Looking to get a 1911 in .45 and am looking for your favorite loads. I’m looking at the load data books etc. but personal experience is always appreciated. For example, I used to load a SWC Laser Cast over charge of W231 but I don’t want plain lead bullets. That was a long time ago on a friend’s machine and I remember it being smokey/dirty but I don’t know of it was more the bullet or powder.

I’m specifically looking to load a coated lead bullet, probably from Blue Bullets. Currently I have Sport Pistol, CFE-P and W231. Looking for a clean load for USPSA.

It was primarily the bullet. Some ranges won't allow pure lead bullets (no jacket or coating) because of the smoke.

I load a lot of coated bullets and like a 230 grain RN over 4.5 Grains of Bullseye.

I'm old school.

No lead only loads here.

My recipe of choice is a 230 grain FMJ bullet from Precision Delta with 4.6 grains of WST. COL of 1.26”.

It does tend to be Smokey but not like an old flint lock…

Hi-Tek .45ACP LSWC 200gr expelled by 4.7gr of WST runs pretty clean for me (@15 yards)...

Get some coated 230 grain round nose from SNS casting or Missouri bullets. Seat them 1.260 inches on top of 5.1 grains of W231.

I have shot lead and coated bullet from SnS and have been very pleased. I use 231 based on Hodgdon data.

I'm working through some older Unique -

230 LRN ~ 6.0 Unique

200 LSWC - 5.4

both are from wheelweights - water quenched

I haven't chronoed these, but they are accurate and easy on the brass.

I reload .45 ACP to run in my 1928 Thompson. What works best, and cheap, is 5.7gn of Unique under 230gn RNL bullet. There is no leading in my Tommy Gun's barrel and everything works just fine.

Ah, the 1911 in .45 ACP. I've loaded for more than a half dozen over the years...carried one in war, and in peace and dearly love the old girl...

Here's my standard load & it's good in any 1911 I've ever shot.

With any good LSWC of 200 grains, I load 5.0-5.2 grains of Win 231. This is a sub-2" grouping 25 yd load in my tweaked Colts and nearly that good in many others. Bullets are of the H&G 68 profile and are commercially available from Missouri Bullet Co. As a target load, it's right at the top...as a defense load, it's entirely practical if you use reloads.

For 230 gr FMJ, round nose, military duplication loads, I up the charge to 5.5-5.6 grains of Win 231 and get the full house military load velocity; 830 fps from a 5" 1911 bbl.

HTH's Rod

6.0 of Unique with 230s.
6.5 with 185s.

4.7 of Red Dot works well with the 185s as well.

Thanks! I’ll pick up some Missouri SWC to try

30-May-19 .45 ACP Mixed Brass H&S 230gr RN coated W231 5.0 gr 771.2 fps Tula primer 1.26 OAL 57°F 177 PF Fusion Reaction Feeds well

My P220 really likes 4.7gr of WST under a 230gr JRN at 1.256 OAL.


Rick

231 is a smokey powder, even in revolver cartridges. Try a different powder. I've cast many a thousand 200 gn H&G 68 style bullets in a 2 cavity Redding Saco mold. Only difference was the bevel base which is nice for seating. I recon 185 or 200 grain is best for target and practice.

FINALLY got some test loads built and had a chance to shoot them past a chronograph. Using a Springfield Operator.

It looks like the Missouri 200gr SWC over 5.0gr of W231 will be the starter. I may need to tweak the COL as I had one round fail to feed from slide lock using the slide release. Had to use a squib rod to clear but it fed fine next try. No issues otherwise and the brass was no dirtier than other reloads. Much nicer to shoot than the 230gr ball loads at 187pf from Fenix Ammo.

.45 ACP
Missouri 200gr SWC Hi-Tek coated
Winchester 231 5.0gr
CCI Large Pistol Primer
Mixed brass from Fancy Brass Company
1.124” COL
11 rounds
170 average PF
850 average FPS
45* and overcast.
LabRadar with measurements taken at V0, muzzle velocity, as that’s how USPSA does it currently. I’ll need to get the unti back out and get the ES and SD as well as the 15yd numbers.

I’ve got other .45 guns I’ll need to test and some 220gr ACME TC and 230gr Eggleston coated bullets to try. Need to find one for all and I’d like the SWC to be it. They fed fine in the HK USP so we’ll see about the P220.

4.8gn WST under 200gn LSWC.

I’m struggling to get the 200gr SWC to run 100%. Tested lengths, checked the extractor and cycled tons of dummy rounds. I think I have a bad magazine but I got them mixed up as I haven’t marked them yet. They shoot so nice and are super accurate for me.

However, I’ll probably reserve the SWC to practice and work up another load with RN or maybe TC bullets. The gun runs 100% with either. I need to find a good 200gr coated lead RN with no shoulder.

W231 is just dirty enough I have to wipe the front sight off so I can get the benefit of the fiber optic after about 40rds.

I’ll probably switch to Sport Pistol like I use in the .40 when the 231 is gone.

I shot Bulleye powder forever, with cast and their lubes it can be smokey outside in the sunlight. At some point I switched to Clays, with basically the same load, 4.2 to 4.4 grs depending on what I'm doing with them, with a 230gr bullet. (feed like a 13-14 different guns with that load)

When I was using Bullseye I would just use the same load with 200gr bullets when I had them. Never chrono'd them, but didn't have a need.

I’ve picked up a few other bullets to try. I really like the way the 200gr bullets shoot. The 230s have more oomph and I haven’t fine tuned the load yet.

230gr Brass Monkey in Storm Trooper camo. These are slick and have a nicely beveled bad for loading.
200gr Missouri Bullet Co. Oddball round nose version Hi-Tek coated.
200gr Missouri Bullet Co. IDPA #4 XD Hi-Tek, a round nose flat point.

I use the blue bullets in my 45. I use AA#7 (I have a few pounds left)and use their load data on their website. 9.9 grains works fine.

https://thebluebullets.com/load/

They don’t list 231, but you may call them