Is it a bear to reload the .45?
- Thread starter gunnny12
- Start date
spacecoast
New member
.45 ACP is one of the easier calibers to reload.
Be sure your Blazer ammo is the brass case version. The aluminum cases don't reload well, as they get cracks quickly which can leak gas and score your chamber. Otherwise, reloading is easy. 5 grains of Bullseye under a 230 grain round nose bullet is one of the oldest recipes around, and still works after about a century. It works with both jacketed and lead bullets. That's part of what makes this cartridge easy to reload for. The pressure is low enough that you get more interchangeability of bullets.
The original case used large pistol primers and most still do, but some small primer pocket brass has come into manufacture, so you want to separate those so you don't accidentally crush a large primer on one.
After flaring, the crimp needs to be adjusted to just remove the expander flare and to give you a case mouth diameter in the range of 0.467"-0.473", with 0.470" being the average that you shoot for in making the adjustment. There are exceptions to this, but you probably don't want to start learning loading for it with on the basis of a special case.
The original case used large pistol primers and most still do, but some small primer pocket brass has come into manufacture, so you want to separate those so you don't accidentally crush a large primer on one.
After flaring, the crimp needs to be adjusted to just remove the expander flare and to give you a case mouth diameter in the range of 0.467"-0.473", with 0.470" being the average that you shoot for in making the adjustment. There are exceptions to this, but you probably don't want to start learning loading for it with on the basis of a special case.
4runnerman
New member
Many different powders work, Very easy to load. What suprised me was the small amount of powder that is actually used in a 45. I use Titgroup. Records not in front of me, but it is like 4.6 gns of powder in a 230 gn bullet.
Several years ago, when I started reloading, I started with .45ACP. Very easy cartridge to reload. It seems the larger diameter bullet and cases, coupled with the straight walled (I know it's tapered, but it's no bottle neck) make it pretty forgiving.
My biggest problem initially was not removing enough of the bell in the case from expanding, causing some fails to feed. Once I screwed the taper crimp down a bit more, viola...............
It's still one of my favorites to reload and shoot. The other great thing about that caliber, is you can usually always find some kind of acceptable powder on the shelf to run them.
My biggest problem initially was not removing enough of the bell in the case from expanding, causing some fails to feed. Once I screwed the taper crimp down a bit more, viola...............
It's still one of my favorites to reload and shoot. The other great thing about that caliber, is you can usually always find some kind of acceptable powder on the shelf to run them.
Hammerhead
New member
Very easy to load for the .45 auto. I use the Blazer small primer brass for most of my loading, works great.
DAVID NANCARROW
New member
If a person is just beginning to reload, I would recommend the 45ACP to start with. Lots of available powders to choose from. the case is big enough to see if you have dropped powder into it and to compare powder levels if you are loading singly. Bullets are easy to come by, especially if you shop on line, and they are a lot easier to handle with my big fingers as opposed to a 9 or smaller.
My go to powders for the ACP are Unique and Bullseye. Neither are real clean by some folks standards, but you will be hard pressed to not find a good load from either. Not to mention it only takes a little bit of either one, and a pound goes a LONG ways.
As for bullets, pick your desired weight and there is an abundance of both lead plated or jacketed to choose from. If your simply looking for target shooting it's hard to beat the cast 185, or 200gr SWC. If you don't want to mess with the lead there are several who offer the same bullet plated which also shoots very well. If your looking for something to load for more serious business, I would look hard at the Berry Hybrid HP, or the Speer Gold Dot. Either of them are very respectable bullets in weights designed for taking care of business.
As for bullets, pick your desired weight and there is an abundance of both lead plated or jacketed to choose from. If your simply looking for target shooting it's hard to beat the cast 185, or 200gr SWC. If you don't want to mess with the lead there are several who offer the same bullet plated which also shoots very well. If your looking for something to load for more serious business, I would look hard at the Berry Hybrid HP, or the Speer Gold Dot. Either of them are very respectable bullets in weights designed for taking care of business.
g.willikers
New member
One of the most difficult things to get right is the amount of crimp.
Too little and, like 849ACSO sez, poor feeding.
Too much and the rounds don't headspace on the mouth as they should.
An easy way to judge is put a reloaded round next to a factory round and look straight down on both.
The amount of case mouth showing should be the same.
Too little and, like 849ACSO sez, poor feeding.
Too much and the rounds don't headspace on the mouth as they should.
An easy way to judge is put a reloaded round next to a factory round and look straight down on both.
The amount of case mouth showing should be the same.
Hunter Customs
New member
The 45acp was the first cartridge I started hand-loading, it was back in 1970 and I used one of the inexpensive Lee hand held kits.
It's also the cartridge that I've hand-loaded the most, for the simple reason of shooting it in competition.
At the height of my competition career I hand-loaded an fired 50,000 rounds of 45acp a year for three years and did so until I switched to the 40 S&W cartridge.
I always enjoyed loading the 45acp, it's an easy cartridge to hand-load and an easy cartridge to make accurate loads.
Although it's hard to find Winchester 231 was my powder of choice.
It's also the cartridge that I've hand-loaded the most, for the simple reason of shooting it in competition.
At the height of my competition career I hand-loaded an fired 50,000 rounds of 45acp a year for three years and did so until I switched to the 40 S&W cartridge.
I always enjoyed loading the 45acp, it's an easy cartridge to hand-load and an easy cartridge to make accurate loads.
Although it's hard to find Winchester 231 was my powder of choice.
You guys got me all fired up now on reloading it, and yep Unclenick they were not brass so swept them up and left them at the range I have a butt pack full of brass for it though.
Thanks again.
Will get on to the loading soon, a pisser to shoot the thing as seems a half as much recoil as the 44 Mag.
Yep they were aluminum cases, as not into it, so I found just now 150 cases of 50 fired and 100 new Win 45 cal cases all brass , and 100 230 gr sierra bullets, plus have the Bullseye already and with the cold rain next two days guess where I will be at.
In the house drinking, nope reloading.
I guess just make sure length is right then on the case?
Also found 300 9 MM new cases plus 200 bullets, forgot I had them.
Like Christmas day here.
Jeff
Thanks again.
Will get on to the loading soon, a pisser to shoot the thing as seems a half as much recoil as the 44 Mag.
Yep they were aluminum cases, as not into it, so I found just now 150 cases of 50 fired and 100 new Win 45 cal cases all brass , and 100 230 gr sierra bullets, plus have the Bullseye already and with the cold rain next two days guess where I will be at.
In the house drinking, nope reloading.
I guess just make sure length is right then on the case?
Also found 300 9 MM new cases plus 200 bullets, forgot I had them.
Like Christmas day here.
Jeff
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The aluminum cases are not intended to be reloaded. If you have a box of them they tell you that on the box.
The "N and "R" in the head stamp also stands for non-reloadable. I knew a guy that reloaded them for about 6 months showing everyone how smart he was by doing the "impossible" reloading non-reloadable cases. In the end chamber erosion caused by all of the failed cases forced him to replace his Kart barrel; however, he did learn the difference between "can't" and "shouldn't".
The "N and "R" in the head stamp also stands for non-reloadable. I knew a guy that reloaded them for about 6 months showing everyone how smart he was by doing the "impossible" reloading non-reloadable cases. In the end chamber erosion caused by all of the failed cases forced him to replace his Kart barrel; however, he did learn the difference between "can't" and "shouldn't".
9mm? I ran my own School in Toronto. Bought 9mm! Profit was good.
But for IPSC, loaded .45ACP, hope I remembered the weight right?
5.2 of 700X behind a 200g Hensley and Gibbs #68 mold, long nosed semi wadcutter, half wheel weights, and 1/2 lino type.
Loaded 10 rds, kept it for a year, exactly the same velocity! Was that ever an accurate round. Loaded on a Star progressive, invented the same year I was born 1935. Got real good clearing stove pipes, then in 1984 changed to 9mm, never had a stove pipe since!
My .38 special I loaded for my classes, 160g round nosed plated, locally produced, after many errors, bought them in Buffalo USA. Black stained lead?
Star machine, with my Wife loading the primers, 1000 an hour? 3.5g 700X?
Real slick in speed loaders. I think that's why my upper arms and shoulders are still good, at 80 YOA. Oh yes, all my Students were employed in some form of Law Enforcement, or Military.
Please excuse the walk down memory lane, ran my School for 25 years.
But for IPSC, loaded .45ACP, hope I remembered the weight right?
5.2 of 700X behind a 200g Hensley and Gibbs #68 mold, long nosed semi wadcutter, half wheel weights, and 1/2 lino type.
Loaded 10 rds, kept it for a year, exactly the same velocity! Was that ever an accurate round. Loaded on a Star progressive, invented the same year I was born 1935. Got real good clearing stove pipes, then in 1984 changed to 9mm, never had a stove pipe since!
My .38 special I loaded for my classes, 160g round nosed plated, locally produced, after many errors, bought them in Buffalo USA. Black stained lead?
Star machine, with my Wife loading the primers, 1000 an hour? 3.5g 700X?
Real slick in speed loaders. I think that's why my upper arms and shoulders are still good, at 80 YOA. Oh yes, all my Students were employed in some form of Law Enforcement, or Military.
Please excuse the walk down memory lane, ran my School for 25 years.
The 9mm is also an easy round to reload. It is one of those rounds where some do not believe you save as much by reloading over buying new.
Nine mm brass has a slight taper, and it helps to add just a smidgen of case lube to every ten rounds or so while reloading. It is not necessary but does make the operation just a little smoother.
Nine mm brass has a slight taper, and it helps to add just a smidgen of case lube to every ten rounds or so while reloading. It is not necessary but does make the operation just a little smoother.
There have been approx. 1.273 bazillion 45 ACPs reloaded and there ain't much that hasn't been shared or reported about on line. Get a reloading manual (and I'd say start with a tried and true load; 230 gr. round nose bullet and a starting charge of any of the recommended powders, I use a lot of Bullseye, W231, Tite Group, and Unique). The 45 ACP is very "user friendly" and "forgiving"...
A couple hints from my experience;
Start with book data for OAL.
Don't "crimp" just use a taper crimp die to remove any flare in the case mouth.
Use the "plunk test".
No need to "hot rod" the 45 ACP, big and slow works quite well.
My P90 doesn't care for SWCs and RN or RNFP are necessary for reliable feeding.
A couple hints from my experience;
Start with book data for OAL.
Don't "crimp" just use a taper crimp die to remove any flare in the case mouth.
Use the "plunk test".
No need to "hot rod" the 45 ACP, big and slow works quite well.
My P90 doesn't care for SWCs and RN or RNFP are necessary for reliable feeding.