Reloading The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol)

Left to right:-- 230 gr. RN, .45 with JRN, .45 with JHP, 230 gr. JRN
(WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter,
HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose), SP=Soft Point
(JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet)
Loads for .45 ACP:

(Note: These are near MAXIMUM loads, you should use 10% less to start.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.)
Bullet sizes vary from .451" for jacketed to .452" for some lead in diameter. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up.

----------------------------------------
155 grain LSWC (Lead, Semi-Wad Cutter)
    Bullseye   6.9 gr.   1,175 FPS
    Unique     7.8 gr.   1,190
    Universal  7.6 gr.   1,195
    Clays      5.2 gr.   1,082
    HP38       8.0 gr.   1,179 
    No. 2      7.5 gr.   1,204
    No. 5     10.0 gr.   1,189
    540        8.5 gr.     940
-----------------------------------------
185 grain JHP or JSP (Jacketed Hollow or Soft Point)
    Bullseye   5.3 gr.     914 FPS
    Unique     7.0 gr.     928
    Unique     6.0 gr.     765 (actual in Colt45 for mild load)
    Universal  7.2 gr.     993
    Clays      4.9 gr.     981
    HP38       5.9 gr.     906
    HS-6       8.6 gr.     917
    No. 2      7.5 gr.   1,077
    No. 5     10.2 gr.   1,102
    231        6.8 gr.     990
    540       10.0 gr.   1,015
    WST        5.6 gr.     935
    WAP        8.9 gr.   1,045
-----------------------------------------
200 grain LSWC (Lead, Semi-Wad Cutter)
    Bullseye   4.2 gr.     790 FPS
    Unique     5.1 gr.     810
    Universal  5.4 gr.     804
    Clays      4.3 gr.     888
    HP38       5.6 gr.     914
    HS-6       8.4 gr.     907
    No. 2      5.8 gr.     939
    No. 5      8.7 gr.   1,025
    231        5.5 gr.     910
    540        8.3 gr.     925
    WST        5.1 gr.     910
    WAP        7.6 gr.     970
-----------------------------------------
225 grain Speer JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)
    Bullseye   4.8 gr.     884 FPS
    Unique     6.0 gr.     898
    Universal  6.2 gr.     820
    HP38       5.3 gr.     832
    HS-6       8.2 gr.     825
    No. 2      5.6 gr.     ---
    No. 5      8.5 gr.     ---
    231        5.2 gr.     824
    WAP        7.9 gr.     895
-----------------------------------------
230 grain LSWC or LRN (Semi-Wad Cutter or Round Nose)
    (these loads work for the RN Plated bullet,too)
    Bullseye   4.0 gr.     810 FPS (target accuracy load)
    Bullseye   4.8 gr.     884 hot load/Maximum.
    Unique     5.5 gr.     795  (I got 738 fps in my gun)
    Unique     5.5 gr.     913  (in Marlin auto carbine)
    Unique     6.0 gr.     840* (I got 777 fps in my gun)
    Unique     6.0 gr.     924* (in Marlin auto carbine)
    Universal  4.8 gr.     782
    No. 2      5.6 gr.     870
    No. 5      8.5 gr.     968
    231        5.1 gr.     870 (I got 734 in my S&W)
    540        7.6 gr.     860
    WST        4.5 gr.     805
    WAP        7.3 gr.     915
 * Alliant shows this a Maximum load
-----------------------------------------
230 grain FMJ or JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)
    Bullseye   4.8 gr.     884 FPS
    Unique     6.4 gr.     880
    Universal  6.0 gr.     853
    HP38       5.3 gr.     832
    HS6        8.2 gr.     825
    No. 2      6.1 gr.     874
    No. 5      8.7 gr.     927
    231        5.1 gr.     785
    540        7.6 gr.     800
    WST        4.9 gr.     800
    WAP        7.4 gr.     885
-----------------------------------------
260 grain FMJ or JHP Revolver Loads
    Bullseye   4.5 gr.     725 FPS
    Unique     5.4 gr.     760
    HP38       5.1 gr.     800
    HS6        8.0 gr.     849
    No. 2      5.5 gr.     785
    No. 5      7.7 gr.     845
    231        5.0 gr.     788
-----------------------------------------

Discussion: The small case and short powder burning time of the .45 ACP requires a faster burning powder, like Bullseye or Unique. The almost standard bullet is the 230 grain round nose, since it feeds so well in autos. However, the SWC has a round enough nose that it feeds well in most autos and makes a cleaner target cut-out. If you were to be hunting or for protection, you might consider the Jacketed Hollow Point bullet shown in the loaded round. Whether you use the lead or full metal jacketed bullet is up to you, but the lead is, of course, much cheaper if you shoot very much. Because of lead fumes in the air, you should use a jacketed or copper plated bullet indoors.

*
Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders.
Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders.
IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company.
No. 2, No. 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company
WMR, WSF, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div.

References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet - - Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders' Guide (1995) - - Hodgdon's Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) - - Speer Reloading Manual, #12 - - Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition - - Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. - - VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) - - Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted.

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