.45 ACP Major

[Gary Newport]

Okay, so making a power factor of 165 with a .45 ACP (or GAP) isn't exactly difficult, especially with 230-grain bullets -- they just need to roll out of the barrel!

However, those of us shooting gun games would like to do it with the most accuracy and least recoil possible. Some us may even want to optimize other factors (economy, muzzle flash, clean-burning), so I thought I'd start a thread to get everybody's "pet loads" for this cartridge when shooting CDP in IDPA or USPSA Limited-10 Major.

My current choice is perhaps a bit old-fashioned, 4.8 grains of Bullseye with 230 grain Rainier Ballistics round-nose bullets, but it works -- and doesn't cost as much as some of the other powders out there.

Anybody else got a favorite Major load for this cartridge?

[D. Manley]

Okay, so making a power factor of 165 with a .45 ACP (or GAP) isn't exactly difficult, especially with 230-grain bullets -- they just need to roll out of the barrel!

However, those of us shooting gun games would like to do it with the most accuracy and least recoil possible. Some us may even want to optimize other factors (economy, muzzle flash, clean-burning), so I thought I'd start a thread to get everybody's "pet loads" for this cartridge when shooting CDP in IDPA or USPSA Limited-10 Major.

My current choice is perhaps a bit old-fashioned, 4.8 grains of Bullseye with 230 grain Rainier Ballistics round-nose bullets, but it works -- and doesn't cost as much as some of the other powders out there.

Anybody else got a favorite Major load for this cartridge?

Gary, I know you've seen all the data on Clays before so, I'll skip it. My current favorite in .45 is Solo 1000. With your 230 Grain Rainiers, around 5.0 Gr. is soft, accurate and zero flash. I'd bet my lunch tomorrow you'd like it...(hell, its just gonna' be a salad anyway). :smilewinkgrin:

[918v]

I like 4.9 grains of Bullseye, the original load for the 45 ACP.

[Gary Newport]

I like 4.9 grains of Bullseye, the original load for the 45 ACP.

What can I expect from that additional 0.1 grains of Bullseye? :wink5:

[Gary Newport]

Gary, I know you've seen all the data on Clays before so, I'll skip it. My current favorite in .45 is Solo 1000. With your 230 Grain Rainiers, around 5.0 Gr. is soft, accurate and zero flash. I'd bet my lunch tomorrow you'd like it...(hell, its just gonna' be a salad anyway). :smilewinkgrin:

I might try the Solo 1000 in a shoot-off against my Bullseye load. Clays just makes me nervous -- it takes pressure non-linearity to a whole new level! :yikes:

Any more pet loads out there for making 165 and change?

[D. Manley]

"I might try the Solo 1000 in a shoot-off against my Bullseye load. Clays just makes me nervous -- it takes pressure non-linearity to a whole new level!..."

Be sure to post a note after you've ran your trials...I'd love to learn your results and know what you think, regardless.

[grr]

230gr Berry's plated RN, 4.2gr Titegroup, OAL 1.26, 745fps out of a 5" Kimber.

[Randyc74]

Hey Guys
I'm new to the forum and just joined USPSA. I'm looking for .45 major loads with the following components. I shoot a Springfield XD45 4". I plan to shoot in Limited 10 and would like the loads suitable for both practice and competition.

1. Unique Powder
230 Gr. Ranier Plated RN bullets

2. Unique Powder
230 Gr. Oregon Trail Hardcast Lead RN Bullets

Thanks, Randy

[VN350X10]

My standard loading for a .45ACP is a 230 RN & 5.0 of Win 231.
If a 1911 won't run on this load, it needs work.
Easy shooting load & I've never seen it go "minor", even when fired out of a commader length pistol.
DRAWBACK.......231 burns DIRTY.

uncle albert

[bobo06]

Haven't shot IPSC for a few years but back when I did the major power factor was 175. I shot a 200 lead SWC out of a lyman mold with 5.7 grains of WST. It made 179 to 180.
I used W231 before that but it is dirty and it is temperature sensitive. Check it with a chrono . !65 should be a breeze to make

[45shortcolt]

200grn. lead/plated - 5.0grns. WST
230grn. lead/plated - 4.9grns. WST

Both make major easily and are extremely accurate/very clean burning to boot. The 200grn. recipe is my favorite all 'round load as it shoots flat enough regardless of the game. A bit light for pins but great for just about everything else.

[slam45]

200gr RN Poly-M coated cast, sized .452" (Black Bullets International)
WLP, mixed .45ACP
4.5 VV N310
AOL 1.250 ( +/- .002)
TC .465 to .467
My Les Baer PII L10 gun runs this load at 875fps & I can shoot bullet holes with it out to where I can't make out the holes anymore... My G30 shoots this load well too, but I have to sweeten it a bit to get up to major with the 3.75" barrel.. 4.5gr is the published max so going beyond that is not recommended or encouraged, that said, in my G30 with a fully supported Jarvis barrel no issues or pressure signs with loads in the 825 to 850fps range. I routinely shoot 12ga shotgun shells at 35' with this load to freak folks out at the range and know my G30 is dead on.

[BillM]

230 gr RN Bear Creek Moly
4.2 Solo 1000

Right at 172 Power Factor, very soft.

[Timberwolf]

A subject that I've dealing with lately.

All loads fired from an STI Trojan, and I want to strive for about 172 - 174 PF. The chrono used is a PACT Professional and the screens at 10'.

I've been using 4.8gr/Bullseye under a 230gr LRN. Chrono'd at 194.

Wanting to get the PF down, I went to 4,6gr. This chrono'd at 187. Still too high.

Load 20rds each of 4.2gr and 4.4gr.

4.2gr came out at 168 - too close to 165 with not enough of a margin. Too low for IPSC (170).

4.4gr came steaming out at 177. A little higher than I really wanted but I've decided to stop a go with this load.

I've also chrono'd factory.

Federal AE 230gr FMJ - 199

WWB 230gr FMJ - 196

Remington-UMC 230gr FMJ - 193

CCI Blazer Brass 230gr FMJ - 171

I hope this is useful to one and all.

[fredj338]

200grn. lead/plated - 5.0grns. WST
230grn. lead/plated - 4.9grns. WST

Both make major easily and are extremely accurate/very clean burning to boot. The 200grn. recipe is my favorite all 'round load as it shoots flat enough regardless of the game. A bit light for pins but great for just about everything else.

IMO, there isn't a better powder for the 45acp. My loads are close to your:
4.9gr under a 200grLTC makes 850fps
4.3gr under a 230grLRN makes 750fps
Both are soft shooting & accurate, either will make 2" all day @ 25yds from my XDTAC or 1911. You just got to try WST Gary.:wavetowel2:

[Gary Newport]

IMO, there isn't a better powder for the 45acp. My loads are close to your:
4.9gr under a 200grLTC makes 850fps
4.3gr under a 230grLRN makes 750fps
Both are soft shooting & accurate, either will make 2" all day @ 25yds from my XDTAC or 1911. You just got to try WST Gary.:wavetowel2:
...and I will! However, my Bullseye loads are plenty accurate in my G21SF--though one has to look closely in the huge .45 ACP case to see that there is actually some powder in there!

I don't (and won't) shoot naked lead in a Glock or any other pistol. My Bullseye loads with 185 grain Montana Gold HPs have given me 2 1/4 " inch groups frpm a sandbag rest at 25 yards out of my G21SF.

Have you (or has anyone else) tried VV N310 in .45 ACP (or .45 GAP)?

[D. Manley]

...and I will! However, my Bullseye loads are plenty accurate in my G21SF--though one has to look closely in the huge .45 ACP case to see that there is actually some powder in there!

I don't (and won't) shoot naked lead in a Glock or any other pistol. My Bullseye loads with 185 grain Montana Gold HPs have given me 2 1/4 " inch groups frpm a sandbag rest at 25 yards out of my G21SF.

Have you (or has anyone else) tried VV N310 in .45 ACP (or .45 GAP)?

4.3 grains of N-310 does it for me with MG 185 JHP's Gary...I can drop it to 4.1 with some copper jacketed bullets with good accuracy.

[fredj338]

...and I will! However, my Bullseye loads are plenty accurate in my G21SF--though one has to look closely in the huge .45 ACP case to see that there is actually some powder in there!

I don't (and won't) shoot naked lead in a Glock or any other pistol. My Bullseye loads with 185 grain Montana Gold HPs have given me 2 1/4 " inch groups frpm a sandbag rest at 25 yards out of my G21SF.

Have you (or has anyone else) tried VV N310 in .45 ACP (or .45 GAP)?

I understand the non lead preference in a Glock, but lead bullets are perfect for any revolver & most semiautos, particularly 45acp. My lead bullet loads are easily as accurate as most cheap jacketed bullets. Yes, I can get slightly better accuracy w/ something like an XTP or Sierra, but at a huge cost diff. My best LSWC loads will do under 2" all day @ 75ft in my 1911 XDTAC, they just don't feed 100% in the XD, so I have switched to a 200grLTC for both. It isn't quite as accurate, but will still break 2 1/2" @ 75ft.

[Gary Newport]

I understand the non lead preference in a Glock, but lead bullets are perfect for any revolver & most semiautos, particularly 45acp. My lead bullet loads are easily as accurate as most cheap jacketed bullets. Yes, I can get slightly better accuracy w/ something like an XTP or Sierra, but at a huge cost diff. My best LSWC loads will do under 2" all day @ 75ft in my 1911 XDTAC, they just don't feed 100% in the XD, so I have switched to a 200grLTC for both. It isn't quite as accurate, but will still break 2 1/2" @ 75ft.

Fred, Hodgdon's data show a max WST load of 5.1 grains for 898 fps with a 200-grain JHP. Given that (1) I would be loading MG 200 FP, (2) I only need a velocity of around 840-850 fps for Major with that bullet weight and (3) most published data seems, er, optimistic on velocity, where do you think I might find the "sweet spot" with WST?

Hodgdon lists the charge range for 230-grain FMJ to be 4.1/733 to 4.9/848 with WST. In that bullet weight, I'd like to see something around 740-760 for a major load. What's your best guess on the WST charge weight for that?

(An aside, purely for Fred: I got an email from Graf's after placing my order for, among other things, a 4 lb. jug of WST (based on Fred's persistant championing of that powder for .45 ACP), instructing me to call them. I did and was told that the 4-pounders were out of stock, despite what the website said. I was given the choice to accept four 1-lb containers of WST at a slightly higher price. Being a certified CRB, I was tempted to cancel the WST part of the order...but the thought of Fred haunting me like Jacob Marley in Dickens' story caused me to pop for four of the one-pounders! :notworthy:)

[fredj338]

Fred, Hodgdon's data show a max WST load of 5.1 grains for 898 fps with a 200-grain JHP. Given that (1) I would be loading MG 200 FP, (2) I only need a velocity of around 840-850 fps for Major with that bullet weight and (3) most published data seems, er, optimistic on velocity, where do you think I might find the "sweet spot" with WST?

Hodgdon lists the charge range for 230-grain FMJ to be 4.1/733 to 4.9/848 with WST. In that bullet weight, I'd like to see something around 740-760 for a major load. What's your best guess on the WST charge weight for that?

(An aside, purely for Fred: I got an email from Graf's after placing my order for, among other things, a 4 lb. jug of WST (based on Fred's persistant championing of that powder for .45 ACP), instructing me to call them. I did and was told that the 4-pounders were out of stock, despite what the website said. I was given the choice to accept four 1-lb containers of WST at a slightly higher price. Being a certified CRB, I was tempted to cancel the WST part of the order...but the thought of Fred haunting me like Jacob Marley in Dickens' story caused me to pop for four of the one-pounders! :notworthy:)
I would try 4.8-4.9gr @ 1.210"-1.225" OAL, for about 850fps, YMMV. Again, you don't like the powder, I'll drive up there & buy the rest of it off you. Yep, I think it is that good.:biker_h4h: