Hot loads?

[ricknadine1111]

I loaded the Hornady 230 grain 45 acps at 5.5 grains of winchester 231 powder in winchester brass with Federal premiom match primers GM150M. Think these are safe to shoot? the 5.2 grain loads were ok in my 1911

[USN CHIEF]

Rick, what reloading manual are you using? Where are you getting your recipes? Go by the load data on your reloading manual.

[ricknadine1111]

The Hornady manual newest edition.

[USN CHIEF]

Then you are good to go. You can always send me a couple hundred and I can test them for you.

[DarkHorse]

Then you are good to go. You can always send me a couple hundred and I can test them for you.

I'm in NorCal, so if I'm closer than Chief you could save on shipping by letting me test them for you

If you've used a reloading manual, and proper technique, then you should be fine.

[ricknadine1111]

I have 500 5.5 grain and 700 5.0 grain and all with a 230 grain bullet.

[mecam]

I have 500 5.5 grain and 700 5.0 grain and all with a 230 grain bullet.

That's on the hot side, just about above recommended max load. Since you're shooting a 1911, you should be safe since it's an all metal pistol. Shoot a couple with one hand and see how it feels.

[Beelzy]

Yep, those rounds are going to be toasty.

Also a 10% waste of powder for some extra poop, IMO.

[Full Clip]

Huh, my Lee (2nd Ed.) says to never exceed 5.1 with 230s and Win. 231.
I only recently started using 231, so I'm looking for good advice.

[DarkHorse]

Speer #14 shows 230 gr TMJRN with 5.6 gr of W231 as a starting load. Each manufacturer's bullet reacts differently to a given pwder charge, due to different base shapes and other design characteristics. If you follow the bullet manufacturer's loading recipe, you should be fine.

[f4tweet]

I use 5.4 of 231 with a 200 gr. Bear Creek SWC @ 1.230 OAL. 5.6 is noticeably hotter. 5.2-5.4 should be good, depending on your OAL. Shorter, more pressure, longer, less pressure.

[5hundo]

If it were me, I wouldn't really run "hot" loads in a .45 with a 230gr bullet...

I like to run a lighter bullet and get a little flatter trajectory but that's just my preference. I'll sacrifice a little energy in lieu of a better arc...

I typically never load to the max of the recommended loads because of a few factors: brass doesn't last as long, I'm afraid to damage my weapon and I'm afraid to damage myself...

[Snapping Twig]

5.3g W231 and a 230g FMJ is the gold standard.

.2g isn't that big a difference in what is a relatively low pressure round.

[Black_Talon]

5.5gr of 231 is a perfect "factory hardball duplication" load. Shoots to the same POI as factory hardball loads. It's not a max load per any of the newish (as in "all loads in this manual have been thoroughly vetted by liability lawyers") loading manuals. FWIW, Hornady, Sierra, Nosler & WW give max loads of 5.7 or 5.8gr. Speer gives 6.2gr.

I've been shooting 5.5gr of 231 over 230FMJs for 30+ years now. Chronographs around 780-820 FPS out of every 5" 1911 I've ever used it in. 5.2/5.3 gr loads just seem a little "poofy" to me. When I want to shoot Target loads I use a 200gr LSWC over some light charge of Bullseye, 231 or VV N310.

[ricknadine1111]

Thanks, I called Nighthawk today and I got the same advise as to "shoot them all you want" it won't be problematic in the pistol.