Powder for 45 ACP GDHP

ColColt

ColColt

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For the most part I've been using 7.8 gr of HS-6 with the 230 gr GDHP in several 45 ACP pistols and don't think that's really getting that bullet up to it's potential at about 780-800 fps. I'd like a load that mimics factory hard ball...around 850 fps.

Factory ammo from Speer is a mite expensive to be trying to access the dependability of a given pistol and shooting a couple hundred rounds per pistol so I went to their bullet for a reloading component. Speer only gives a max with that powder of 8.0 gr yet they'll indicate 8.5 gr for a similar 230 gr jacketed bullet like the FMJ. I suppose the difference is in the seating depth with the factory GDHP running right at 1.205" but the suggested load Speer give is still sub-standard. HS-6 is very accurate with that weight bullet.

Power pistol seems to give the best and most standard velocity for that bullet weight and type but, I've used PP before and it's quite flashy. Anyone recommend a better one? Not that 30-50fps means a lot shooting paper targets but I'd like the same recoil impulse as with standard run of the mill hard ball for functions checks.
 
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I use 4.8 HP38 with 230s. I don't believe it makes quite 850 but is plenty accurate for my purposes.
 
That's very similar to 231 which doesn't give the velocity HS-6 does. According to Hornady's manual, 231 with a max load of 5.7 gr only gives 800 fps.
 
Ive been using 5.0 gr of Titegroup for 45acp, 1.25 COL. Its about 800 ft/sec out of my 4" JM 625. This is using Berry's plated HBRN 185gr bullets. 1.5" groups at 25 yards with a Ultradot red dot. Won't be iron sights with my sorry eye's.:rolleyes: Changing over to a Vortex SPARC.

Just bought 4 lbs of Power Pistol & Unique. I like the PP because is feeds better in my Dillon Square B. There seems to be a bit less recoil. Maybe because the powder is slightly longer burning than TG.

Was using Titegroup for 357 and 44. Changing over to Unique. I can update you over the weekend if ya want. No info yet.

357 Magnum: 158gr Berry's Plated HP. 5.1gr and 1.575 COL. Freekin tack hammer at 25 yards with PC627 V-Comp 5". Vortex SPRC optic. 1.0" or less.

44 Magnum: 240gr Berry's Plated HP. 8.5gr Power Pistol, 1.605 COL, 800ft/sec. Less than 3" groups at 25 yards. I actually shot 8" at 50 yards. This is with a 4" PC629 V-Comp IRON SIGHTS. Recoil is fun. Not bad at all.

I have some 18gr of 2400 with same bullet. Now those recoil. 1500ft/sec in a 16" barrel ruger bolt action. 1200 in my 8-3/8" 629-1 that I just sold.

Keep in mind that Berry's bullets seem to like velocities of 800to 1000ft/sec. I clearly saw groups tighten, raising the velocity from 600ft/sec to about 900. I stopped at around 850 because why beat the **** out of my wrist. PP and TG are really for target. 2400 is better suited for hunting high velocity loads. I shot the 2400 loads out of my 329PD 4". I then sold the 329PD a week later.:eek:
 
I havent loaded a lot of 230gr bullets. I shoot a lot of 200 gr cast with bullseye. The load below shot well with a 200 gr bullet with bullseye in my colt goverment series 70 mk 4


45 acp Mar-89 Bulseye 6.0 cswc 200 hornady 1.18 good load maybe permanent?
 
No chrony-I'm going by the manuals as to the velocity.
 
Per Hodgdon website, you can load up to 8.2grs HS-6 but it still takes a backseat to the velocities you can get with Accurate AA5. Using a 1911 test firearm, Speer 230 Gold Dots, 8.7grs AA5 gets you 929'ps at OAL 1.265. I'll tell ya this, with a 45 ACP, you don't need top velocities. You need accuracy. I use both HS-6 and AA5 with my 45 ACPs and both turn in pretty clean barrels and the best accuracy at near max levels.
 
ColColt said:
No chrony-I'm going by the manuals as to the velocity.
Click to expand...

The books tell the velocity they got. Your gun will be different. Military ball with my 5 1/2 revolver is 790 fps. Get a chronograph and you will be in for a a lot of surprises. No load shoots the same speed in different guns. Larry
 
Per Hodgdon website, you can load up to 8.2grs HS-6 but it still takes a backseat to the velocities you can get with Accurate AA5
Click to expand...

That load is for a Horndady FMJ. You can seat that one further out but the GDHP is shorter and is seated deeper so you have to reduce that charge. That's probably why they recommend a lower charge.

AA#5 only shows about 792 fps with 7.8 gr max in Speer's manual.
 
You can NEVER rely on book vel, but HS6 is a good choice, just run it closer to the top end. Other good choices for 850fps loads are Unique & WSF for lower flash than PP.
 
In a full sized Les Baer, I clocked Hornady 230 grain XTP over 7.4 grains of Power Pistol at 912 fps. Seemed slightly more accurate and easier to handle at 7.0 grains though. Hornady manual shows Max of 7.6 grains at 900 fps. Measured consistently and was clean.
 
Well, lets all open our Speer Manuals to page 974.:D;)

I like Power Pistol, Speer factory ammo of course has powder we do not.

The zippiest loads that they tested are:

Blue Dot (flaming dirt)
Power Pistol
HS-7

The slowest is W 231/HP38

Tested out of a Sig 220.

Col, if you need the load data please let me know, I am afraid of the copy-write Cops.;)
 
I wondered why some 230 gr bullets by Speer and Hornady listed higher "doses" of HS-6 than those listed for the GDHP. I suppose it's not only the deeper seating depth but maybe there's a greater bearing surface.

Best I recall from memory, I use to load Speer's 200 gr shorty, the notorious Flying Ashtray and it was loaded to the same depth(plus or minus a few thousandths) as the GDHP at 1.200". I used 9.2 gr of AA#5 and 7.2 gr of Unique. I didn't use HS-6 back in those days. I'm wondering if those same loads would do the GDHP well. They're seated to the same depth but the GDHP is a longer bullet than the Flying Ashtray was so maybe seating depth in the case was allowing more space between the base of the bullet and the powder.

I'm not a real fan of PP or Blue Dot. I've used PP before but don't much care for Blue Dot. Maybe I should just try 8 gr of HS-6 and be done with it. Unfortunately, HS-7 isn't available anymore.
 
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Longshot, HS-6 AA#5 and the like will get you where you want to be. DO NOT rely on the velocities published in manuals, they are incorrect. Like said above, there is no need to push a 45 Auto bullet so fast. It's a low pressure round with a wide heavy bullet that will do a good job at slightly lower velocities than you will see in a more modern cartridge like the 40 S&W. There is no reason to re-invent the wheel. The 45 Auto is what it is and works well they way it is...

*EDIT*
I forgot to say my standard .45 Auto load is 5.5gr W231 under any 230gr FMJ or LRN bullet.
 
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5.0gr Bullseye has been the milspec ball load for years . I shoot 5.0 HTG with 230 ball for EIC / CMP matches . PowerPistol & Bluedot IIRC will give top velocities with 230gr bullets . Both are pretty muzzle flashy .
 
Good ol' Unique will actually do a pretty good job for you (without the flash and bang of PP). As others said, though, you need to chrony, especially if you are pushing the top end to know what you are getting and know where to stop. Another thought on GD load data; the GD is actually a plated bullet (but somewhat heavily plated) and that could (?) factor into the manual recommendations.
 
I can give you a couple chronographed loads from a 5" 1911 using VV N350 and a 230 grain brass golden saber, which should be close to the GD.

7.5 grains flies at 915 fps and 8.0 grains does 983 fps.

Now if you want to step up to 265 grains (Beartooth bullet) and go with a 22# recoil spring, you can get 1,004 fps with 8.0 grains of VV N350.

If you're looking for 850 fps - I think 7.0 grains of VV N350 should just about be on the money but 915 fps doesn't feel any different than commerical ball relative to felt recoil and you don't need to mess with changing your recoil spring either.
 
my standard load uses Unique. It seems to be in the 45's butter zone and will likely give you what your looking for ... probably a little bit more.
 
I've never tried any of VihtaVuori's powder before but gave it some consideration to other calibers. Seems a bit expensive compared to most others.

Six grains of Unique is given as max with this bullet but again, I have no chrony and can only go by book specs and with that load it's listed as about 806. they won't let you set up a chrony at the indoor range and I have no where else to shoot outside. I'm not looking to hot rod the 45 ACP, just a load to give factory specs for the 230 gr bullet. I wish HS-7 was still available but I'm thinking about bumping up the HS-6 load to 8 grains.
 
Even though I spoke about PP, HS-6 and AA#5 above I use almost nothing other than W231 in my .45 Auto ammo.

I charge 5.5gr W231 under any 230gr bullet jacketed or lead. It's my standard charge and I actually use that charge weight on the rare occasions I load a 200gr SWC bullet.

Just a note, AA#5 was specifically developed for use in the .45 Auto. I don't use it because AA powders are very difficult to find here and when you do, they are expensive instead of less expensive than other powder as they are elsewhere. Alliant, Hodgdon, IMR and Winchester powders are available but not Accurate, Ramshot or VV powders.
 
I've used 5.5 gr of both 231 and AA#5 with a #68 200 gr SWC but never used 231 for a jacketed bullet. I use to use 9.2 gr of AA#5 with the 200 gr jacketed "Flying Ashtray" but those bullets are long gone except for a stash I still have. I may have to give AA#5 a try with the 230 gr bullet.
 
I have a box or two of ashtrays, Hoarded them , why, I do not know ?:)

As stated BE is the original military load. As one of the fastest powders it is ideal for the big, slow low pressure 45 ACP.

Many other powders will do the same but the wheel has been invented.:)

The Speer manual has Blue Dirt as the fastest with their measured amount. I do not like it either and was glad to get rid of the stock I had. It did work OK with full house 357 Mag loads.

Without chronographing them, it's just a shot in the dark;)

Folks claim flash with Power Pistol, perhaps, but I shoot in the day under the blazing Sun so it is not an issue. It out performs (velocity) most powders in 9mm and 40 SW.

Not that I care about so called clean powders. PP is definitely clean burning. It leaves a very different light grey ash, no black at all. I have not tried it in 45 ACP as it is low pressure, big and slow.
 
I have the bullets and a couple boxes of factory loads that I jealously guard. Seven of them reside in a 4506 magazine tucked under my pillow.

PP is ok and I've used it but only at the indoor range and can attest it does produce a fireball-my only qualm about it. It is clean, I'll have to give it that. I don't' use BE and haven't for decades- way too easy to double charge without knowing it and I'm not a great fan of super fast powders which I consider BE as being amount the top contenders.
 
I would go with Silhouette. It is more accurate in my guns and will give you 50-100 fps more velocity.
 
Well to pull data from another source, Hornady, 230 gr XTP

They recommend for the best velocity/accuracy combo

HS 6, Unique, VV N-340

Silhouette, Long shot and PP are all up there with the highest velocities out of Colt 1911 5"

So bottom line, they all are gonna work:)
 
I loaded up some 230 Gold Dots with N-350 and got 919fps with 6.9gr and 937fps with 7.1 gr (OAL 1.205") out of a 5" 1911 Springfield.
XTP's were running 900 fps with the 7.1 charge. It took 8.4 gr of AA-5 to get the XTP up to 939fps but only 3 shots registered on the chrono before I ran out of test loads that day..

Comparing data, it sounds like my SA barrel or the GD & XTP run a little faster than 7P's barrel or GS bullets. The only data I have for the Rem-GS is 810 fps over 8.7 AA-5 from a 3" Kimber.
 
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BULLSEYE POWDER

I have worked up a Hornaday 230gr. 45 XTP load. That started with Bullseye
load for 230gr SPEER GDHP charge weight of 5.0gr.of BULLSEYE. Our Max is now 6.1gr. graphed at 1225fps. very accurate @ 50ft. I have been using Bullseye powder and Hornaday Bullets For Hunting and PD&HD for years. My
45 loads out perform TAP loads.

Just my 2 cents. SAFE SHOOTING ALWAYS

MR835 is gone
 
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