45 ACP Reloading Advice

[Socalal]

I reload rifle, revolver and shotgun, but have never reloaded for a semi auto pistol. I have tons of RedDot and the brass is easy to find, so I'm thinking about reloading 45 ACP for a model 1911. Any advice or things to watch out for?
TIA, Al

[rice_man]

Straightforward if you already reload rifle. Find a recipe that works for your gun. Just watch out for those Small Pistol Primer cases!

[Tommy Gun]

Stay away from small pistol brass. Just stay with LP due to not needing to buy 2 types of primers.

Other then that follow recipies and find a load that works for your pistol. Plunk test your rounds into the barrel to make sure you don't have issues. Have fun making plinking rounds then try out some +p HP Rounds later.

[XDJYo]

Straightforward if you already reload rifle. Find a recipe that works for your gun. Just watch out for those Small Pistol Primer cases!

SPP in 45 is the DEVIL!!! I hand sorted all of my brass and still some would slip thru the cracks. Going to seat a LPP into a SPP pocket brings the press to a halt! (Dillon 650). Now, I'm a lot more picky when chasing brass at the range. I still hand sort it all, but usually toss some of the brass that I haven't already reloaded previously.

45 ACP is a forgiving round. I use 4.7 of Bullseye with a 230 grain FMJ. I started off at 4.2 and it functioned fine. I may bring it back down and see where I like it. I'd like to get to a softer shooting 45 for the wifey. I bought 200 grain coated SWC, but haven't loaded that yet.

[sirgrumps]

Watch OAL.
Make sure the rounds fit in your magazine.
Stay with the 200 SWC. The longer nose helps to eliminate feeding problems.

[Sailormilan2]

[Socalal]

Thanks for the loading data!

[eaglemike]

An overall length for the 200 swc suggested in many manuals is 1.250 to 1.260. Stay to the longer side if your magazine and chamber will allow for it.
Good luck!

[stormvet]

One of the easiest pistol calibers to reload, I use a case gauge. 1911s especially can have tighter chambers, if no case gauge the plunk test is very important. Always use your tightest chamber for the test.

I have around 2000 small pistol primer cases I keep separate, that way if I’m out of large pistol primers I can still shoot 45.

[Romeo_alpha01]

I’ll take those pesky SPP cases! Lol

[Steve45-70]

I put together about 500 yesterday on a single stage press. If you get into casting bullets the 45 is pretty cheap to shoot and very easy to reload. Only issue I have had is with nickel plated cases. Probably my dies but it I am going to have a failure to feed they are always them. Yeah the small primers ones suck. I basically just throw them and the nickel cases away. Brass is easy to come by. Have no idea about Red Dot. For powder coated lead I use WST and am happy with it .

[bigbossman]

An overall length for the 200 swc suggested in many manuals is 1.250 to 1.260. Stay to the longer side if your magazine and chamber will allow for it.
Good luck!

Aldo - The Plunk Test is where it's at, and will save you a lot of grief.

[Full Clip]

There ya go.

[Cowboy T]

I find that reloading .45 ACP is just like reloading a revolver cartridge. Same steps, same process. It's an easy round to do.

The only caveat I would mention is if you cast your own bullets. Size them to 0.451", and/or use a Lee Factory Crimp Die to make sure your rounds will fit every time, in any .45 ACP firearm. If you're using store-bought bullets, that issue should not come up. Since I use my cast "boolits" with .45 ACP, I do use the Factory Crimp Die for post-sizing. Works very well.

[JagerDog]

123456

1.230 COL, 45 Cal, 6gr Unique. (Ball ammo)

Or of course the appropriate amount of faster pistol powder.

And crimp just enough to eliminate the flare. 45 ACP is "supposed to" headspace on the case mouth.