True Blue in the .45acp

[03RN]

Since my go to .45acp load with 200gr swc doesn't play nice with speed reloading a moon clipped revolver I'm in search of a new load...again.

I've got a case of 230gr fmj coming in and if I could find a 4lbs jug of w231 I'd probably grab it as I'm almost out. But since in this new world trying to stay with the same old boring powders is so damned hard.

Anyways. I'm just looking for a standard ball equivalent. Looks like 7grs should get me there but I'd like to see what everyone else is doing.

One thing I noticed in my m625 is that because of the .45 colt chambers I don't get very good velocity in my tests so far but have only tested reloads loaded with w231. I'm wondering if a slower powder close to +p might actually help me get normal velocity.

I am seeing close to 200fps slower speeds in my 4" MG vs both 4"&5" 1911s. I'm not looking for barn burners but I just want to make major PF lol.

[willie]

Since my go to .45acp load with 200gr swc doesn't play nice with speed reloading a moon clipped revolver I'm in search of a new load...again.

I've got a case of 230gr fmj coming in and if I could find a 4lbs jug of w231 I'd probably grab it as I'm almost out. But since in this new world trying to stay with the same old boring powders is so damned hard.

Anyways. I'm just looking for a standard ball equivalent. Looks like 7grs should get me there but I'd like to see what everyone else is doing.

One thing I noticed in my m625 is that because of the .45 colt chambers I don't get very good velocity in my tests so far but have only tested reloads loaded with w231. I'm wondering if a slower powder close to +p might actually help me get normal velocity.

I am seeing close to 200fps slower speeds in my 4" MG vs both 4"&5" 1911s. I'm not looking for barn burners but I just want to make major PF lol.

You might try Unique. 7 grains with either weight would put it into the +p category.Your goal is making cases expand. 200 fps difference is a big number. Wow! Let's call in @Outpost75. He's more current than I, and his experience exceeds mine.

[Trooper224]

Standard ball is 5 grains of Bullseye with a 230 grain RN. That's the original formula and still works as well as it ever has. 5.9 grains of BE-86 will achieve the same results in outstanding fashion, but cleaner. BE-86 has become my go-to powder.

[SecondsCount]

True Blue might give you what you are looking for. I have had good results with Silhouette and it is very close in burn rate to TB.

[Outpost75]

Check the cylinder throat diameters with gage pins. Many of the S&W .45 ACPs run large. I have a large supply of USGI 230 FMJ pulls which I bumped from .451" to .454" which shoot very much better. Ten-ring 25-yard groups, higher velocity and cleaner burn.

Set up your press to axially compress the bullets to shorten them between the push rod of a Lee sizer die and the flat faced expander plug of an old school RCBS .45 Colt or .455 expander. Adjust the compression force by trial taking measurements until resulting bullet diameter is what you want. The bullet will be reformed to a rounded flat nose like a Cowboy bullet with about a 1/4" meplat. I lightly lube the bullets with light oil and then push them base-first through the Lee sizer to uniform them. Bullets are finished up perfectly round with nicely flat bases.

A charge of 5 grains of Bullswye. or 5.8 grains of 231, 452AA or WST in .45 ACP approximates GI hardball. In the Starline .455 Mk2 cases load 4 grains of Bullseye or 4.5 of 231, 452AA or WST . In .45 Colt load 7 grains of Bullseye or 8 grains of 231, 452AA or WST with the bumped 230 FMJ bullet. These are full charge loads.

[03RN]

I don't have pin gauges but hard cast .452 bullets push through with just enough effort. It's a 625-9 fwiw

[Outpost75]

I don't have pin gauges but hard cast .452 bullets push through with just enough effort. It's a 625-9 fwiw

You should be GTG with standard .45 ACP bullets then.

I've had best luck with the faster powders which generate the desired velocity with the lowest charge weight.

[03RN]

You should be GTG with standard .45 ACP bullets then.

I've had best luck with the faster powders which generate the desired velocity with the lowest charge weight.

I think my best bet will be trying 231 vs true blue and see which one gets me to 850fps without going overboard

[chances R]

7.0gr True Blue 200gr SWC coated DG bullet 1.240 oal 5" Dan Wesson Specialist 859fps avg

[chances R]

7.0gr True Blue Xtreme Plated 230gr RN 1.260 oal 823fps avg. 5" Dan Wesson

6.7gr. BE-86 230gr. Precision Delta FMJ 1.260 oal 897 fps avg. 5" Dan Wesson