.45 ACP load

[xxdabroxx]

right now im reloading 230gr w/ 5.1gr. Unique. I'm looking for something lighter.

Shooting out of a 1911 w/o a ramped barrel so im stuck to ball nose. What is the lightest ball nose round you guys have found, and whats your favorite load with it?

free pic.




100 posts woohoo!

[mike100]

lead bullets take lighter charges best, but you need 200 grain bullets to get lighter recoil. Many SWC 200gr 45 bullets feed well in my Colts with non-match chamber dimensions.

5.8 gr of Unique with a 200 gr lead bullet is pleasant to shoot. I even tried 185 gr wadcutter bullets, but they need a special ramp and throat job. They shoot, but jam frequently. You could hardly feel them though.

For slow velocities and light charges, a fast powder like winchester WST is excellent. Easiest shooting loads I ever made for 45acp were using less than 5 grains of WST if I recall right.

[xxdabroxx]

thanks, i will have to get some semi wad cutters and see how they feed. i know the ranger hollow points dont like to feed well, but i think the smooth tip should work better.

does the jacket on a bullet change the way feel of the load?

i noticed that you said,

5.8 gr of Unique with a 200 gr lead bullet is pleasant to shoot.

does the lead create more friction and maybe higher pressures. this i suppose would allow you to use a lighter charge and still cycle the gun. although being that it is not gas operated this could potentially be counter productive if my hypothesis is correct?

[dexter9659]

5.1 gr Unique w/ 200 LSWC is my tac load. Does well in my Kimber and I cant even feel it in my USP.

[scorpucla]

How fast is your current setup?

right now im reloading 230gr w/ 5.1gr. Unique. I'm looking for something lighter.

Curious, do you know how fast your current loads are going? Are you trying to get below 800 feet/second?

[xxdabroxx]

i have not fired the 5.1 gr load yet, only the 5.5's that i loaded a week or two ago.

and i have not yet shot them through the chrono. I think that they should be somewhere around 700 feet per second, according to my book.

also, i will not be able to chrono them for a while as my dad is having his 1911 sent off to get new sights put on it. So in a couple weeks i should be able to get it figured out.

i am not trying to get a specific speed, but rather a lighter felt recoil. I think our next loads are going to be 200 gr ball nose or SWC's. Just trying to decide if we want to go jacketed or not.

Is there much more barrel maintenance involved when shooting unjacketed bullets?

[rayra]

Shame to have such a cartridge / firearm and deliberately neuter it.

[sammy]

According to the Speer manual they start 230g ball loads at 5.5 of Unique. I shoot my 230g ball loads at 5.7 grains of Unique. It is similar to WWB and is very accurate. I would be supurised if 5.1 of Unique would cycle the gun reliabily.

[sammy]

Shame to have such a cartridge / firearm and deliberately neuter it.

I hope a load of 5.7 grains of Unique meets with your approval.

[Beelzy]

Heck, my pistol doesn't even feel right unless its burning 230s over 6 grains.

[xxdabroxx]

I would be supurised if 5.1 of Unique would cycle the gun reliabily.

have multiple weight recoil springs.

there are times when full loads are required, but while gaining muscle memory i don't feel that a full charge is of any benefit.