45 Auto loads!

[Musket Man]

I loaded some test loads today for my Springfield 1911 45 ACP's.

185 grain Hornady XTP with 4.5 and 5.5 grains 700X. 5 and 6 grains HP-38

230 grain Hornady XTP with 4.5 and 5 grains 700X. 4.5 and 5.5 grains HP-38

What are your favorite 45 Auto loads?

 

[bigmoose]

So far I've just been shooting factory ammo in my Springfield. Finding powder has been a big problem around here. I have not seen 700X in many years. I gave away what I had to a friend who shoots trap. I have finally scored some Titegroup and I'll be loading up some 200 gr. XTP's when I get a chance. How do your loads shoot? I'm looking forward to seeing more posts to your thread.

 

[Musket Man]

I havent tried them yet. I just bought a compact 1911 and I want to try them in it more then my mil spec 1911 but its still at the dealer since once again my background check was delayed. 700X and HP-38 have been pretty available at 1 place here and I already had them for other loads so I decided to start with them.

 

[Musket Man]

I got to do a little shooting today. Test loads were fairly successful in finding out what didnt work. Onlt 1 load (230XTP and 5.5 HP-38) cycled in the compact 1911. The others just didnt make enough pressure to eject the case. The Mil Spec cycled with all of then but the lower loads didnt have much extra ejecting the case. Then I loaded 185XTP's with 6.9gr of HP-38, which is the max load in the Hornady book. That load shot and cycled well. 230XTP and 6gr HP-38 worked well too. I have 4 different loads loaded with HS-6 to try but it started raining and I didnt get to try them yet. I also tried some Ranier lead safe bullets and I didnt notice any difference in how it shot between them and the Hornady XTP's.

 

[bigmoose]

MM... Sounds like you are getting your loads dialed in. I've been preping cases and now I'm ready to start putting them together. I've checked the Hodgdon web site for starting Titegroup loads. I've also got a pound of Unique and I may try that also with the 200 gr XTP's. I'll be shooting them in my Mil Spec 1911.

I have not reloaded any pistol cases in many years but I've done a lot of rifle reloading. When I reload for my rifles I always make sure my cases are trimmed to the same length. From what I've read on several web sites regarding the 45 acp, no one ever mentions trimming their cases. I know the 45 headspaces on the mouth of the case. All my cases (new and fired) are within specs but are not the same length. Is this going to be a problem?

I wonder if other members would share their pet loads?

 

[Sawfish]

Using the H & G style 200 gr wadcutter bullet, I get good accuracy and perfect function with 5.0 gr. of Red Dot. This is an old time shotgun powder, which takes up room in the ACP case. It comes in larger sized canisters, and is generally more available than some of the newer propellants in the "powder of the month" club.

Bigmoose, because the 45 ACP headspaces on the case mouth, you should be sure that all of your cases start out the same length. After the initial trim, it is not much of an issue because straightwall ACP cases stretch very little due to the low operating pressures. That is the method I use. However, I know some shooters that never trim their cases, and have no function problems.

 

[bigmoose]

Thanks Sawfish. I thought that the cases were to be trimmed. What's weird, is that the fired cases that I've checked are shorter than the new ones even after sizing them. That is the opposite of rifle cases. I've got 5 or 6 hundred cases... going to take awhile.

 

[Musket Man]

I am loading once fired mixed headstamp cases and the lengths are not very consistent. Some are slightly short too. So far they have not had any issues. I have not seen any of the powders either of you are using around here. I was hoping 700x would work because its cheaper and avaliable but I was not very impressed with it so far. Im anxious to try the loads with HS-6. Maybe I can get home before dark tomorrow!

 

[Musket Man]

Got to shoot a little more tonight. I am really liking HS-6! I still needed max loads to cycle the compact 1911 but it shot well with them and I felt it had a little less recoil then the other powders. I got 100 loaded with 230 grain bullets and I going to load 100 with 185's for some serious testing!!

 

[pre6422hornet]

5.0 of Bullseye under a 200gr SWC from Missouri bullet company.

Scary accurate out of both my fullsize Kimber and Glock 30.