45 ACP reloading

[Leucoandro]

I have a Sig Sauer P220 that I am going to start reloading for shortly.

I have 1,000 rounds or so of once used brass.

I bought 500 rounds of Rainier 230gr round nosed ammunition.

Now I am starting to think that the 200gr flate nosed ammunition might be more fun.


If you reload, what do you like to shoot out of your 45ACP for fun?


Charlie

 

[Cherokee]

For jacketed bullets, I favor the Hornady 230 FMJ flat nosed (truncated cone) design. You can't go wrong with a good 230 round nose bullet. However, most of my 45 ACP loading for the last 20+ years is with a cast bullet of truncated cone shape copied from the Hornady bullet, and a smaller number of the cast 200 gr SWC of the H&G 68 design.

I assume you will be doing this after you return from 'stan. God be with you over there.

 

[Rusty W]

I gave up on the auto's long ago. I hated chasing brass. My fun gun/guns are a S&W 625 and a convertible Blackhawk. I shoot a 200 LSWC over 4.5gr of Bullseye. I cast my own bullets and use a 452453 SWC over 5.5gr of Unique for a little stouter load. You will probably have better luck using RN bullets and you'll have to experiment with what load will cycle the action. When I loaded for a Springfield 1911 I had best luck with 4grs of Clays powder and 230gr LRN bullets. I also used 5.4grs of Win 231 with the same bullet but the clays was a cleaner shooting load for me.

 

[Sharp Shooter]

I like Hornady 230-grain FMJ-RN bullets over 5.5 grs of Win 231. But I'm pretty sure those plated Ranier 230-grain RN bullets will work well for you. It's just that I have a lot of .45 ACP FMJ bullets on hand.
I didn't really experimented with many different powders for .45ACP before settling on Win 231. I tried Unique and found it dirty. I tried HS-6 and found unbelievable shot-to-shot velocity swings. Someone on this board recommend Win 231 and after trying it, I've never seen a reason to experiment with any other powders in my .45ACP loads.

 

[mattsbox99]

.45 is a great choice to reload, its easy to find a great load and its low pressure so you don't have to worry too much. I like Hodgdon's Titegroup with a 200 grain cast RNFP or a Remington 230 grain FMJ. Alliant Red Dot is great with cast bullet loads as well for the ultimate in economy.

 

[DGW1949]

Over the years, I've tried 200's, 225's, 230's and 250's in the 45ACP.
Can't say that one was any more fun to shoot than the other, but I can say that some guns are finicky about which they'll feed.

Far as the various 200's go, I've had less trouble out of my Colt 1911 A1 when using the 200 grn 45LC "cowboy" bullets than from the more conventional 200 SWC 45ACP design.

Hope this helps.

DGW

 

[ChuckS1]

I have a Browning BDA in .45ACP, which is the same as your P220. It feeds the H&G68 just fine.

 

[contender]

I shoot a lot of 45 in competition. I use a plated 230 grn Rn bullet with good results.

 

[sfhogman]

I've been shooting Laser Cast 230 RN over 5.0g of 231 for years. My Springfield and I both like it.

Jeff

 

[slippingaway]

I shoot either 230gr Ranier RN over 5.5gr of 231, or 200gr Ranier RN over 6.0gr of 231

Both loads shoot great out of my P345.

 

[Leucoandro]

Looks like popular opinion is with the 230gr round nose. Based off of everyone's suggestion, it looks like I will stick with them.

Thanks for all the help.


So the flat nosed ammunition does not always feed reliably?

Here was the flat nosed ammo I was looking at.

http://www.midwayusa.com/mediasvr.dll/i ... mid=252310

Also, with the mentions of Hornady, I looked at them on midway. The HAP looks interesting as well. It is 230gr


Charlie

 

[slippingaway]

Simple answer about feeding is, it depends on the gun. Only way to know for sure is to try some, and see how it does. All things considered though, I like the Ranier RN better than the FP.

 

[Snake45]

I've loaded locally procured 200 SWCs and 230 RNs and 230 TCs over 5.3 grains of WW 231. They've all shot well in any gun I tried them in.

For years before doing it, I read about how hard it was to load for .45ACP. I found just the opposite to be true, it is really a very easy cartridge to reload.

 

[slippingaway]

I've loaded locally procured 200 SWCs and 230 RNs and 230 TCs over 5.3 grains of WW 231. They've all shot well in any gun I tried them in.

For years before doing it, I read about how hard it was to load for .45ACP. I found just the opposite to be true, it is really a very easy cartridge to reload.

I agree. The only problem I had with it is that at lower charges, my P345 wouldn't cycle reliably. That's the reason I bumped it up to 5.5gr. I could probably bump it down now that the gun has broken in, but the load shoots so accurately that I don't want to change anything.

 

[ChuckS1]

The H&G 68 was designed to replicate the ball ammo in terms of feeding. The feeding problem generally lies with how far out the bullet is seated since you have a squared off shoulder that can gen stuck on the feed ramp (which is designed for the round nosed ball ammo). The way to fix that is to leave only about a fingernail's width of shoulder exposed and a taper crimp. Like I said, I have a 70's vintage BDA (your P220) and it feeds this bullet just fine.

There are plenty of reduced power springs out there at a low cost so you can easily swap it out to so that your pistol will function with reduced power loads, if you find one you like.

 

[slippingaway]

There are plenty of reduced power springs out there at a low cost so you can easily swap it out to so that your pistol will function with reduced power loads, if you find one you like.

I considered that, but the reduced power loads also weren't hitting to POA. I bumped up the load, and it fixed both problems. Now my feelings are, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Bearlaker]

I've been shooting Laser Cast 230 RN over 5.0g of 231 for years. My Springfield and I both like it.

Jeff

Second that. I also like 4gr. of Bullseye with the Laser Cast 230.