What ya load'n in them .45's

[Pit Mule]

Since I'm working on the right load for my 1911, thought I'd check in on pet loads your using in your Wild Bunch 1911's.

Found out that 230 grn bullets were a little to much to handle so I dropped to a 200 grn bullet. Red Dot and Unique powders provide a nice handling round to shoot. Have not decided which powder to stay with. Right now I'm leaning a little further to the Red Dot side.

Pit Mule 

[litl rooster]

777 3fg

clays

titegroup   (seems to work best)


trailboss

230 grain lead round nose pill


I would like to hear what others use.

[Montana Slim]

The only load I've used is 230 grain RN over the max listed load of 700X in the IMR loading guide.
It barks the targets pretty good...but I'm an avid BP shooter, too...so folks are used to flames & such.

I'm often asked why I don't use BP in my 45 ACP....my reply is simple:
I've tried it (just for grins & to say I did)..it can be made to work at lower performance....but, It's simply not historically accurate.

When no starting "line" is given, I use this:

Smokeless propellants and self-loadin' firearms....what will they think of next?

Regards,
Sim

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[Mako]

Don’t have a favorite Wild Bunch Load yet, I still have a bunch of IPSC/USPSA/IDPA loads to burn through.  Most of it is W231 with an H&G 68 200gr LSWC,  this is older ammo I have relegated to practice ammo.

I have also used Clays and N310.  I think you’ll find clays one of the most popular powders today because of cleanliness, accuracy and cost per load; when you shoot 20,000 to 50,000 rounds a year powder cost is a major factor.  In the old days it was Bullseye and W230, then W231 when it came along.

If I was loading fresh I would probably consider a 225 to 230 grain round nose with a nice load of Clays for smokeless loads. I have a load that makes even the old power factor of 175 and is very accurate.  Anymore it’s a power factor of 165 so a lot more shooters use 230 RN than they did 30 years ago for IPSC loads.   But, knowing me I’ll probably be goofy and shoot  3f with a 225 grain RN “just because”…Well actually because it almost wouldn't seem right to be shooting Cowboy with "smokiless powder." I guess I have to do a mental reset and remember this is Wild Bunch we're talking about.  Just as long as I don't see a Kydex holster, If I see someone wearing one of those I just might have to go ballistic home.

Regards,
Mako

[Blackpowder Burn]

I only got my first 1911 a week ago, so my reloading efforts have been VERY limited.    However, I've tried a 200 LRNFP with 5.0 grains of Unique.  That functions well and is accurate, so I'll stick with it for now.  Of course, a major factor is that I have about 11 pounds of Unique that I need to use up.  I stopped loading anything else with it when I switched to Holy Black for my cowboy ammo.

One thing I was encouraged to see is that the bullets I loaded are cast from 20:1 alloy and thus suitable for BP use with the proper lube.  I'll have to try that for grins and giggles.

On a side note, our club held a Western 3-Gun side match this past weekend.  We added another wrinkle and had a Cody Dixon option with it.  It was my first time to try my new Cody Dixon rifle.  To top it off, I created another completely new category - Wild Bunch Cody Dixon.  What a hoot!  It was the first reloaded ammo I had run through my 1911 and I had no idea if it would function or where it would hit - but I cleaned the stage with it.   The only thing better would have been BP in the 1911, just as the other guns had.

[Jefro]

I'm using the same 200 grain RNFP I use in my 73.  4.7 Red Dot for 45acp.

Jefro

[Pit Mule]

Thats the load I'm gonna stick with Jefro. Accurate and real tolerable recoil.

Pit Mule

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

My IPSC load was 5.6gr. Green Dot; - about 30 years ago!  My target load was 4.0 gr. 700X, both with the RCBS 201 KT.

I'm sure there are better loads available with more modern powders

[Tommy Reb]

Lyman 452460, 200 grain bullet; 4.2 grains Green Dot.  770 fps from my SA Mil Spec 1911.

[Camille Eonich]

I'm not sure of the powder charge that I use, it's been too long since I loaded any wild bunch ammo and my notes are out in the reloading shed but the bullets are 160 gr RNFP and the powder is Red Dot.  It's a very nice load to shoot, accurate and the recoil is very tolerable.  Never had a problem with them cycling through my S&W 1911 either.

[Grizzly Adams]

5.2 grains of titegroup  with a 200 gran RNFP.

[garrisonjoe]

Lyman 452460, 200 grain bullet over ClayDot.   Less cold-temp performance drop than Clays.

Good luck, GJ

[Crow Choker]

I've only been reloading 45 acp for a little over a year now (been brewing my own fodder though since 1976) and have had good luck with 4.8 grains of Win 231 and Hodgon HP-38 (they're basicly the same powder) under 230 g. FMJ. One I think I like better is 4.6 g. of Hodgon Titegroup under 230 FMJ. All are mid-range powder lds as taken from Hodgons load recomendations. All are pleasant to shoot and group nicely. The Titegroup load was liked more by my Colt Govt XSE, but also shot well in my Kimber. Haven't tried any 200 grainers yet, nor have as yet cast any for reloading, but plan on it within a short time. Hope to try some Red Dot-always like it in 45 Colt loadings, heck I've even used Red Dot with cast rifle loads in 303 British, 8mm Mauser, and 30/06, makes a fun target load to shoot, cheap and pleasant.

[Montana Slim]

Guess I'll add a shooting tip for folks NEW to .45 ACP & the 1911 .....

To reduce/prevent flinching..start low-low & work your way up to an acceptable load...had a lot of range time the other day, observed many new shooters.... & it reminded me of the flinch/push-down common with the .45 

It's much nicer to actually hit the tagets, right? 

Slim

[Capt'n Jack]

Keep in mind that Wolf springs can be had in many ratings, some specifically for light target loads.  This may be your best bet for using lighter bullets and lower loadings.  I endorse this approach.  Problem is that your are pretty much on your own to develop loads since the books do not recognize light recoil springs.  One problem to be overcome is the feeding problem using shorter bullets.  For the most part, modern 1911 do ok, older military types not so good.  Using modern high end target type magazines will help also.

And lastly, I never found the standard load much of a problem to handle.  Why not give it a try.

[Jefro]

I'm using the same 200 grain RNFP I use in my 73.  4.7 Red Dot for 45acp.

Jefro

Howdy Pit, a couple of fellers thought my load might be a little stout for the little lady.......so I reduced it to 4.3 Red Dot. Works great, very accurate, and zero jambs through a stock Rock Island. Plus we use either Chip McCormick or Wilson Combat mags, I've noticed that most folks jambs can be eleminated with the right mags. Good Luck

Jefro

[Jbar4Ranch]

200 grain bullet and 4.15 grains of Clays. I'm not really THAT anal about the weight, but that's what ten charges out of a Little Dandy #10 rotor averaged.

[Grapeshot]

Well, it depends what I happen to have at hand. I was shooting some 230 grain Truncated Cone bullets  cast from range scrap. then I tried my old Lee RNFP 250 grain bullets, but was having some problems with feeding them, soi I ran them into my swaging die and changed the nose shape to RN and pushed them thru a .452 sizing die.  It looks like that solved that proplem.

I also noted that when using cast bullets in .45 ACP cases, you must champher the inside of the case mouth or you get a ring of lead at the mouth when you taper crimp that gives major feeding problems, FTC.

I use a variety of powders, Unique being my first choice followed by Bullseye, Clays, HP38 Red Dot and Trail Boss.

[kingsnake]

Bear Creek 230 grain Moly Round Nose bullets with 4.5 grains of Win 231 -- OAL 1.21" loaded on a Dillon 650 press gives me a 165 PF.
Low recoil - good accuracy - no malfunctions.

[Bryan Austin]

Hi guys! A tad off topic but dang close......I'd like to reload some 45 ACPs for my Uberti SAA that has an ACP cylinder (factory). An Uberti representative said the frame will withstand 21,000 cup pressures just fine and not to use +P loads. I'd like to use Unique and Trailboss with a J/P 200gr BigLube and the 454190.

What ya think?

Move this to the appropriate forum if need to!