The Mighty .45 ACP
- Thread starter otasan
- Start date
bamaranger
New member
heavy .45 acp loads
I worked up a load using 250 gr LRNFP's, mostly because I had stumbled into a quantity of them at a fair price. My load is a bit behind yours in velocity, but does consistently exceed 800 fps by a fair margin. I shoot same from a SIG P220...not in competition of any kind, just a heavy GP load. I'd use it in the G21, but Herr Glock says no lead through their barrels.
My guideline for my heavy bullet load was the Speer Manual, which gave loads for a jacketed 260 gr JSP bullet. No pressure signs and the LRNFP's seem entirely safe in my pistol. I can detect a slight increase in recoil over the standard 230 gr ball load, but find it entirely shootable.
I worked up a load using 250 gr LRNFP's, mostly because I had stumbled into a quantity of them at a fair price. My load is a bit behind yours in velocity, but does consistently exceed 800 fps by a fair margin. I shoot same from a SIG P220...not in competition of any kind, just a heavy GP load. I'd use it in the G21, but Herr Glock says no lead through their barrels.
My guideline for my heavy bullet load was the Speer Manual, which gave loads for a jacketed 260 gr JSP bullet. No pressure signs and the LRNFP's seem entirely safe in my pistol. I can detect a slight increase in recoil over the standard 230 gr ball load, but find it entirely shootable.
Funny thing....I went the opposite direction once w/the .45 acp, just to see if I could do it.
I was curious as to how low I could go & still have 100% functionality.
I loaded down a lot to somewhere in the 11,000 psi range & w/stock 16 # spring I was able to put together a real "puff" load.
I'd have to add "Versatile" & say, The Mighty and Versatile .45 acp!
I was curious as to how low I could go & still have 100% functionality.
I loaded down a lot to somewhere in the 11,000 psi range & w/stock 16 # spring I was able to put together a real "puff" load.
I'd have to add "Versatile" & say, The Mighty and Versatile .45 acp!
"Funny thing....I went the opposite direction once w/the .45 acp, just to see if I could do it."
I recently experimented the same way: wanted to see how low the charge could be brought using the standard recoil spring (18.5 lbs in a SR1911) and 230 grain RN. My standard load is 4.7 grains of 700-X, 1.23" COL, and 0.468" crimp.
Loaded some @ 3.6, 3.8, 4.0, and 4.2 grains. Result - below 4.0 grains, cycling was unreliable. At 4.0 grains, cycling was totally reliable, but cases sort of just "popped" out rather than smartly ejecting. And @ 4.2 grains, cycling and ejection were fine.
Just FYI...
I recently experimented the same way: wanted to see how low the charge could be brought using the standard recoil spring (18.5 lbs in a SR1911) and 230 grain RN. My standard load is 4.7 grains of 700-X, 1.23" COL, and 0.468" crimp.
Loaded some @ 3.6, 3.8, 4.0, and 4.2 grains. Result - below 4.0 grains, cycling was unreliable. At 4.0 grains, cycling was totally reliable, but cases sort of just "popped" out rather than smartly ejecting. And @ 4.2 grains, cycling and ejection were fine.
Just FYI...
Mike Irwin
Staff
I love shooting bowling pins, but I've not been to a match in years.
I'd occasionally use my .45 Springfield Milspec, but most of the time I'd use either my S&W Model 58 in .45 Magnum, my S&W Model 1917 in .45 ACP, or my S&W Model 24-3 in .44 Special.
I never have taken my S&W Model 25-5 in .45 Colt to a match. Will need to do that one of these days.
I'd occasionally use my .45 Springfield Milspec, but most of the time I'd use either my S&W Model 58 in .45 Magnum, my S&W Model 1917 in .45 ACP, or my S&W Model 24-3 in .44 Special.
I never have taken my S&W Model 25-5 in .45 Colt to a match. Will need to do that one of these days.
Mike Irwin
Staff
That's just a little bit of a drive. I'm in Virginia.