The Accurate Reloading Forums
reduced power load for 45 ACP ...help
26 June 2009, 06:11
longshot_44reduced power load for 45 ACP ...help
Anyone out there got a recipe and spring combo for reduced power for a 45 ACP in a 230 grain? Thanks
26 June 2009, 18:23
butchlocthe old target shooters recipe was 5 grains of bullseye for full power loads 3.5 for target loads. you have to get a weak spring for the target loads to function. if i remember right (and thats a rare occasion) i think it was about a 12-14# spring
26 June 2009, 21:19
mgoodrichHow many fps do you consider as reduced power?
26 June 2009, 21:25
TEANCUMBullseye is one powder to put at the top of your list. I'm shooting a Hensely Gibbs cast 200 g with 4.3 for a mild shooting all around combo. Accuracy is awesome out of a P-14 Para-Ordnance.
26 June 2009, 22:46
the jiggerI shoot 5gr of RedDot under a 200gr Gold Dot or Rainier HP. I don't shoot 230's.
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27 June 2009, 01:28
StonecreekI agree that Red Dot is a good one for the .45 ACP, but I don't consider 5 grains much of a reduced load. In a S&W revolver where action function is irrelavent, a friend and I used to use 3 grains of Red Dot under a 200 SWC or 230 LRN bullet. I don't know what the velocity was, but those old LRNs would go through both sides of an armadillo.
If you're interested in using Red Dot in an automatic (and making it function), I would start with about 3.5 grains and increase a tenth of a grain as necessary until you achieve reliable function. This assumes cast/swaged lead bullets.
I agree with butchloc about the 3.5 grains of Bullseye, however this was with 200 grain cast lead, not 230 grain FMJs.
Peter.
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27 June 2009, 04:13
p dog shooterHow low do you want to go 1.5grs of bullseye or red dot well get you about 500fps with a 230 gr lead bullet.
27 June 2009, 06:15
longshot_44quote:
Originally posted by longshot_44:
Anyone out there got a recipe and spring combo for reduced power for a 45 ACP in a 230 grain? Thanks
Im running a smith 1911 stainless model...if it matters. i just want to get good hits @ say 25 yds. max. Newbie here!
27 June 2009, 09:44
fredj338Personaly, I don't like changing the gun to match a load but like to load to match the gun. A 4.5gr charge of WST runs a 230grLRN @ 800fps, w/ very soft recoil. You can go down to 4.3gr for about 750fps & still get good functioning w/ stock springs. Much lower, just shoot a 9mm.

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27 June 2009, 10:06
N E 450 No2Back when I shot NRA Bullseye Competition, most everybody used 3.5gr of Bullseye with a H&G 130 bullet at 25 yards. Some used as low as 3.3 BE.
At 50 yards many used a H&G 68 with 3.8gr of BE.
For IPSC and defense many used 7.5gr of Unique with the H&G 68.
We did use a lower power spring for the lighter loads.
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Start with your current load and reduce it until the gun doesn't cycle right, usually the slide won't go back far enough to pick up a round. Then go back to the last load that worked.
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27 June 2009, 20:41
butchlocquote:
Posted 27 June 2009 10:06 Hide Post
Back when I shot NRA Bullseye Competition, most everybody used 3.5gr of Bullseye with a H&G 130 bullet at 25 yards
those were some good days, I remember one old guy that would shoot all morning, dig the bullets out of the bank, melt them back down and recast and reload them all afternoon, and then shoot em up again the next morning. damn good shot too