Best 45ACP load for a Bowling Pin Match?

[ballistic]

I'm going to a bowling pin match this weekend and usually use 185 grain or 200 grain lead for steel matches.
The only loads I have currently are 185 grain lead SWC under 5.5 grains of W231.
I have not shot at bowling pins yet so I don't know how important it is that the bullet be heavy and powerful.
Sometime back I had read that people can use some pretty nasty loads to make sure they clear the table.
My pistol is a Kimber Custom II with a standard recoil spring.

Should I put together more vigorous loads for this match?
What have your used in the past or would you use?
Here is what I have to work with:
Bullets - 200 grain lead RNFP
- 230 grain copper coated FMJ profile
- 250 grain lead RNFP (made for 45 Colt but sized .452 and should work)
The only powders I have on hand now are Winchester 231, Red Dot, and HS-6.

Thanks for any help or advice.


__________________
I have some reloading components available local in OC or can ship.

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=227886

[DirtRacer151]

All you have to do is knock them over.... a well placed 22lr should do that. Load something thats just light enough to cycle your action for fast follow up shots. Have fun at Rolling Thunder!! I wish i was going.

[4D5auto]

While I was doing USPSA, I load my .45 with 200 gr. RN Electroplated lead cast from Extreme bullets, with 4.8 Gr. Tight Group. Any legit Match you will need to meet the Power Quotient, if I recall for the load I just listed, is 850FPS.

[ballistic]

All you have to do is knock them over.... a well placed 22lr should do that. Load something thats just light enough to cycle your action for fast follow up shots. Have fun at Rolling Thunder!! I wish i was going.

The flyer I have says there will be side events that you do have to clear the pins from a table. That's why I was asking.

[ballistic]

4D5auto, I see you updated your load today.


Please, I hope everyone will always check published data before trying to use any load from an internet source.

[5hundo]

I'd go with the 200gr. It has a little flatter trajectory that might be slightly more forgiving across multiple ranges of targets. It's a little faster too..

I load mine with with 5.5gr of W231 and they're very accurate. Pretty dirty, but very accurate...

[Timberwolf]

Years ago I used to shoot in a PPC league and we would have a bowling pin match about every 6 months or so for fun. At the time I shot a 1911A1 and for the pin match I used the 250 grn RN commonly used for 45LC. My powder at the time was Bullseye though I don't remember the load. As memory serves the load would knock them off the table (which was required) with a mid level or above hit.

As a note I used my target 200SWC load and also my 230gn ball load before trying the 250grn load and neither would reliably knock the pins off the table with one hit.

[BigJB]

Ive got a box of .45 super, 230 grn jhp


wicked **** if your gun is up to it

[f4tweet]

Your IPSC rounds are fine. The key is to hit the pins at the widest point to get them off the table. We used 200 gr. SWC with 4.2 gr. of Titewad and a 15# spring. My buddy did a 4.11, and I did a 4.22, and got beat!

[4D5auto]

4D5auto, I see you updated your load today.


Please, I hope everyone will always check published data before trying to use any load from an internet source.

+++111

Man, I would have hated myself if something had happened. I also hope people double check their load data. I personally look inside each case after the powder charge when hand loading to have a visual of not only a powder charge in the case, but how high up in the case the powder is! It's not hard to see a double charge! I'm glad I spotted and changed it ASAP!!!

[ballistic]

Well, I was too busy today to put together and test a new load.
I don't want to bring an untested load to a match tomorrow, so I loaded up some that I know shoot well in my pistol. 200 grain RNFP lead bullets behind 5.2 and 5.7 grains of W231. I'll start with the lighter load and switch to the heavier one if needed. I will be looking to hit that "sweet spot" on the pins.

Thanks for the tips and wish me luck at Rolling Thunder tomorrow!

[ballistic]

Your IPSC rounds are fine. The key is to hit the pins at the widest point to get them off the table. We used 200 gr. SWC with 4.2 gr. of Titewad and a 15# spring. My buddy did a 4.11, and I did a 4.22, and got beat!

You are right on this one. Using a fairly light load and 200 grain bullets those pins jumped off the table just fine, as long as I gave them a good hit at the widest part of the pin. Granted, we were shooting at virgin bowling pins. I have heard that they can double in weight if they have a lot of lead in them.
A heavier load would probably help for a less than ideal hit, but then my shot speed would be reduced from the increase in recoil.

My best time was 5.18 seconds. Not bad for my first time shooting pins. I need to practice more.

All in all, a really good time.

[f4tweet]

Good job!

[5ohguy]

I'm no expert, but I'd think 200gr or 230gr swc would do the job fine. Otherwise the heaviest RN ( 200-230) you can find.

I highly doubt jhp could expand in a bowling pin. And it would be a waste of money.

[f4tweet]

Those pins are Canadian Maple, and hard as an anchor.