Making major with .45 ACP

[ducky_0811]

Hey Calguns, I've been shooting .45 for a bit and am dabbling in USPSA now. I've been loading 5.5 gr of 700x with a 200gr bear creek hbrn to 1.230" and it's a good load but I've always heard clays is one of the best for low recoil .45 loads that'll make major PF.

I saw a bottle at a LGS and decided to give it a whirl. Most load data I could find points to the ball park of 4.0 - 4.2 with a 200gr LSWC. I loaded up a ladder from 3.8 to 4.6 in .2gr increments and shot them last night. Holy cow... low recoil was right. 3.8 wouldn't cycle 100% but even at 4.6 there were no pressure signs (rounded primers) and felt recoil was very mild.

Didn't have a chrono to check velocity, so does anyone have experience with this powder/bullet combo that can speak to round-a-bout velocities? Google-fu has told me the moly coated bear creeks need a bit more powder than a cast lead bullet to hit the same velocity, so my guestimate is that the 850 fps mark is around 4.4-4.6?

Guess I'm just looking for some verification that I'm on the right track. Handgun used is a cz97b 4.8" barrel.

[mjmagee67]

Get a Chrono. It's the ONLY way to know what your ammo/gun combo is doing in terms of Power Factor.

When I went from a S&W M&P 9Pro to a CZ SP-01 I had to add .2 to .3 grains of powder to make Power Factor. When I shot my M&P loads out of the CZ they were 116-118PF when I shot the same load out of the same box out of the M&P it was 128-131PF.

My Kimber 1911 9mm runs about 1 to 2 PF's lower than the M&P too!!!!But my M&P load still make Minor just a little close for a major match, fine for local stuff.

So if you can't afford to buy a Chrono, borrow one. Your gun, your load, your PF.

[ducky_0811]

Good advice, I've been looking around a chrono but just haven't pulled the trigger on one yet because they all seem to get mixed reviews except for outlandishly priced units. I'll be trying to chrono this weekend to double check what I'm loading.

I know most club level matches don't require chrono at classifier stages but I don't want to be "that guy" who didn't make PF

[slayer61]

If you've bought any amount of powder and primers you already spent chrono money. I bought the $100 unit from midway and it hasn't even hiccupped yet.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/852429/competition-electronics-prochrono-digital-chronograph?cm_vc=ProductFinding

It's money well spent.

[NorCalNative]

Here are some results from my own load development to get my 97B to major. Constant for all loads: mixed brass, 230gr xtreme plated round nose, 1.26" overall length, CCI lg pistol.

3.5gr clays, 620/646/665fps
5.0gr Win 231, 669/731/720fps
4.7gr Red Dot, 734/744/757fps
5.3gr Unique, 731/681/739fps

Picture shows groups at 10 yards using sandbags.

All loads functioned fine. Pistol is stock. Brass landed in a nice pile a few feet away.

Function check video. I don't remember the particular load.

https://vimeo.com/143091147

Hope that helps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ducky_0811]

My first load was 5.0 of 231 with the 230 xtreme. Good solid load but the bear creeks are just cheaper. I also have a box of 230 bear creeks I could try but I really like the 200's.

I've converted my 97b to single action and put in the cgw competition hammer and dawson sights. She's a real nail driver now. If I remember I'll post my velocities after this weekend.