Looking for pistol ammo reloading tips and powder preference for .45 ACP.

[andersonjk4]

I'm going to start reloading some .45 ACP rounds for my new 1911.  I have been reloading rifle ammo for over 15 years and am very proficient with rifle loads, but this will be my first experience with reloading pistol cartridges.  I just bought a LEE carbide 4-die set in .45 ACP.  So do any of you long time pistol cartridge reloaders have any words of wisdom for a rookie?  Also, I've been doing some research on different powders and was curious what people who have some experience with different powders think of the different popular pistol powders (clays, titegroup, W231, HS-6, Hi-Skor 700-X ... etc)?  I'm not really looking for competition accuracy, but would like a clean burning, easy metering powder.  And being easy on the wallet would be a plus.  I'm mainly going to load FMJs for plinking but also some HPs for self defense.  Any info will be greatly appreciated. 

[C-Money]

231 is good, also look at Unique, bullseye and Red Dot. the 45acp does not seem to be picky, it does well with a wide variety of powder. Happy loading!

[Heredoggydoggy]

Whatever you do, load your gun with Factory Ammo for self defense.  This is strictly a liability issue, just in case you ever have to use the gun in a self defense situation....  Target shoot with reloads, but carry with factory stuff! 

[wildmanoutdoors]

When shooting IPSC for years 231 was my go to!

[C-Money]

Whatever you do, load your gun with Factory Ammo for self defense.  This is strictly a liability issue, just in case you ever have to use the gun in a self defense situation....  Target shoot with reloads, but carry with factory stuff! 

Good advise!

[Heredoggydoggy]

I used Unique in my 9mm loads for years, because I used a lot of it for shotshell loading, too.  But it's DIRTY!
I was given a pound of Bullseye, so I used it to load my 45 ACP rounds.  Finally used it all up, thank god!  After shooting my 45 with Bullseye loads, I felt like my gun had just come out of a bag of charcoal!  It's got to be the dirtiest powder ever made.  I'll go to one of the Ramshot powders if I ever load any more 45 ACP. 

[Blacklab]

Ive always used Blue dot. 

[waterdoctor]

cleanest burning I have found is Universal clays.  I have to use a little bit more than Bulls-eye but it is worth it to me.

[thinkingman]

AA2 is easy to meter.
Titegroup is hot and does not meter well.

[whacker1]

tagging this one as I had the same questions

[andersonjk4]

Lots of good info here.  Thanks guys.  I can see where it is a good idea to use factory ammo for defense purposes.  But are handloads really less reliable than factory ammo?  Like I said before I have been reloading rifle ammo for over half my life and would way rather have my handloads in any of my rifles over factroy ammo anyday in a hunting situation or defense situation.  I have NEVER had a failure to fire from any of my handloads.  I won't be using a progressive machine to pump out thousands of rounds.  I only have a single stage press and will probably be weighing every charge I load.  Is there anything I need to make sure I do /don't do when reloading pistol shells compared to rifle shells? 

[whacker1]

Lots of good info here.  Thanks guys.  I can see where it is a good idea to use factory ammo for defense purposes.  But are handloads really less reliable than factory ammo?  Like I said before I have been reloading rifle ammo for over half my life and would way rather have my handloads in any of my rifles over factroy ammo anyday in a hunting situation or defense situation.  I have NEVER had a failure to fire from any of my handloads.  I won't be using a progressive machine to pump out thousands of rounds.  I only have a single stage press and will probably be weighing every charge I load.  Is there anything I need to make sure I do /don't do when reloading pistol shells compared to rifle shells?

The handloads or factory ammunition for self-defense comment is about how you appear before a court and/or jury, after discharging your weapon.  The perception of someone that hand loads particularly lethal rounds vs. buying them over the counter is the perception you have to appease to a jury.  The person purchasing over the counter is seen in a different light over those with technical ability.    I don't believe the comment has to do with reliability, but rather providing a legal defense if you are ever put in the position to actually have to use the firearm for self-defense.

I personally think that if you are handloading any round (rifle, pistol, or otherwise), that same perception will apply in court whether you handloaded the self defense rounds used or not.  Just my two cents

[JackOfAllTrades]

Glock or 1911? Other?
 
Bullseye, Clays, Titegroup for plinking/target shooting. Buy/pour lead for target shooting. (unless in a Glock) No reason to waste your mondy on FMJ. Cheap Barry's, plated Rainier or Montana Gold could be cost effective.  Unique works great but is dirty to shoot. 231 doesn't meter well with light loads and builds some higher pressure spikes where other pouders are just better choices.  I don't buy into the 'factory ammo' for self defense thing. If I meant to point the gun at a human, it meant that I felt that my life was in danger. At that point I'm shooting center mass anyway. Likely to kill. Factory or handload doesn't matter.  If I do have a factory load in the pipe, it'll be a Black Talon.
 
-Steve

[JLS]

I agree with Steve.  If you have to use your handgun for self defense there a lot more very important things that will be considered.  Your ammo is likely not one of them. 

I've yet to see case law that ruled for excessive use of force because someone was shot with a hollow point vs. ball ammo.  Honestly, that argument makes about as much sense as telling someone they should shoot an intruder with a .380 instead of a .45 because it doesn't look as intrusive (pun intended).

[andersonjk4]

Thanks Whacker and Steve.  That is all very good information to have.  And I will be shooting these from a Sig Sauer 1911.  In all honesty I feel like I would be more likely to have to defend myself against a predator of the animal kind (bear, wolf, cougar) while hiking/hunting in the mountains than I will have to defend against predator of the human kind.  But I guess you never know especially the way things are going these days.  All I know is I want a reliable round to stop whatever is threatening me first and foremost and worry about the legality of the situation later.  I have always been partial to IMR and Hogdon powders for really no other reason than that is just what I have always used for rifles.  Anyone ever used Hodgdon HS-6 in a .45 ACP?  I like the thought of a fine sepherical powder from a metering standpoint.     

[300rum]

I think that the whole reloaded ammo for self defense thing has been debunked.  From what I can tell it started from Massad Ayoob who warned against it in his books and caught on as he is an expert witness in quite a few self defense situations.  It seems though that he has changed his stance over the use of handloads.  If it is a justified homicide in the first place I don't think it is going to matter whether you handload, use factory, the butt of the gun, a hammer....

[300rum]

As far as loading for .45, it is one of the more simple rounds to load for.  As far as powder's go all of the powders listed are fine.  Titegroup is going to be the cheapest (typically) then Clays, then 231.  I shoot a lot of titegroup because I shoot a lot.  The problem with titegroup is that it is a very violent and snappy powder and will also heat up your gun quickly.  It doesn't take much to meet power factor though and it is cheap and doesn't smoke too much if you are using jacketed or molly coated lead bullets.  Don't use it with lead bullets though, it smokes like a train. 

Clays works well in .45, lots of guys like it, I don't.  It seemed snappier then Titegroup at the same power factor, is dirty and doesn't meter as well. 

231 is dirtier then the other two and but works well in .45.  It is just too dirty for me and smokes a bit too much.

WST is a very nice powder, soft shooting and for a plinker is probably the best.  It is reverse temp sensitive so when the temperature gets hotter it slows down, when the temperature goes down, it speeds up.  Temperature sensitivity doesn't matter if you aren't shooting competitions or leaving your rounds out in the sun on a 90+ degree day.  Even on hot days I never had a failure, even when I left them out in the sun.  They were noticeably softer but no failures.  WST can be harder to find though and usually is about the same price as 231 or slightly more expensive.

Use your barrel to chamber check your loads and don't go over 900 FPS or so with lead bullets. 

[h20hunter]

Wasn't sure if I mentioned this at another time but I have an extra case gauge for .45...very very handy. It is new and never used. I think they go about 35$ plus tax and shipping new......pm me and we can work something out if interested.

[high country]

I roll Universal clays and power pistol in my 45. My old rcbs throws them very well.

[KelseyH]

The best thing I can suggest is a case gauge and precheck every round you load prior to heading to the range.  Nothing more frustrating that a case jam due to a bulged or improper case size.


Good Luck!

Kelsey
High Mountain Hunting Supply, LLC

[JackOfAllTrades]

The best thing I can suggest is a case gauge and precheck every round you load prior to heading to the range.  Nothing more frustrating that a case jam due to a bulged or improper case size.


Good Luck!

Kelsey
High Mountain Hunting Supply, LLC

Oh good gosh.... I've fired/reloaded a hundred thousand 45acp in the last 20 years, some 30,000 through my current Kimber SS Custom II, and never once put my shells through a case guage. I measure my 'Target/competition slow fire' brass with a dial caliper since I want the light taper crimp to be abosolutely consistent, but I don't for the other thousands of rounds I reload/fire. 45acp brass actually shrinks over time, (reloaded/fired brass), unlike bottle neck rifle cases that stretch when fired. 
 
That said, your best case guage is your barrel/chamber.
 
Remember that 45acp head spaces on the neck so don' t roll crimp, and only a .462" taper crimp for cast bullets. Maybe a tad less crimp for jacketed bullets.
 
-Steve

[sirmissalot]

Some good info here.

I've been loading with power pistol for some time now for the 45 and the 40

[crazysccrmd]

I've used Power Pistol and AA5 for 45ACP with 185gr plated FN bullets. It's great for cheap target ammo and practice, I stick with Corbon/Hornady 165/185gr factory loads for carry.

A tip, for mass producing on a single stage press try using the Lee powder dippers. I can get a consistent scoop within +/- .1gr which is more than enough for your mid-level power target ammo. For my 10mm hunting loads that are max power I hand measure, but I'm loading a lot less of those in a single sitting.

[andersonjk4]

I've used Power Pistol and AA5 for 45ACP with 185gr plated FN bullets. It's great for cheap target ammo and practice, I stick with Corbon/Hornady 165/185gr factory loads for carry.

A tip, for mass producing on a single stage press try using the Lee powder dippers. I can get a consistent scoop within +/- .1gr which is more than enough for your mid-level power target ammo. For my 10mm hunting loads that are max power I hand measure, but I'm loading a lot less of those in a single sitting.

I've been thinking about the dippers.  I will have to give them a try.  I figured that at that small of charge and when accuracy isn't critical loading by volume instead of weight might be way quicker.  Thanks for the recommendation.   

[JackOfAllTrades]

Trust your pouder measure to throw consistent charges. Weigh every 5 or 10th one. You can make more mistakes with dippers.
 
-Steve

[high country]

I would never give up my powder measure for a dipper......those are dangerous.

[crazysccrmd]

Trust your pouder measure to throw consistent charges. Weigh every 5 or 10th one. You can make more mistakes with dippers.
 
-Steve

I took the time and measured what the dipper holds for the powder type I'm loading and have never had more than a .1gr variation when using the same method of scooping the powder. Like I typed, they are never used for anything approaching a max load, just target loads when there is plenty of room for a .1gr variation in charge.

[high country]

I stuck a bolt on a 300 wby using a lee loader and a scoop 20 years ago.....never again.

[Wacenturion]

Getting ready to start pistol reloading myself, 45ACP and 9MM.  Have both a single stage and progressive stage Hornady's.  Anybody here using Ramshot pistol powders?  From what I can gather, they meter extremely well and are also very clean...i.e. True Blue or Zip?