Loading for the 45 ACP

3

35WD

New member
I have a couple of 1911 A1s and want to start shooting them more. That means reloading of course. I already load for rifle, shotgun and revolver. This will be my first rodeo with 45 ACP and an autoloader.

Shooting clay games I already have a good supply of Clays, Universal, Red Dot, Green Dot, Hi-Skor 700x and 800X. I have a couple hundred large Pistol Primers from my .44 Mag loading.

A couple of questions. First, I understand that the 45 ACP headspaces on the case mouth. Does that make case length more critical? How frequently is one required to trim between loads? (I will be using the Lee case trimmer with the shell holder chucked into my drill.

I am not going anywhere near a +P load. How many loadings can I get per case. A buddy gave me about a 1000 empty cases and they appear once fired.

I have a few hundred large pistol primers stashed but they won't last long. I also see where large pistol primers are hen teeth rare. Can one substitute a large rifle primer? Maybe a stupid question but until the primer thing turns around I am willing to try any reasonable option. I laid in a good supply of small and large rifle primers before it got ugly so I can work with those.

I am going to start casting lead balls for my 1858 New Army so I thought that I would also cast for the 45 ACP. However, I did have a Glock that would not cycle wadcutters worth a darn and wonder if I need to focus on a bullet shape that will deal with the feed ramp. Any suggestions on cast bulletts. I think I will stay between 200 grn and 230 grn.

Finally, I want to find a decent low recoil load for plinking and to get my daughters into shooting. Any suggestions?
 
I have been shooting a load recommended by Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat for years. 4.7 grains of Clays, 200 grain lead semi wadcutter, OAL 1.250, Taper crimp .469 at case mouth.
Soft shooting , accurate and clean. As for the large rifle primers you are on your own with that.
 
I shoot a Colt Gov 70 that is tricked for performance. I trim all the cases to one standard one time, use only large pistol primers, and powders similar to AA#5.
Jim
 
Where are you at in Oregon? I've got quite the stockpile of Winchester large pistol primers sitting here (1000+) I'd trade 1 for 1, if you had CCI 450's.

PM me if you're interested. I'm not going through the hassel of sending them and paying for all that government "tax", but FTF is free.
wink.gif
 
I have never trimmed a 45 case. Some of them are on their 20th reloading
I would think, when they split I toss them. An oregon trails 200 swc over
700x has proved my most accurate load is several 1911's. But it's a large
flake and you weigh every charge. Some of your other shotgun powders may
meter a lot better. Don't screw with rifle primers, larger pistol primers are
around and getting to be more available. Shoot lead and keep your loads
mild and your guns will last forever.
 
I live in Gresham. I just went through my primer stash and found that I had wisely invested in 1000 federal large rifle primers; if I recall about 4 months ago. However, I have enough small rifle that I can do a trade.

In the small rifle primers I have both Winchester and Federal, plus the odd bunch of CCI.

From the post from Jim in Iowa, I am guessing that 45 ACP cases will not stretch much after a number of firings. If my thinking is correct, that would make sense in a straight wall case that headspaces on the case mouth.

Another problem has surfaced however. I bought some bulk bullets from the new Sportsmans and loaded it to 1.250 OAL. The loaded shell is not going into full battery. I took some factory loads and measured them against my loads. Same length. The bullet ogives are a bit different. I am seeing some wintess marks for lands and grooves on my loads. I seated the bullet a little deeper and it is now cycling. Anyone else had that experience?
 


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