They demand the most accurate guns and ammunition possible. Alternates include an EAA Tanfoglio Witness Hunter Elite in 10mm with a 14 rd magazine. Subscriber Services. I fired a five-shot 25-yard group for accuracy in the Les Baer 572 Hemi. WST results were fair, with most groups hovering around 2 inches. Accurate in dan Wesson and RIA. Jaguars, and wolves and bears oh my. Accurate bullets need to be paired with the right gunpowder. But consider this: a full-sized Glock Model 20 incorporates a 15-round magazine which is more than double the capacity of the standard 7-round 1911 magazine! A well-tuned .45 ACP Model 1911 can do that. I'm loading my first 45 acp rounds. Re .45 acp loads G'day from downunder . This might seem odd since most loading manuals advise that Magnum primers are required only when using large amounts of powder, such as with magnum handgun rounds like the .357 Magnum, etc., or when using certain spherical powders such as W296 that burn best with a more powerful primer. Looking for 45 ACP 185 gr swc load for Bullseye If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. out of my thureon defense 16″ carbine my reloads go right through it. Winchester posts on its primer boxes that they are appropriate for standard and magnum loads. G'day SShearer , I have been shooting .45acp and .45 auto rim in a 25 meter match at my local pistol club for at least the last 30 years and after a lot of testing of different powders I have setteled on a .200 grain SWC over 5.3 grains of WW231 and cci primers , it is mild to shoot in the 50 round match that I compete in . Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The lower grain ammunition is generally reserved for target shooting My thought has always been, if something is hit with a 230 grain projectile, no matter how it’s constructed, and refuses to go down, shoot it again. Just wondering what .45 ACP load, either factory or one of your reloads, is working best for your competition purposes? Penetration is 16 inches and expansion .70 inch. What is your favorite .45 ACP defensive load? To test some of the Bullseye handloads I learned about through my research, I put several together using new Starline cases; Nosler, Zero, Hornady, and Sierra JHP bullets; Winchester, Federal, and CCI primers; and VihtaVuori N310, VihtaVuori N320, Hodgdon 700-X, Hodgdon Clays, Hodgdon Titegroup, Alliant Bullseye, Winchester 231, and Winchester Super Target powder. Not long ago shooters began to report brass that had a small pistol primer pocket instead of the traditional large, due to the use of a more “green” environment primer. What went wrong was not clear, but I assume it was how the gun locked into battery. This differs from CCI and Federal who both make two types of Large Pistol primers: standard and Magnum. This is because the weight of the powder is part of the mass that is ejected out of the barrel along with the bullet. Originally developed by Al Dorman, the recipe was 4.1 grains of N310 and the Nosler bullet seated to a COL of 1.200 inches. By dropping the standard weight slightly to 220-grains, Hornady has managed to combine standard recoil with high velocity. I'm trying to find manuals that have load data for 185 LSWC for 45 ACP. I carry a Glock 21 in both 45 cap and 400 Corbin (a Jarvis barreled conversion I made – and yes it functions reliably) and Mac-Tech in 45 Super (though the brass is impossible to find). VihtaVuori N310 is well known for its use in the .45 ACP paired with Nosler bullets and has been used with success by the USMC. Hodgdon 700-X, Alliant Bullseye, Hodgdon Clays, and Hodgdon Titegroup all produced similar results, with most 15-shot groups under 2 inches and the better groups around 1.5 inches. We ping steel with a .300 WinMag at over a mile. Velocity was recorded at 10 feet from the muzzle and is the average of 15 rounds. The .45 ACP has been called the hammer of the century. James Tarr runs through the 3-Second Headshot drill. Don’t shoot those much as they are not cheap. Mag. I live in rural SE Alaska lots of Bears around, what bullet would you recommend ? Minimum. The Hornady HAP and XTP bullets were seated to a COL of 1.240 inches, and the Sierra FP bullet was seated to a COL of 1.150 inches. The shooting characteristics of the 230gr FMJ target loads are I have for years used 3.5 or 3.8 grains of Bullseye powder for my 45 ACP loads with either a 185 or 200 grain LSWC and these have worked fine for my 1911 with a slide mounted Ultradot. The bullet is the most important component in accurate ammunition. That might be the case for shooting at 50 yards, but my experience suggests that pushing them faster does not degrade accuracy at 25 yards- but that's the subject of another article. I've fired both with the same loads, and sometimes the Nosler shoots a little better and sometimes the Zero shoots a little better. 3 175 Gr. Fall in love with your .45 again. Long story about that and we don’t have time or space, I have multiple reserved mags loaded with Black Talon and Golden Saber for critters like pigs, feral dogs, etc. display: none !important; These loads are among the best I have tested in some time. Felt recoil is modest. ©2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. It is affordable, reliable and accurate enough for most uses. I consider keeping bullets from the .22 LR close together at 300 yards to be as challenging as... David Fortier talks with Jeff Hoffman of Black Hills Ammunition about the evolution of the .308 Win. Barnaul 45 ACP Ammo 230 Grain FMJ Polycoated Steel Cased Barnes TAC-XPD 45 ACP Ammo 185 Grain +P TAC-XP Hollow Point Lead-Free Black Hills 45 ACP Auto Ammo 185 Grain +P Barnes TAC-XP Black Hills 45 ACP My new Les Baer 45 will be at my FFL next week. I have a couple of questions regarding reloads for 45 ACP 1911 Bullseye loads. For over 20 years, I worked as an armed private contractor in Las Vegas before moving to the part of the country that I live in now. For I've always been fascinated with heavy bullets in 45 ACP. Exsoldier I did some research and was wondering if a 460 Rowland will feed in a Colt officers or Defenders .45Acp. Sure it isn’t gelatin, but it gives a good comparison between loads. The powders used by Bullseye shooters include VihtaVuori N310 and N320; Alliant Bullseye; Hodgdon 700-X, Clays, and Titegroup; and Winchester Super Target (WST) and 231. There is a consensus on what is needed in a personal-defense cartridge, based largely on FBI testing. As bullet weight decreases, velocity must increase to maintain thrust. Starline brass gets the most nods from active Bullseye shooters, but Federal brass is also used frequently. and D.R.T., and the overall feel. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt! I am down to around 1,000 rounds of those. Looking for loads using Bullseye, 200gr LSWC Bayou Bullets, 225gr Bayou truncated Cor-Bon DPX 185-grain DPX45185, $40.94/20. A standard Gold Dot loading may be preferred at about 840 fps in a Commander-size pistol. Loaded in new Winchester primed brass trimmed to a consistent length, his load has produced 10-shot groups at 50 yards around 1.0 inch center-to-center in match-grade 1911s. Maybe in the Super configuration on hogs. Interestingly, among the original requirements was that the cartridge be useful against dangerous animals such as Jaguars. Developing them brought many... Give a Gift   Battering the gun. Accuracy was excellent, with my best group being accomplished using the Barnes 185-grain TAC-XPD. We can adapt to low-recoil loads, but it becomes more difficult to adapt as recoil increases. The 230-grain Extrema breaks 840 fps in most pistols, 855 fps in the GLOCK 21. My gun likes 4.2 grains of N310 paired with the Zero bullet: It produced a 30-shot group measuring 1.70 inches. I my water jug tests I have had excellent results with the 200 grain Sig V-Crown JHP load and have made it my eery day carry ammo. After a lot of research, including consulting several competition shooters and gunsmiths, I can offer the following proven handloads. This load was also tested in the GLOCK 21 with good results. Standard performance was a 230-grain FMJ bullet at 830 fps. 175 Gr. The Gold Dot is among the most proven personal defense and service loads in history. And sometimes they produce the exact same group size. The newer solid copper loads from Underwood have all but rendered the hollow point bullet obsolete. Primarily practice rounds with 200 or 230 grain FMJ bullets. At 50 yards, the B-6 target 10-ring is 3.36 inches in diameter, and the X-ring is 1.695 inches in diameter. The .45 ACP is my favorite handgun cartridge. Bullseye shooters- those shooters who participate in Bullseye matches- fall into this category because they need extreme accuracy to be competitive. Shop the best .45 ACP ammo for self defense and target practice. for self defense I like federal hydrashok, I reload 45acp using 185 grain hornady xtp bullets and 7.5 grains of unique powder. ISS Prop House gives us the rundown on the guns used in Enemy at the Gate. The 45 ACP is one of the most widely used pistol cartridges. worked fine with all target loads tested. Fiocchi features high cartridge integrity. Tests would be required to see how it performs at 50 yards, but accuracy was very good at 25 yards. And as I’m getting older and my eyes aren’t what they used to be, I have Crimson Trace lasers on both. I recently tested a new powder in the .45 ACP and a Remington primer with one load produced the smallest group. When I carry my Sig Sauer RCS 1911, that’s all I load. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. These are my carry rounds in 9mm and 45acp. In those instances, I indicate the 14-shot groups with an asterisk (*). This loading breaks 1003 fps in a five-inch gun and 976 fps in the Commander. Federal Premium 185-grain The legend is growing. Two things can go wrong—actually three things. A 200 gr bullet at 800 fps only generates 284 ft lbs, so that would be The lightweight 185-grain bullets help reduce recoil. A decent 10mm load from Buffalo Bore will easily reach 750 foot pounds of muzzle energy. To ensure my 45 ACP loads would qualify on chronographs used by the various clubs on the competition circuit, I hedged my bet by loading the 200-grain bullet to a power factor of 180, which required a velocity of 900 fps. An accurate bullet paired with the right powder (and possibly primer) can do wonders for shrinking group size. I like the ARX for its lateral dispersion of rotational energy as well as reduced recoil and flash. The 185-grain JHP at 1000 fps hits 185. The the design allows for a 114g projectile to be pushed at speeds nearing +p 9mm loads but with a larger projectile. It's worth pointing out that Winchester and Remington make only one type of Large Pistol primer. I like the idea of doubling-down on what makes the caliber special: big and slow slugs, in a 1911 pistol. We reserve the right to edit as appropriate, delete profane, harassing, abusive and spam comments or posts, and block repeat offenders. These loads are good choices and among the best modern loads. Powder weight matters because a powder that requires less weight to push a given bullet to a given velocity produces less recoil than a powder that requires more weight. The lightweight, high-velocity ARX produce more energy than most, but as a backup I also have the Speer Gold Dot and Federal HST. It could have been the powder or the bullet. Case volume affects pressure, so you want it to be as close to the same as possible. There is significant reduction of recoil compared to the other rounds I have used for EDC in the past, like the aforementioned Black Talon and Golden Saber. Hornady and Sierra also make excellent and accurate 185-grain jacketed bullets. A modern bullet with a good balance of expansion and penetration considerably increases the wound potential of the .45 ACP cartridge. One of these examples went for $414,000 at auction. I saw that it’s longer and won’t feed. Just the same, I have an open eye and mind, and I am not blind to other developments. I have a Llama 45 made in Spain it has double stack clips,I’ve had it for several years. I have carried 1911s in .45acp for years. Bullseye competitions place the targets at 25 and 50 yards. The 900 fps load, in comparison, averages 18 inches of penetration and .72 inch expansion. The .45 Colt had been designed to give troopers a fighting chance and to drop an Indian war pony at 100 yards. Penetration is 20 inches and expansion .68 inch. As an example, the standard 230-grain 45 ACP hardball load at 850 fps breaks 195 in power factor. The Speer Gold Dot Generation 2 +P breaks 916 fps from a five-inch 1911 and 870 fps from the four-inch barrel Springfield Champion Operator. For practice, I have several other rounds, to include some Wolf brand , Blazer, Magtech, and Perfecta, all in FMJ. Data demonstrating how accuracy decreases with once-fired cases has not been easy to find, though people anecdotally claim it happens. (I realize that is a subjective report, but it feels lighter to me.) High speeds are not required, and more speed means more recoil. His three holed punch midway down the barrel makes the recoil of a vociferous 10mm feel like a 9mm +P. My gun showed preferences for some powders and specific loads, which is no surprise because most guns do. These would be used mainly in a Uberti 73 rifle as a fired once in a while load as opposed to a steady diet thing (the 73 is a cabin Sometimes my gun will throw a round outside the group. I like the groups with the R.I.P. You have the penetration of a hard cast projectile and the design creates a wound channel greater than any hollow point. The Golden Saber uses the expansion of the bullet jacket as a wounding mechanism. America's Ultimate Shooting Sports Discounter, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). In this report, I'm focusing on .45 ACP loads with 185-grain jacketed bullets. The elastomer is designed to prevent the bullet from being plugged with clothing or intermediate material and failing to expand. Home / Handgun Ammunition / 45 ACP / .45 185 gr National Match JHP.45 185 gr National Match JHP $ 54.61 – $ 445.61 This is the Match winning .45 load developed just for you! Browning’s BPT Performance Target line of ammunition is made for anyone whose handgun skills could be better – which is to say it’s made for everyone. }.  =  I, too carry the Polycase Inceptor ARX in both my Springfield Armory mil-spec M1911A1 and my S&W M&P Shield 9. In the wild either a heavy loaded .45 Colt SAA or Smith and Wesson .44 Magnum. The .45 cases that take Small Pistol primers might be as effective, but most Bullseye shooters use the conventional large primer-pocket cases. There are two Fiocchi loadings, one a 900 fps XTP loading and the Extrema at 840 fps. My go to powders are Unique, Power Pistol, No. All Rights Reserved. While there are differences in the performance of these loads, be certain that the difference in shot placement would count for more than the differences in expansion and penetration. After the 1986 “Miami Massacre” occurred, the FBI determined the 10mm to be, by far, the superior tactical cartridge for its agents!! You will have trouble cycling the thing. Looking for some WST powder loads for 45 acp under Berrys 230 grain rn bullets. Disclaimer: Please keep in mind, this is just a general representation of this retailers shipping price practices. Brass life is excellent In keeping with the goal of low recoil, relatively fast-burning powders best achieve this goal. As a defense load, particularly in lighter-weight .45s, this is a good choice. Which is all good and well IF you own and/or want a 10mm Pistol, which I don’t, and don’t have any plans to do so in the foreseeable future. VihtaVuori N320 did not perform as well as N310 in my gun with the Nosler bullets; most 15-shot groups were over 2 inches. and D.R.T. I just had to comment when I saw SECUNDIUS say he shot hot loads in his Singer 45. Also I carry a 44 magnum when Trout Fishing in Bear Country but I wouldn’t feel “underarmed” with a 45 auto and the Arx load in Bear Country. Fast-burning powders require less weight to reach a given velocity than slow-burning powders. Why? To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. New to 45 acp. In .45 caliber ammo, you can get grains of 165, 185, or 230. W231 produced some of the smallest groups, which is why I included it here. I shot everything else up. The 45 ACP was designed around a 230 gr bullet @ 850 fps (369 ft lbs of energy). Today, we have well-designed bullets that offer excellent feed reliability, even feeding in old GI guns for the most part. I have been stacking ammo in both my 1911’s, except when I am out in the woods for years. 45 Auto bullets offer one of the most powerful options for handgun rounds. I just read about the requirement of the 45 Colt to knock down war ponies. The handgun, the ammunition, and the shooter's skill must all be top level to place hits within these minuscule dimensions. My favorite is a cast 200 grain SWC over 5 grains of Red Dot. I had mine ported by my favorite custom gun smith in South Florida. Thanks for you’re input Also, some shooters believe this speed range is the sweet spot for accuracy. Serious target shooters can be a fussy lot. Find pmc 45 automatic colt pistol (acp… Excellent 45 acp 185 gr SWC hard cast bullet for the 1911 competition shooter that prefers to use lighter loads for less recoil. I would be hesitant to use the load in a lightweight frame or Officers Model, as there is greater recoil. Using bullets from Bull-X BNWC, Bull-X SWC, Speer SWC/TMJ, Bull-X RN. In this man’s humble opinion, what the FBI determined back in 1986 still holds true today; the 10mm is the superior semi-auto tactical cartridge that provides incredible threat-stopping capability!! Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. I thought about getting a Wilson Combat 1911 in 460 Rowland and then Wilson discontinued the model. I built it, not a professional Bullseye gunsmith. The most common primers used by Bullseye shooters are Winchester, Federal, and CCI, with some shooters specifying Federal Match primers. All of my die sets for the .45 ACP are also designed But an accurate gun is only one part of the formula. I don’t know of a good one down here. One of my favorite concealed carry handguns is my Kimber ultra Raptor and I use Underwood three The leading water jugs were blown off the table. Makes a Statement for sure, I’d like to see the Polycase/Inceptor/NovaX in the mix. Now, being fully retired and living in East Tennessee, when I stay in town I tend to pocket carry a Sig P365 9mm but when I must traverse the Appalachian Mountains I’m ALWAYS armed with a 45 auto. Sometimes Magnum primers are specified. But like you if travelling the .45. The .45 ACP was actually developed much earlier and chambered in the 1905 Colt. that I may encounter out there. Hopefully, the data I have provided here will provide shooters some starting points for developing accurate handloads for their pistols. The new design features a hollow-point cavity filled with an elastomer. I tested expansion and penetration using water jugs. Summing it up, all the powders produced nice groups from my pistol, though some were more consistently smaller than others. I mounted it in a Ransom Rest and fired a single 15-shot group at 25 yards for determining the accuracy of the handloads. The .45 ACP was developed to offer a reasonable substitute for the .45 Colt, save in a self-loading action. The most commonly used 185-grain jacketed bullets in this sport are made by Nosler and Zero. Won’t be trying it out on bears, horses or jaguars. A reduction in group size of a half-inch at 50 yards is a big gain for them, but most shooters won't be able to tell much difference in their non-match pistol at the usual distances they shoot. Few hardball loads actually clock 850 fps, but most of the 230-grain JHP loads do. It has long been a favorite powder for many shooters, and it certainly performed well in my pistol. It became readily apparent to me that I needed a tactical handgun cartridge that provided both high terminal energy and threat-stopping capability in addition to a higher cartridge count in the magazine! The average from a five-inch barrel is 1040 fps. This 45 ACP training cartridge is loaded to match the ballistic performance of Browning’s BXP Personal Defense label ammunition, but it’s a great pal at the range regardless of the ammo you’d use for actual self-defense. There is no longer a Gold Dot at the bottom of the cavity, but the bullet is space age. The 1911 was designed to shoot hard ball so that is what I’ve stuck to for all these years. This wasn’t an accuracy contest, all of the loads are accurate enough for Please click the reload button and complete the captcha once again. Time limit exceeded. The Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ and the Taurus G3c are vastly different,... Red-dot sights may be just what the doctor ordered for lever-action fans of “a certain age.”. For some competitions it is the only choice The front sight (below) is a Patridge style, giving the shooter a clear, sharp sight picture. The Model 1911 used for the shooting tests has a Caspian slide and frame and a 5.0-inch Kart barrel. Even the slowest of the loads tested was noticeably softer through the Firehawk. A hot 45 auto +P might squeeze out 450 foot pounds of muzzle energy. Here's what I've tried, or read. A standard-velocity loading is useful in short-barrel or full-size handguns. The Nosler, Zero, and Sierra JHP bullets were seated to a cartridge overall length (COL) of 1.200 inches. |   The Sierra bullets shot a little better with this powder.