Cold weather is setting in, time to reload 45 auto. Looking at my notes l was shooting 230 gr. Copper RN bullet using W 231 & univ. clay 5.6 gr. Medium load 1.260 OAL. Short range 10 yards. Looking for a medium load any suggestions for the 230 gr. RN Copper. I'm shooting it from a S&W 4566
Medium loads for 45 ACP Auto
- Thread starter cw308
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chris in va
New member
Either I'm not following, or what you said doesn't make sense.
You already shot some 'medium' load 230gr 'copper rn' (whatever that means) and now you're looking for...what?
You already shot some 'medium' load 230gr 'copper rn' (whatever that means) and now you're looking for...what?
My powder selection here in San Diego is quite poor . Add to that I've not been loading 45 very long results in very little data . I have not loaded any FMJ bullets as of yet , Only lead and platted .
230gr RN lead is 7.8 gr HS-6 , Fed primers with mixed cheap brass ( PPU , Aguila , R.P. )
200gr platted RN is 8.2gr of HS-6 , Win primers , Win cases
Neither of those loads would I consider real hot but I would say above medium .
I've tried CFE pistol and was unhappy with the scorched cases and dirty burn . I also tried Longshot with similar results as CFE . My conclusion with those was to slow a powders for the bullet weights .
You did not answer what powders you have ?? I'll be trying WSF & maybe some Titegroup next .
230gr RN lead is 7.8 gr HS-6 , Fed primers with mixed cheap brass ( PPU , Aguila , R.P. )
200gr platted RN is 8.2gr of HS-6 , Win primers , Win cases
Neither of those loads would I consider real hot but I would say above medium .
I've tried CFE pistol and was unhappy with the scorched cases and dirty burn . I also tried Longshot with similar results as CFE . My conclusion with those was to slow a powders for the bullet weights .
You did not answer what powders you have ?? I'll be trying WSF & maybe some Titegroup next .
Metal god, l used in the past bullseye, W231 & Univ.Clay. that was 5 years ago . My notes showed univ.clay 5.6 fired good. Never tied titegroup. I am heavy into benchrest shooting 308 cal. in the warmer months 50 & above. I'm going this winter back to reloading 45 auto for some fun until the weather warms up. Have very little left of the powder mentioned, looking to try something new.
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4.0/RedDot/230gr. Has worked in everything I have run it through. Projectile configuration didn't matter. It shot well in even very cranky pistols. I haven't chronographed the load, but my best velocity estimate is 750 + 25 f/s, when a lead round nose was used. Copper plated projectiles will likely differ in velocity.
If memory serves, Alliant says you can go up to 5.0/RedDot/230, but I never have. I got such good results at 4.6/RedDot/230 that I never ventured past it.
If memory serves, Alliant says you can go up to 5.0/RedDot/230, but I never have. I got such good results at 4.6/RedDot/230 that I never ventured past it.
chris in va
New member
Ah, you failed to mention you are looking for a different powder from Universal. 
I see it on the shelves quite a bit, is it no longer available where you are located? I love the stuff for 45.
I see it on the shelves quite a bit, is it no longer available where you are located? I love the stuff for 45.
For a milder load, you want to stick to the faster powders like W-231 if you have some left. Or H-38.
I would drop your load to 5.2 grain or 5.1 grains to bring down the recoil and give a milder load than your 5.6 of 231, just make sure it cycles your action.
That should do the trick.
Stay safe and shoot straight.
Jim
I would drop your load to 5.2 grain or 5.1 grains to bring down the recoil and give a milder load than your 5.6 of 231, just make sure it cycles your action.
That should do the trick.
Stay safe and shoot straight.
Jim
If you can find it, you can't go wrong with Bullseye. Depending on your recoil spring, you can go as low as 4.0. grains which is very light and the cases eject right next to the gun. If memory serves correct, my recoil spring was 15#, but I have shot thousands of rounds through it, so it might be less now. For a medium load, I use 4.5 grains. 5.0 grains over a 230 gr FMJ appears to be the most common load, but I find it a bit much for punching paper.
Since Bullseye is hard to find, I recently bought TightGroup and find it very similar to Bullseye. So far, I have had the best success using 4.6 grains over a 230 grain plated bullet. Also a pretty mild to medium-light load. 231 / HP-38 is also commonly used. My can of 231 was purchased in 1985 and seems to shoot fine, although I have only been using 4.8 - 5.0 grains behind a 200 gr LSWC or plated bullet.
Since Bullseye is hard to find, I recently bought TightGroup and find it very similar to Bullseye. So far, I have had the best success using 4.6 grains over a 230 grain plated bullet. Also a pretty mild to medium-light load. 231 / HP-38 is also commonly used. My can of 231 was purchased in 1985 and seems to shoot fine, although I have only been using 4.8 - 5.0 grains behind a 200 gr LSWC or plated bullet.
Everyone Thank You for all the helpful information, its been awhile since I've reloaded for hand gun, they have been sitting in the safe. I order my powder from MidwayUSA l didn't know Universal Clays was hard to come by on LI,NY. For 1lb. of powder I was going to check my local gun store. Time to open my load books, also on line. My books have to be 12+ years old, some powders weren't developed back then. I changed the way I cleaned my brass to wet tumbling with SS Pins. The 45 brass that's been reloaded a number of times came out like new. I did notice the Win. & R P brass the flash hole is smaller then Federal, didn't pick it up before. I use a #45 drill bit to clean the flash hole on my 308 cases. What do you use on 45 auto cases?
I concur with DAVID R with respect to Red Dot/Promo. I worked up loads with Red Dot, but bought a jug of Promo (which is Red Dot without the dots) and loaded starting loads, expecting a small difference. There's no difference that I can discern, except that Promo was less expensive.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Red Dot/Promo for high-volume reloading of small(er) capacity rounds like .38 Spl., 9x19mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. It's not as versatile as Unique (one of my favorite powders), but it IS more economical, and burns noticeably cleaner.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Red Dot/Promo for high-volume reloading of small(er) capacity rounds like .38 Spl., 9x19mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP. It's not as versatile as Unique (one of my favorite powders), but it IS more economical, and burns noticeably cleaner.
230gn Round Nose
5.6gn W231 (or HP-38 - same stuff) - that's where I landed. Been loading/shooting this for years. A real consistent and clean burner. Of course, always do your own work-ups for safety.
That round runs fairly stout. Chronographs at 814 f/s through a full size 1911. It can be turned down if you want something a little more mild. But I wouldn't recommend turning it up though; as that's already zipping along pretty good for a propellant as fast as W231. If you want more velocity, then I'd recommend moving to something with a little slower burn rate - like HS-6.
5.6gn W231 (or HP-38 - same stuff) - that's where I landed. Been loading/shooting this for years. A real consistent and clean burner. Of course, always do your own work-ups for safety.
That round runs fairly stout. Chronographs at 814 f/s through a full size 1911. It can be turned down if you want something a little more mild. But I wouldn't recommend turning it up though; as that's already zipping along pretty good for a propellant as fast as W231. If you want more velocity, then I'd recommend moving to something with a little slower burn rate - like HS-6.
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The experience of Nick C S may differ from mine, but I had to push HS-6 very VERY hard to get it to burn clean in .45 ACP (WUNNERFUL .357 Magnum powder, though!). A powder with burning rate between Red Dot and HS-6 would probably be more to your liking. Alliant Unique, Alliant Herco, Accurate #5, or whatever Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester has as an equivalent would work.
The nice thing about Unique is, if you decide it's not what you want to use in .45 ACP, it can be used in anything from .32 ACP to .44 Mag, plus most shotgun gauges. If you buy a pound of it and don't like it, you can use it up pretty fast.
The nice thing about Unique is, if you decide it's not what you want to use in .45 ACP, it can be used in anything from .32 ACP to .44 Mag, plus most shotgun gauges. If you buy a pound of it and don't like it, you can use it up pretty fast.