How many different .45 ACP loads odes one shooter need?

[Kiwi cop]

This was the question I found myself asking yesterday. And in my case the answer appears to be four.

There is my main IPSC competition load, a 200 gn PTC projectile over 5.7 gns Tightgroup, and my practice load, a 230 gn LRN powered by 5.4 gn Win 231. Both run to a Power factor of 176 and shoot to the same point of impact out to 30 meters, but the plated projectiles have a definite edge on the group size area so get chosen for competition.

Next up in the load I use for our 90 round Service Mach (an abbreviated 1500 course) and the 48 round Classic Pistol Match at 10 and 25 yards. PF only needs to be 120 and my IPSC ammo is a bit of a handful during the one handed shooting strings, so I load 3.6 gn Mulwex AP50N under a 230 gn LRN for a 130 PF. Nice, easy to shoot and accurate in my Norinco Ranger 1911 pistol.

And the last load, which is under development, is for Wild Bunch matches where everything is shot one handed but requires a PF of at least 150. The Hodgdon reloading site gives a starting load of 4 gn Tightgroup under a 230 gn LRN for just over 700 fps (161 PF). As i already have a powder dispensing die set for 4.2 gan Tightgroup for my .38 Special loads, and published data is a bit higher than I get out of my pistols over a chrono , I will start there in building a load for our Wild Bunch Nationals in May.

 

[Fishinfool]

Me personally? Three loads about cover everything I do with the .45acp. A 200 grain cast swc at about 750 fps for range and small game. A 230/240 grain hard cast swc at about 975 fps for deer or other larger game, and the factory HST or Ranger 230 HP's for self defense carry. I do shoot a lot of factory Winchester 230 grain FMJ ball, as I picked up four cases of it at a price too good to turn down a few years back.

Larry

 

[rwsmith]

As many as you need or want.......

There's no limit, so it's best for me to limit myself a little. Being an experimenter and not a competitor I've played with dozens of loads in each caliber, sometimes pushing boundaries (though not unsafely, usually with very light or very heavy bullets for a particular application). Nowadays I'm settling down to my more proven loads as I'm getting where I like to shoot more than experiment. Since I just shoot at the range it's easy to simplify rather than if I competed and hunted.

 

[Wee Hooker]

When you get right down to it, I'd argue that all you really need is one load. Using one load would also add training value and simplify set-up of multiple guns.
That said, one of the great things about reloading (IMHO) is the ability to design, tweek, test and re-tweek for a given caliber. For me, load development adds some intrigue for what could otherwise be a monotonous hobby.

 

[yeti]

Seems like five basic different task loads for me:
230 coated Major Power Factor
230 coated Minor
230 jacketed Major PF
200 coated Minor
& 185 Minor

Due to component shortages of the past I now have 4 or 5 decent options for each of the five categories.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I assume you use factory ammo for self and home defense. A load for practice to mimic that load. And a load to "play" with. I like that WW231/ 239LRN load for everything including Wild bunch (SASS and Wild Bunch are all we shoot in common). About 10-12 years ago, I simplified my supply system in that I went to just 1 lead bullet for all my 45 shooting, A 200 grain LFN, I load it in 45 ACP, 45 Long Colt and 45 S&W Schofield. My powder of choice has been WW231 since 1979 (when I started reloading, I have about 21 or 22 pounds on the shelf!) I'm not saying you should use my loads, but you might think about standardizing as much as possible.

I try to make ammo mistakes as hard to happen as possible. Cowboy shot shells are all in one hull, Sporting Clays in another. In 32-20 ammo for antiques are lead FN, modern loads are jacketed. 44 mag. light loads are lead, Monster Killers are Jacketed! You get the idea; Someone else won't understand my system BUT I know!

Ivan

 

[fredj338]

You could probably say the thread tirle about any caliber. When we had the powder shortage during the obummer admin, having several diff powder loads developed would keep you shooting.

 

[SMSgt]

230-grain LRNs on HP-38 is all I reload.

 

[colt_saa]

As a minimum, you need one load for each projectile or mold that you have on hand

 

[4barrel]

I can't count that high.

 

[M29since14]

I am not a competition shooter and my needs are simple. I’ve never found a .45 bullet more accurate in my guns (with the exception of my 25-2) than the H&G #68. I load it to 850 FPS with any of the usual .45 powders, usually WST or Bullseye, sometimes 700X, 231, HP38, AA2, etc.

Once in a great while I want to shoot a 230-gr bullet for some reason. Then I will use either the H&G #034 or the Lee TC-FN, also loaded to 850 FPS, usually with 231/HP38. I used to make “light” loads for the Gold Cup, throttled back to about 775 FPS, but I rarely shoot the Gold Cup so these days everything gets loaded to about 850.

In the particular (obnoxious) 25-2 I have, nothing really seems to work all that well. My gun favors the H&G #130 over the #68. It really needs a new cylinder.

 

[apollo99]

Over the last few years I have been given a lot of powder and primers from friends who don't reload and an FFL buddy who buys estate lots and doesn't mess with the powder, primers or the reloading equipment he gets in a deal. My first load I generally try quite a few different combinations all with one goal to push the 230 grain ball to about 850 FPS with my Chrony. My next load is a 225 grain LRN I get about 810-820 FPS for target and shooting steel. My next load is full power 230 grain hollow point to mimic the factory self defense loads I carry. So I would say I have 3 velocities with 3 different bullets and adjust the powder I have on hand to achieve my desired goal. Also I live in Arizona where the temperatures go from 30 degrees to over 120 degrees, I try to take that into consideration as well.

 

[Rpg]

For years I’ve limited 1911 45 loads to just one: 200 gr hard cast H&G #68 at around 1,000 fps. Powder availability determines the precise load.

I use this for everything: sd, practice, carry in the woods, hunting.

 

[arjay]

I've got two using a 200 gr swc.One is at roughly 750 fps and the other is 950.One load I was working on last year uses a 250 gr rnfp with some herco.My starting load was launching the brass a looong ways and I've never seen primers that flat.Backed it down .2 grains and it seems better.That'll be my small bear load

 

[Zoner]

I only reload one load for 45 acp....200gr swc with a fast pistol powder. For years i used Win 231 but had trouble getting 231 so now i have a good supply of Titegroup so using that. I don't load self defense ammo for 45 acp cuz i have a couple cases of Gold Dot hollowpoints stashed away.

 

[Hasbeen1945]

I’ve settled on a 200 grain Missouri Coated RNFP. Loaded with 231. Works well in my 625 and 1911’s.

 

[daniel lawecki]

I'm with Zoner as I use the same powder and a 200 grain SWC in three of my guns.

 

[stavey]

In a perfect world 1. However here's what works for me.
Use the ransom rest and test as many loads as possible.
Repeat this with all your 45's
Take all your load notes/targets and find the loads that are shooting poi/poa
Now between those find the load that prints the smallest groups
-This is your ideal load-
However due to different manufacturers using different barrels this can be troublesome.
THIS is why if you shoot the same platform your loads are usually very close
All of my m&p 9mm's have apex barrels - They all like the same load be it 4.25" barrel or 5"
My m&p full size 45(best 45 for the money-maybe period) likes the same loads as my 45c.
I encourage anyone who is a serious reloader to buy a ransom rest. It is the best reloading tool I own. I know for CERTAIN I am squeezing every bit of accuracy out of my pistols.

 

[tops]

I shot some military ball in a 1917 and it was 790 FPS. I reload a 200gr. SWC with 6 grs. of Unique and it is 841 FPS. The reload works in my Colt auto so I guess it's not too far from a factory load. I don't shoot competition so I only have to please myself. Larry

 

[johngalt]

I have 2 basic loads: 230 gr FMJ and wadcutter loads for bullseye.

The hardball load has used 5.0 gr Bullseye, 5.7 gr W231, 6.2 gr Unique, and 6.2 gr Universal depending on what I have on hand. I also have some BE86 to try, I've read 6.7 gr is 'the accuracy load'.

I'm not sure what I will settle on, FMJ accuracy is not that spectacular compared to the wadcutter, I suspect there is little accuracy difference in any of those loads. I have discovered that for best accuracy, FMJ loads need to be full power, over 800 fps.

The wadcutter load now has several variants.
It was originally 185 gr LSWC + 3.9 gr Bullseye. However, I moved away from the caster in Cincinnati where I got my bullets. I'm now running low.

I'm experimenting with replacements:
200 gr Hornady swaged LSWC + 3.9 gr Bullseye

185 gr JHP from both Hornady and Nosler. 4.5 gr Bullseye seems to be the most commonly recommended powder charge.

Not sure what my final wadcutter load will be.