Winchester 231 45acp loads for M&P

[Smith9]

I going to try some Winchester 231 for 45acp in my Smith M&P full size. Looking for good groupings at 10 to 15 yards.

What Winchester 231 45acp load do you find shoots best for you for each of the following? Both load & fps

230 FMJ

185 JHP

200 SWC

 

[pbcaster]

I use 5.0 grains of 231 with the 200 grain SWC cast bullets with an O.A.L. of 1.250" for most of my shooting with .45 ACP. That load averages close to 750 f.p.s. in most of the pistols in that caliber here.

I do not load FMJ or HP bullets so I can't help you there.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My favorite .45 Auto loads are made with W231. I charge 5.5gr W231 under both LRN and FMJ 230gr bullets. W231 is a GREAT powder for making .45 Auto ammo.

 

[Dragon88]

Just about anything will "group" well at 10-15 yards. Move that target back to 25 yards to get a better idea of accuracy.

 

[max]

5.0 of 231 and a 200 gr cast swc has been my standard for over 30 years.

 

[MMA10mm]

5.4 to 5.6grs of W231 is a factory equivalent load for the 230gr RN.

You can use the same load with a 200gr SWC for a "combat" load, or drop back to 5.0grs or so for a target load.

 

[Dave T]

5.4 to 5.6grs of W231 is a factory equivalent load for the 230gr RN.

Not through my chronograph. Following the current loading manuals I first tried 5.3g then 5.7g of 231 to duplicate ball with Berry's 230g plated round nose. Chronograph results were all under 800 fps in both a 5" revolver and a 5" Government Model. I looked through some more manuals and found a max in one of 6.2g of 231. I first tried 6g and got 834 fps as an average for 10 shots from the Government Model. That's now my ball duplicate load.

Dave

 

[btruman]

Most all of my reloads are with cast bullets. I don't own a S&W M&P but I've had good luck with 5.3 grs of 231 under the 230 gr LRN bullet and 5.5 gr under the 200 gr LSWC in both a Ruger P97 and a RIA 1911. My friend's Colt like these loads too.

 

[Sully]

My favorite .45 Auto loads are made with W231. I charge 5.5gr W231 under both LRN and FMJ 230gr bullets. W231 is a GREAT powder for making .45 Auto ammo.

I shot that charge under both a 230 FMJ and a 200 LSWC. It worked just fine.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I shot that charge under both a 230 FMJ and a 200 LSWC. It worked just fine.

I agree. On the rare occasions I load a 200gr bullet for the .45 Auto I use the same charge of 5.5gr as you do. I know there's no reason not to use a 200gr LSWC in a 1911. I guess I'm just stubborn and stick with a 230gr LRN bullet. I tell you one thing though, if lead bullets keep going up in price I just might change over to the lighter bullet because I'm not only stubborn, I'm frugal (read cheep) too...

 

[pbcaster]

I tell you one thing though, if lead bullets keep going up in price I just might change over to the lighter bullet because I'm not only stubborn, I'm frugal (read cheep) too...

Just for information, the current price for bullet alloy is 80% higher than when I last made a purchase somewhere around a year ago. If the price goes much higher, I am going to start loading and shooting 9X19mm instead of .45 ACP for practice.

 

[38-44HD45]

When I shot IPSC in the mid-80s, my usual match load was 5.8 gr. of 231 under a 200gr. H&G 68. That load averaged 925fps. from a 4 1/4" barrel, and a bit more from my 5-incher. For practice, I loaded 5.5-5.6 grains of 231 under the same bullet. My old home-built 5" 1911 would print 2" or smaller groups at 25 yards with either load. The few rounds of 230 FMJ I've loaded with 231 have been with 5.0 grains of powder, but it has been so long that I don't recall what the accuracy levels were. I've never used a powder as fast as 231 to load 185s, which I've always loaded hot with slower powders.

 

[MMA10mm]

Not through my chronograph. Following the current loading manuals I first tried 5.3g then 5.7g of 231 to duplicate ball with Berry's 230g plated round nose. Chronograph results were all under 800 fps in both a 5" revolver and a 5" Government Model. I looked through some more manuals and found a max in one of 6.2g of 231. I first tried 6g and got 834 fps as an average for 10 shots from the Government Model. That's now my ball duplicate load.

Dave

Sounds like you got a slow lot of 231.

I used to be a commercial handloader and used 231 for most calibers I loaded for (except the big-cased ones, like 45 Colt and 44 Mag). I've seen 231 vary from being as fast as Red Dot or 700x to as slow as Unique, BUT, for the most part, it is close to but just slower than Red Dot, about half-way between Bullseye and Unique (in small-cased pistol applications).

You're lot sounds like it is about half-way between it's normal relative quickness and Unique, maybe a touch closer to Unique. Nothing wrong with your load, just be sure, if/when you change lot #s, to re-test starting with a lighter load that is below book max.

The one slow lot of 231 I had (that was basically just as slow as Unique) I couldn't get it to cycle slides until I was about .1gr over the book maximum, so I know exactly what you're speaking of.

However, for the most part, that 5.4 to 5.6grs for the typical burn-rate lot of W231 will be the ball equivalent load.

I did have some lots that were really quick-burning too, so watch out. There's a reason why they say start with the start load and work up OR DOWN!

 

[judgecrater]

OAL?

Keep in mind it is impossible to compare one result with another with similar bullet weight and powder charge unless you compare OAL. A difference of .020 or more can change function, velocity and pressure. Prove it to yourself. Load 1.275, 1.250, 1.230. You will have significant result differences. Check the manuals. They always state OAL.

 

[kentguy]

Smith9,

This is what I have found works very good in my pistol (w/4.60" barrel) for a target load;

Bullet - 230g RN FMJ (Precision Delta)
Powder - Winchester 231 @ 5.6g
Primer - Wincherster large pistol primer (most any will do)
Powder range - 5.2g up to 5.8g (Lyman)
Velocity - 823 fps
OAL - 1.260"

Tested at 10-15-20 and 25 yards, shot & chrono'ed from both a gun rest and standing free hand. They produced a nice but very managable kick, reacquisition of the target was fast and all rounds produced nice tight groups. For me I found this to be a good all around target load.

This load also mirrors what others have come up with so with this weight bullet/powder I think you can crank up your press and pump out some of these if you like.

I hope this helps, be careful and have fun testing.

 

[PDL]

No big deal, but did you guys notice the dates on this thread?
Welcome to the forum.
But I think a 2 year old conversation might take a bit to restart.

 

[Plumbago]

You can also use Hogdon HP-38. It's the same as 231...Either powder with 231 or 200 cast 5gr. works great.....best regards Plum

 

[JBnTx]

No big deal, but did you guys notice the dates on this thread?

I didn't until you said something.

Reloading information is timeless.

 

[peppercorn]

I've been loading HP-38 under 200 grain LSWCs form Bayou Bullets.

My lyman 4th edition Cast bullet Handbook states:

Starting charge: 5.4 Max charge: 6.1 COL 1.235

I have read in this and other threads where a lot of guys are in the 4.0-5.2 range and seem to really like the results.

My question is based on the premise: 'Don't load below the minimum' yet , it seems, many do, in this scenario.

I am having excellent results with 5.5 grains and a 1.25'' COL out of a Sig P220 at 20 yards.

The Dan Wesson seems to like 5.2 grains, 1.25'' COL.

My question is how low is too low and what are the real dangers, if any?

 

[Rpg]

5.4 to 5.6grs of W231 is a factory equivalent load for the 230gr RN.

You can use the same load with a 200gr SWC for a "combat" load, or drop back to 5.0grs or so for a target load.

I've used this load with a 200 gr H&G #68 cast bullet since 1979 for everything. Gives 1.5 to 2" groups (5 shot) at 25 yards from sand bags.