967 with Lyman # 452460 , 200 grain cast SWC . With that bullet , cast of wheel weights air cooled and sized .452 or .451(depends on gun) ... here are a few of my "pet" loads.

1.) general purpose :
AA #5 - 7.0 grs.
Unique - 6.0 grs.
HP-38 - 5.0 grs.
Titegroup - 5.0 grs.
700X - 5.0 grs.
Red Dot - 4.6 grs.
Bullseye - 4.5 grs.

The above are the ones that have risen to the top of my 45 acp experimentations over the years. Cycle reliably and accurate in many different 45's.
Glad to have another 45 fan to talk to .
Sitting on the desk as I type this is one of my favorites ...
a stainless steel AMT Hardballer.
Gary

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

My 45's eat my cast 230 gr TC pushed buy 5.5 grs of WW #231.

 

[joeintexas]

5.8gr Unique with a 200gr lswc shoots really good in all my 1911 45s. I can always count on the old stand by, 230gr ball and 5.0 Bullseye. Welcome to the forum!

 

[LoboGunLeather]

My usual practice/training load in .45ACP is a cast 200SWC and 4.5 grain Bullseye. This functions well in all of my pistols and is as accurate as I am capable of shooting. Also pretty economical at 1550 rounds per pound of powder and homemade bullets cast of free wheel weights (less than $3 per 50-round box), or if I get too lazy to cast I can use commercial cast bullets and shoot for under $6 per box.

 

[webfarmer]

Late to the party but what the heck & add mine.

Range practice and whatever (nice shooting and really accurate in all my .45 pistols):
R-P brass
RMR 230 RN plated
4.5 WST
CCI-300

Self Defense (again accurate but old school bullet):
5.7 W-231
Sierra 185 JHP

There's my 2 cents worth Welcome to the forum!

 

[cowboy4evr]

I like 5.0 grs of Bullseye or 4.5 grs of WST using a 230 gr RN cast / plated bullet . That bullseye load has been around for a very long time and is still serving us well . Regards, Paul

 

[Benchrest1]

Berry 230 gr with 4.4 grs of Titegroup.

 

[chief38]

My Colt Gold Cup is my most used target Gun and so it has an insatiable appetite. I use 230 grain RNL bullets and 4.5 grains of W231. It is a very soft recoiling, accurate and consistent load that I'd recommend for target work. I shoot at 50 feet both indoor and outdoor and have a few friends hooked on this recipe as well.

 

[Daniel Howe]

230 XTP bullet, 4.5 grains TiTegroup powder, CCI 300 primer. Works well in my Thompson M1, Remington R1 and my Bondarms Derringer.

 

[Univibe]

8.0 grains of AA#5 pushing a 230 grain round nose hardcast.

 

[Goldstar225]

My standard load is 5 grains of W231/HP-38 under my homecast LSWC from RCBS mold 45-201-SWC that drops at 205 grains.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I have an old HG 4 cavity mold . It looks to be the 200 gr swc . It came complete with handles . Got it from a buddy yrs ago . Looks to be in good shape just never had any desire to use it . Regards Paul

 

[mike campbell]

Any worthwhile load has to function (feed/eject) flawlessly. IMO, that's a given. So, beyond flawless functioning, what distinguishes one load from another? For me, it's accuracy.

The gurus of accuracy are the bullseye shooters, especially those that excel at 50 yards. With them, Nosler 185HP's are very popular. I have a buddy who is a member of the 2650 club. He clued me in to the 45ACP load that the USMC team uses to win at Camp Perry ... a 185HP and Vihtavuori N310.

So this past summer I Ransom-tested my bone-stock 1998 Kimber with the Nosler 185HP and more than a dozen different powders, at least 2 charge weights with each. It was fun and informative and I don't regret doing it , but I could have saved myself a lot of trouble and just gone with the Marines' load. With it, I shot multiple groups of 10 shots at 50 yards measuring < 3", and several that put 9 into <2". In second place, just barely behind, was WW231.

With 200gr copper plated bullets, I found WST to excel .... not surprisingly, it's a favorite of the bullseye shooters with their 200SWC's.