45 ACP JSP & Target SP

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Bucksnort1

New member
I have a handful of 185 grain Tgt SP bullets and some 240 grain JSP bullets with .451" diameters. The target (I assume the Tgt on the box means target) soft points have a copper jacket covering the entire bullet except for a small amount of exposed lead at the tip. I cannot find loading data for either of these bullets. Do I load them as if they are FMJ or JHPs? Does anyone have recipes for these?
 
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I would be careful to use load data for similar weight bullets for my 1911. I would start at the bottom of the data and gradually work it up. I wonder if any one has more to add?
 
Look for something with a similar weight, bullet profile and similar construction (Jacketed, not Lead load data).

The 240 grain bullet is a little heavy for 45 ACP, but probably doable with light to medium 230 grain loads. 185 grain jacketed load data should be easy to find.

If the tip of the bullet is exposed or not makes no difference for load data. The tip of the bullet doesn't engage the rifling.
 
The Lyman #48 manual I have downloaded on my computer has 185 and 240 jacketed data for 45 Colt. Typically a revolver bullet would have some place to crimp into, but not always.

I have never loaded 45 Colt ammo but it sounds like either bullet would be fine. Typically loading for a revolver is much more forgiving because the shape of the bullet nose is irrelevant as long as it fits into the cylinder.
 
For the target bullets use a target load. 4.2 grains of Bullseye was the old standby for 185 grain jacketed match FMH bullets, and is well below maximum pressure with any jacketed 185 I've ever seen. It is below starting loads for this weight in some manuals, but is right at the starting load weight in Sierra's manual. They are loaded with the shoulder of the bullet (where it goes from full diameter to begin the ogive) is left about 0.020" or about a thumbnail's thickness forward of the case mouth if the case is in spec.

The 240's should be OK with the right charge. Sierra makes a 240 grain JHC they seat to 1.185" in the .45 Auto and say it shoots most accurately with 6.1 grains of Unique. 6.7 grains is maximum. 5.3 grains is the starting load for your workup.
 
You do not need bullet manufacturer specific data. You load according to the weight and jacketed or cast, not who made it or the shape. Plated bullets use cast data. Solid copper bullets use solid copper data.
Like Nick says, for target bullets use target loads. Been using 4.5 of Bullseye with cast 230 RN and TC for eons myself.
A 240 is a .45 Colt bullet. However, Alliant shows up to 260's on Handloads.com(not listed on Alliant's site) with a 240 grain JHP start load of 4.5 of Bullseye, 5.0 being max. and 1.21" as the OAL.
 
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