Reloading for 1911

[stilly]

Put my first 1911 in jail Monday and I'm going to order dies for it. Lee 4 die or 3 die set? Most of the brass out there is lp primers right. I've already ready have unique and titegroup any other powders you like for 45. I'll be working up my loads out of a manual so I'm not looking for data. Mostly be loading 230 gr cast. Will need to work up a load for 185 xpb as well

I have always been partial to the 3 die sets.

As a reloader- ESPECIALLY for the .45 you might find yourself reloading plated and cast/PC pills and as Bill Steel pointed out once or twice (or ten times) the 4th die is a FCD which will have a tendency to resize everything as you crimp- or rather, SWAGE your bullets down a .001 or .002 or so, so you will loose that over-sized bullet benefit.

Just learn how to crimp properly and there really is no need for that 4th die.

The EXCEPTION would be for .357 mag or .44 mag where you may or may not want a heavier roll crimp but I have found that even putting a light crimp seems to work fine. Just remember that crimping is only there to hold the bullet in place.

Powders for .45 are all over and many are good. I do not care for unique, but mainly because I really like CFE PISTOL, WST, WSF, 700-X, BLUE DOT, POWER PISTOL,

Stay away from 800-X though. Leave that for the shotgunners, but 700-X is actually REALLY good stuff for the .45. I think I still have about 2700 of those leftover. I have heard good things about both of your powders, but I have not really used them. Unique I have but I do not like very much. Titegroup is unopened.

If I had to pick only ONE powder. I would go for CFE pistol or 700-X. And CFE seems to give a higher velocity to some of the others.

[Milsurp Collector]

I agree with getting the 4 die set so you can taper crimp. You don't want recoil to cause bullet setback of the rounds in the magazine.

My favorite practice load for .45 ACP is the "geezer load" that uses Berry's 185 gr plated hollow base round nose bullets with either Hodgdon Clays or Winchester WST. For a long time I couldn't get Hodgdon Clays so I used Winchester WST, but recently Hodgdon Clays has been showing up in stores so I bought several pounds of it and I'll start using it. The Geezer loads I made with Winchester WST are pleasant to shoot and accurate. I expect the same with Clays.

The Geezer load https://www.berrysmfg.com/pub/files/...adMarkwell.pdf

For self defense loads I used Hornady 185 gr HP/XTP bullets with Alliant Power Pistol. I have started using Alliant BE-86 powder - which is a powder used by ammo manufacturers - in 9x19mm and I will probably try it in .45 ACP too. There is a large thread about BE-86 on another forum for those who are interested https://www.thehighroad.org/index.ph.../be-86.760289/

[Jjwisled]

I tried 800x in my 45 colt mod 94 and didn't like it. I tried a couple of different loadings of it but it always seemed dirty. Traded it off

[rm1911]

Reloading for 1911

But then again, Bullseye is old technology (100+ years old) while Titegroup is new technology.

Wouldn't want to use 100 year old technology. Good thing 1911's are a relatively new design.

Bullseye is my fav 45 powder. 5.4 grains and a 200 grain anything lead, jacketed, or plated. And 4 die set for my Dillon. Seat and crimp in separate stages. It's worth the hassle.

[pacrat]

My go to powder for 45 acp is 700-X

There are many powders that work just fine in this old warhorse.

JM2c

[Fishslayer]

Where the 4th LFCD really shines is loading cast bullets with mixed brass.

With the LFCD you can just start to close up the flare with the seating die & then give the final crimp with the LFCD. This avoids shaving lead while seating. The lead slivers can come off in the chamber and make for chambering issues.

[beetle]

My go to powder for 45 acp is 700-X

There are many powders that work just fine in this old warhorse.

JM2c

NO NO NO NO NO, 700-X is absolutely terrible for .45ACP. Don't use it! ***










*** just kidding. I've heard it works well, but I use 700-X to load for my shotgun loads. What the powder was meant to do. Hate it when you handgunners buy up all the 700-X!

[stilly]

That is the problem with shotgun people. They suck up all the 700x and 800x off the shelves before new folks can give them a try...

When a duck hunter at Philips wholesale found out I was buying an 8lb bottle of 700x he called his buddies and they chased me out of San Dimas. My little Honda Vespa was maxed out putting down the road while scores of rednecks in camo were popping out of the bushes and hunting blinds everywhere...

[Joezamboni]

When a duck hunter at Philips wholesale found out I was buying an 8lb bottle of 700x he called his buddies and they chased me out of San Dimas. My little Honda Vespa was maxed out putting down the road while scores of rednecks in camo were popping out of the bushes and hunting blinds everywhere...

This is why I don't cast my own boolits

[beetle]

That is the problem with shotgun people. They suck up all the 700x and 800x off the shelves before new folks can give them a try...

When a duck hunter at Philips wholesale found out I was buying an 8lb bottle of 700x he called his buddies and they chased me out of San Dimas. My little Honda Vespa was maxed out putting down the road while scores of rednecks in camo were popping out of the bushes and hunting blinds everywhere...

[pacrat]

NO NO NO NO NO, 700-X is absolutely terrible for .45ACP. Don't use it! ***










*** just kidding. I've heard it works well, but I use 700-X to load for my shotgun loads. What the powder was meant to do. Hate it when you handgunners buy up all the 700-X!

I'm straddling the fence. I was originally using 700x as my go to shotty powder for 12-20ga. Ran out of Unique one day back in the 1970's and remembered an article in Gun World about pet loads from the Pro 45 guys of the day. IIRC it was Ray Chapman that swore by it. Now it is my GoTo 45 acp powder also.

[TomReloaded]

Are you guys individually measuring the charge for 700x? Its, by far, the worst powder for automatic dispensing ive used. Unique is bad too, but nothing close to 700x. It shot alright and everything, but jeez. Nearly a grain of charge variance in 2 different lee dispensers. Theres no powder that shoots so great that ill ditch my powder feeder.

I liked WST in .45. I like WST in everything but 9. Shoots well, pretty clean, meters well, and its pretty economical. Not as economical as titegroup, but its more tolerant to mistakes. Theres so many great powders these days that shoot well and meter excellent. I wouldnt mess around with the chunky poor metering powders.

[mtenenhaus]

hope i'm not hijcaking the thread but are the dillon .45 dies pretty good as well? any preferences?

[Jjwisled]

Lookslike I need to stock up on 700x if nothing else just for spite haha

[bigbossman]

Are you guys individually measuring the charge for 700x? Its, by far, the worst powder for automatic dispensing ive used. Unique is bad too, but nothing close to 700x. It shot alright and everything, but jeez. Nearly a grain of charge variance in 2 different lee dispensers. Theres no powder that shoots so great that ill ditch my powder feeder.

I've been using 700x for my .45 since the mid-90's, and have never had a problem metering it through my Lee auto measure, sitting on top of my Lee 1000. I load progressive, on a Lee 1000, with a Lee 3 die set. I've been doing it since about 1996 or so. Works great, and accurate enough through my Springfield to win my share of matches over the years.

700x is a great, versatile powder. I use it for 12 & 20ga, 45acp, 44mag, 9mm, and 38spl. I've even developed loads using it for 38-40, 32-20, and 25-20. Between 700x and H4895, I can load for just about anything in my safe.