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45acp help
- Thread starter 00bryan
- Start date
I can't help you with Longshot I don't use it, but it sounds a lot like Power Pistol powder in the results. (uses a lot of powder) You may want to reduce your load to 7.2 grains (min load) and work your way up to find what works for you.
I would suggest Win-231 or H-38 which are faster powders and work much better with smaller loads of powder, if you can find them.
Good luck and stay safe.
Jim
I would suggest Win-231 or H-38 which are faster powders and work much better with smaller loads of powder, if you can find them.
Good luck and stay safe.
Jim
Welcome to TFL.
I have no personal experience with Longshot; but from what I know, it would seem to be too slow for your application. It's basically a "heavy field propellant" for shotguns. To me, that term translates for use only in heavy hot loads in pistols. Hodgdon's site also mentions "high velocity choice" for 38 Super, 40 S&W, and 357 Sig - all much higher pressure cartridges than 45 ACP.
In short, it would seem that Longshot needs more pressure than 45 ACP operates. And the light 185gn slugs make it all the worse.
I don't know if it would solve your problem, but moving to a more appropriate - faster burn rate - propellant is something you need to do anyway.
I have no personal experience with Longshot; but from what I know, it would seem to be too slow for your application. It's basically a "heavy field propellant" for shotguns. To me, that term translates for use only in heavy hot loads in pistols. Hodgdon's site also mentions "high velocity choice" for 38 Super, 40 S&W, and 357 Sig - all much higher pressure cartridges than 45 ACP.
In short, it would seem that Longshot needs more pressure than 45 ACP operates. And the light 185gn slugs make it all the worse.
I don't know if it would solve your problem, but moving to a more appropriate - faster burn rate - propellant is something you need to do anyway.
I knew it wasn't ideal but was hoping to make it work, I read where guys where getting higher velocities useing it, but I can't take the blow back in my face, i do have titegroup also might switch to that and see what I get with that combo I will just save the longshot for another use down the road maybe
darkroommike
New member
8.0 grains
Wondering how you arrived at the load you are using. The web version of the Hogdon loading date suggest a starting load of 7.2 and a maximum load of 8.2. Your load is pushing the upper limit.
Wondering how you arrived at the load you are using. The web version of the Hogdon loading date suggest a starting load of 7.2 and a maximum load of 8.2. Your load is pushing the upper limit.
Hodgdon data lists Titegroup at between 5 and 5.5 for a 185gr JSWC. for a velocity between 892 and 956. Sounds like a nice clean load.
I agree. Titegroup would likely deliver a much more "balanced" load.
ammo.crafter
New member
45
What is the purpose of your reloads?
Competition?
Target practice?
Steel?
3-gun?
etc?
Why such a stout load?
As others have mentioned, Winchester 231 is a swwet powder for the 45acp.
I shoot competitive PPC with the .45 acp and run a 200gr Cast SWC at around 840 f/s and find it extremely accurate and without blowback.
I realize we all have to adapt to whatever powers are available; good luck.
What is the purpose of your reloads?
Competition?
Target practice?
Steel?
3-gun?
etc?
Why such a stout load?
As others have mentioned, Winchester 231 is a swwet powder for the 45acp.
I shoot competitive PPC with the .45 acp and run a 200gr Cast SWC at around 840 f/s and find it extremely accurate and without blowback.
I realize we all have to adapt to whatever powers are available; good luck.
As others have mentioned, Winchester 231 is a sweet powder for the 45acp.
AB-SO-LUTE-LY My personal favorite - hands down.
. . . run a 200gr Cast SWC at around 840 f/s and find it extremely accurate
Not surprised at all. I don't push my 200 LSWC's quite as hard (I don't shoot my 1911 competitively), but the load combo (W231/200LSWC) is notoriously accurate, and mine are no exception as well.
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond or not covered by currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
T. O'Heir beat me to my question. Is it actually something coming back leaking through the slide and frame gaps and speckling your face and glasses, or are you just referring to the muzzle blast? If it's the former, the stout load may be running your gun a bit hard and a stiffer recoil spring may help. If it's muzzle blast, it's no wonder. Hodgdon has a measured 1044 fps for their maximum load, while QuickLOAD predicts 1042 fps, suggesting its powder model is pretty close, though its peak pressure is a little higher. It suggests only 85% of the powder is burning inside a 5" test barrel, and it will be still less in a shorter barrel. So this stuff is running high muzzle pressures and temperature, both of which make for a lot of muzzle blast.
You can get more complete burn and similar velocity from N340, but it's harder to find. It should burn more completely (92%) for you.
.45 Auto can be a funny duck. Faster powders also appear to have a stab at it as long as you are willing to load to +P levels. These will cut muzzle blast significantly. Since the loads needed exceed published maximums, you will have to work up to them carefully.
The suggestions to try HP-38/231 is good. Same with Bullseye and Unique. You need a chronograph and an eye for pressure signs to do this, but you'd be surprized how fast you can get a bullet moving with them.
T. O'Heir beat me to my question. Is it actually something coming back leaking through the slide and frame gaps and speckling your face and glasses, or are you just referring to the muzzle blast? If it's the former, the stout load may be running your gun a bit hard and a stiffer recoil spring may help. If it's muzzle blast, it's no wonder. Hodgdon has a measured 1044 fps for their maximum load, while QuickLOAD predicts 1042 fps, suggesting its powder model is pretty close, though its peak pressure is a little higher. It suggests only 85% of the powder is burning inside a 5" test barrel, and it will be still less in a shorter barrel. So this stuff is running high muzzle pressures and temperature, both of which make for a lot of muzzle blast.
You can get more complete burn and similar velocity from N340, but it's harder to find. It should burn more completely (92%) for you.
.45 Auto can be a funny duck. Faster powders also appear to have a stab at it as long as you are willing to load to +P levels. These will cut muzzle blast significantly. Since the loads needed exceed published maximums, you will have to work up to them carefully.
The suggestions to try HP-38/231 is good. Same with Bullseye and Unique. You need a chronograph and an eye for pressure signs to do this, but you'd be surprized how fast you can get a bullet moving with them.
.45 Auto can be a funny duck.
I've always considered 45 ACP to be something of a wildcard in the handgun loading world. I think it's the low pressure, coupled with the large caliber that makes it different. On balance, powders don't burn as fast. W231 probably burns slower in 45 ACP than HS-6 does in 357 Magnum - an oversimplification I suppose, but it makes the point.
As Unclenick mentioned, with 45 ACP, you can get surprising velocities out of powders that are generally considered "fast." I've pushed 230gn jacketed bullets past 800 f/s with headroom to spare, using W231. And Bullseye is well documented to be a solid stout performer, even with 230 grainers.
Thanks for all the input and help guys, I should have put it in my original post but this is my very first try at reloading and if something dosnt sound right about what I'm doing it's probably because it isn't, in learning to reload from reading and asking question from guys like you all
this is my very first try at reloading
When in doubt, ask. We're here.