.45 ACP Minor Loads

[Gary Newport]

I may as well drop the other shoe and start a thread to solicit folks' pet MINOR loads for .45 ACP. (I'll get around to the .45 GAP threads later. :yesnod:)

For GSSF, IDPA SSP or USPSA production, as well as for some other kinds of shooting, there is no real need to load a .45 to Major. However, some of the competitions DO require that the load make Minor (PF of 125) -- which ain't exactly difficult for a .45 ACP!

Accuracy, reliability (especially with stock springs) and shootability would probably be the most heavily-weighted criteria for choosing a load in this category. Other considerations might be cost and cleanliness.

To start this off, I'm currently loading .45 ACP Minor loads using exactly the same set-up for my Mellow Major loads, except that I use a 200 grain Rainier roundnose bullet rather than a 230 grain Rainier roundnose. The charge is 4.8 grains of Bullseye (yes, Bullseye) and COAL is just what I get with my Dillon die set to load the 230 grain bullets to about 1.272 (I think the 200 grainers actually come out a little shorter than the 230). Naturally, I shoot these in Glocks, G21SF and G30 (don't have a G30SF...yet).

So how about it? Who has some favorite Minor .45 ACP loads to suggest?

[AdamN]

Loading up a 185 to 200 grainer with VV310, Clays, bullseye, titegroup or other fast powders in the 750 - 800 fps range are always accurate amd pleasent to shoot.

You could probably go down to the low 4 grain range with bullseye and the 200gr and still get 100% function

[killarbb]

i am actually gonan play around with some Titegroup, clays, and unique(maybe) to see what i can come up with for my 1911 tomorrow. i am kinda thinkin it might be fun to run it in ESP and see what happens.

[ISUSteve]

I like 4 grains of 231 under a 200gr LSWC. Enough to reliabily run the slide, but not enough to feel. They come out around 630 fps in a 5" 1911.

Accuracy - 8" steel circle at 50 yards consistantly.

[Jake]

Thread revival time.....

I'm down to 4.2 WIN 231 out of my G30 SF with an OAL of 1.23/1.21. with a 230 gr. RLN

Thinking of trying 4.0 gr.

[Gary Newport]

Thread revival time.....

I'm down to 4.2 WIN 231 out of my G30 SF with an OAL of 1.23/1.21. with a 230 gr. RLN

Thinking of trying 4.0 gr.

A couple of questions: what sort of groups are you getting with that load at 25 yards and is it shooting to POA at 25 yards (if so, with what sights)?

Okay, that was three questions! :)

[Jake]

The farthest I've shot at with that load is 17 yards. (PPC League)

Strong hand, weak hand, sitting, kneeling, prone, right hand barricade and left hand barricade.

The only shot in the 7 ring was a left hand barricade (I'm a righty).

60 rounds total.

Stock sights, using normal sight picture.
http://i34.tinypic.com/15z5cau.jpg

[ede]

4.0 titegroup and a 230 gr. moly coated bullet, it'll cycle in my g30 but not my g30SF. i need to step on it just a little bit more to make it cycle the SF

[D. Manley]

Loading up a 185 to 200 grainer with VV310, Clays, bullseye, titegroup or other fast powders in the 750 - 800 fps range are always accurate amd pleasent to shoot.

You could probably go down to the low 4 grain range with bullseye and the 200gr and still get 100% function

Currently infatuated with 185 grain MG-JHP over 4.3 grains N-310 @ 1.208 OAL & Federal 150 primers. Soft, accurate & spot-on at 25 yards with my G-21. Go down to 4.1 and it's still accurate but ejection starts getting "iffy" with stock spring.

[Joe D]

I will on occasion "play" in ESP. I use one of my Kimbers with 9 round .45 mags. Starting with 10 in the gun works pretty well.
I load either 3.0 gr of Clays or 3.5 of Titegroup with a 200 gr LSWC. Makes PF easily. Both loads run about 675 fps. They will both function in a G21 with a 12 lb spring. I use a 12 lb recoil spring and a 17 lb main spring in my Kimber.

[Jake]

Gary,
FWIW...we both just broke the 100 mark on posts in this thread.
:cheers2:

[Gary Newport]

Gary,
FWIW...we both just broke the 100 mark on posts in this thread.
:cheers2:

:thumbsup: Now, we need to work on catching up with Koski!

[Steve Koski]

Nevah!!!!

Dis one be 3k.

[VN350X10]

I experimented with N320 with a 230 gr FMJ for a minor load in a Para LDA.
Got so low that it didn't MAKE minor & the Para still ran 100% !!
Kind of neat, WATCHING the bullet go down range indoors, sort of like a big pellet, was really funny when I put it over the chrono, I think the velocity was around 515-520 fps !

uncle albert

[Gary Newport]

Nevah!!!!

Dis one be 3k.

Steve, you are the greatest! (Unfortunately, GP doesn't have a "posting queen" smiley, so this will have to do! :wink5:)

[45shortcolt]

Try 4.0grns. WST w/200grn. LSWC. Bullseye accurate, very clean burning, and extremely low recoiling. Runs any 1911 it's been tried reliably in but will balk in an XD - too light.

[Glooooock]

Seems like everything in 200 gr bullet range pushed with under 4 grains of powder works very well . I find the most accurate load with mixed brass are if you sort cases by rim diameter ( rim defects ). After 8 + firings the cases head rim gets elliptical by a few thou , you may find 2-3 per hundred . Since most cases are never full spec length and hang on the extractor .

Any thoughts of the case head spacing off the mouth in the barrel are BS. So you really resting on the bullet in the barrel ( just above the case mouth 1/32 ") and extractor . Any bur and diameter change on the rim will hold the case off center .

While most aren't steady handed enough to notice ( me included ), one of the best loads is the 185gr JHP - VV320 , with 200grs LSWC VV310 not far behind . As always finding a spring / load combo that cycles is the bigger issue .

[Jailer]

My first post. :cheezy:

4.0 gr tightgroup, 230 gr Hornady HAP, 1.230 OAL. Runs perfect in my 21sf, 30 and 5" Kimber.

No chrono so I can only guess what velocity may be but it is VERY mild on recoil.

[BigSlick]

Welcome Jailer ;)

4.0 of TG is incredibly light. I've run many at 4.8 and thought they were a sneeze

Do you get any case scorching ?

[jawjaboy]

Welcome to GlockPost Jailer. Mighty pleased ta have you.

[Jailer]

Welcome Jailer ;)

4.0 of TG is incredibly light. I've run many at 4.8 and thought they were a sneeze

Do you get any case scorching ?

A tiny bit in the 21 and 30 but not much to speak of. None at all in the Kimber. Cases drop right next to my right foot. Makes searching for brass in the back yard nice and easy.

Welcome to GlockPost Jailer. Mighty pleased ta have you.

Thanks. Been reading a bit. Lots of good info here.

[craig110]

Hey Jailer, welcome aboard!

[Gary Newport]

It has been a while since I started this thread! I got distracted with trying to make an accurate 9mm 147 Minor load for G17 and G34 (haven't succeeded yet), among other things.

Anyway, 5.3 grains of good ole Bullseye, using a MG 185 grain HP at a COL of 1.20, makes for a great Minor load out of my G21SF. I haven't chronographed that load yet, but the (slightly less accurate) 5.2 version came in at 782 fps. The 5.3 load shoots close to POA at 25 yards ( a little high) and has given me best-9-out-of-ten groups of 2 1/8 to 2 1/2 inchs at that distance with my wrists rested on a sandbag.

[D. Manley]

It has been a while since I started this thread! I got distracted with trying to make an accurate 9mm 147 Minor load for G17 and G34 (haven't succeeded yet), among other things.

Anyway, 5.3 grains of good ole Bullseye, using a MG 185 grain HP at a COL of 1.20, makes for a great Minor load out of my G21SF. I haven't chronographed that load yet, but the (slightly less accurate) 5.2 version came in at 782 fps. The 5.3 load shoots close to POA at 25 yards ( a little high) and has given me best-9-out-of-ten groups of 2 1/8 to 2 1/2 inchs at that distance with my wrists rested on a sandbag.

Gary, I'll pass along a tip that I received from "DannyR" (AKA, "Coach") on the GTR forum. He was actually passing it along himself having gotten the load from a shooter (whose name I can't remember) who spent a ton of time & effort looking for an optimum GSSF load and who consistently places in a small, "rarified air", group of shooters with it. Bottom line, in 147 grain loads, the bullet makes a ton of difference. I was a bit hard to convince but I've since found it true...much moreso than in lighter bullet weights. DannyR recommended the Remington Match 147 grain FP bullet which, ain't cheap but if you want accuracy, I'm yet to see anything better. Unlike most bullets which shoot well with a specific load, this one seems to be highly tolerant and shoot very well with most anything within reason and spectacular with better loads. The load will make minor and will cycle a stock, unmodified, Glock with no problem.

The load from DannyR:

Remington 147 Match FP
5.0 grains AA #5
Federal or Winchester SPP
*As for OAL, I load it to 1.130 for my G-34 but Coach loads a bit shorter.

I have notes on several other loads with this bullet that shoot very accurately but the one above is as close to a guarantee as you're likely to find. For my own use, I normally shoot the 147 grain Zero JHP's for practice, etc. since I love the rebated heel for ease of loading but for small groups, the Zeros can't equal the Remmie match bullets.

[BillM]

Welcome Jailer ;)

4.0 of TG is incredibly light. I've run many at 4.8 and thought they were a sneeze

Do you get any case scorching ?

Buy/Borrow a chrono and check that load---it's pretty close the the
Major power factor floor for USPSA. (velocity in FPS X weight in grains
divided by 1000----165 is Major floor)

I run 4.2 gr TG under a 230 gr Bear Creek moly for 171 PF out of a
5" 1911.

[fredj338]

My minor load for the XDTAC, w/ stock spring, is 4.3gr of WST under a 200grLTC. It makes about 740fps, runs the gun fine, feels like a hot 9mm. It will group 2" all day @ 25yds, plenty accurate for any gun games. You try WST, you'll never go back to filthy BE.

[Gary Newport]

Calling Bullseye "filthy?" Well, it is sorta dirty--also sorta accurate. :smartass:

To put some perspective on the "dirty" part, I was shooting some Titegroup loads out of 9mm Glocks today and noticed much less soot on the muzzle area (and front sight) than I see on my G21SF after a similar number of rounds with Bullseye. I suppose I must agree that Bullseye is sorta dirty! :badmood:

Bullseye is nearly a century old. Ya gotta cut it some slack--just like we gotta cut those 1911s some slack.

[fredj338]

Calling Bullseye "filthy?" Well, it is sorta dirty--also sorta accurate. :smartass:

To put some perspective on the "dirty" part, I was shooting some Titegroup loads out of 9mm Glocks today and noticed much less soot on the muzzle area (and front sight) than I see on my G21SF after a similar number of rounds with Bullseye. I suppose I must agree that Bullseye is sorta dirty! :badmood:

Bullseye is nearly a century old. Ya gotta cut it some slack--just like we gotta cut those 1911s some slack.

Gary, I think BE is just refined black powder, why it's still so dirty. Really, give WST a try.

[Gary Newport]

Gary, I think BE is just refined black powder, why it's still so dirty. Really, give WST a try.

I think I have a small amount of WST. After I get past the Richmond GSSF match the last weekend in August, I should have some time to revisit the issue and try it in .45 ACP and GAP. The bullet will be a Montana Gold JHP.

I'm planning to shoot my G21SF in the new-this-year Heavy Metal division at the GSSF match, largely because I have an accurate load for it that shoots to POA. Using the MG bullet and 5.4 gains of Bullseye, with my wrists resting on a sandbag, the G21SF delivered a five-shot 1 5/8" group at 25 yards. I usually shoot 10-round groups and those have been running under 3" with 5.3 and 5.4 grains of BE.