(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:
New 2012 note on .45 ACP cases using small pistol primers vs. the large pistol primers. Not long ago shooters began to report brass that had a small pistol primer pocket instead of the traditional large, due to the use of a more “green” environment primer. More and more range ammo is being sold with the less air polluting primers fitting cases with small pockets. The DANGER here is mixing up a batch of used cases and trying to seat a large primer in a small pocket. Most likely if you use a fair amount of force on the press, it will explode as it is being crushed from not fitting in the small pocket. Loads are generally the same and no documentation has been presented saying anything but if changing from tested maximum loads with one type, back off a bit before using the opposite primer.
(Note: These are near MAXIMUM loads, you should use 10% less to start.)
(See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.) (See note on NEW Nitro 100 powder at bottom of page)
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.
ACP is an acronym that stands for Automatic Cartridge (& Colt) Pistol. It was used by various John Browning cartridge designs primarily used in Colt and FN pistols.
(Note H110 & W296 are the same as of 2008 as is HP-38 & W231)
(IMR 4227 is same as H-4227 if made in Australia)
155 grain LSWC (Lead, Semi-Wad Cutter)
Nitro 100 | use 5.9 to 6.5 grains | 1,148 | fps max. |
Bullseye | 6.9 gr. | 1,175 | FPS |
Unique | 7.4 gr. | 1,180 | |
Universal | 6.5 gr. | 1,015 | start |
Universal | 7.0 gr. | 1,135 | max |
Clays | 4.9 gr. | 1,040 | start |
Clays | 5.2 gr. | 1,082 | max |
HP38/W231 | 6.0 gr. | 998 | |
HP38/W231 | 6.7 gr. | 1,112 | max |
No. 2 | 7.5 gr. | 1,204 | |
No. 5 | 10.0 gr. | 1,189 | |
HS-6 | 9.0 gr. | 998 | start |
HS-6 | 10.0 gr. | 1,126 | max |
540 | 8.5 gr. | 940 | |
Titegroup | 5.7 gr. | 1,039 | start |
Titegroup | 6.2 gr. | 1,132 | max |
180 grain LEAD FP
Nitro 100 | use 5.3 to 5.9 grains | max |
Trail Boss | 3.5 gr. | 664 start |
Trail Boss | 5.0 gr. | 852 max |
HS-6 | 7.8 gr. | 805 start |
HS-6 | 9.0 gr. | 961 max |
Clays | 3.8 gr. | 783 start |
Clays | 4.5 gr. | 910 max |
Universal | 5.3 gr. | 755 |
Universal | 6.4 gr. | 1,019 max |
Titegroup | 4.2 gr. | 771 |
Titegroup | 5.2 gr. | 946 max |
231/HP-38 | 5.0 gr. | 778 |
231/HP-38 | 6.0 gr. | 950 max |
185 grain Berry’s Plated RNHB (Round Nose Hollow Base)
Bullseye | 4.5 gr. | enough to function action (John Harris load) |
Bullseye | 4.8 gr. | Works well and accurate (John Harris load) |
Bullseye | 5.2 gr. | 905 Hi=917, Lo=891, ES=26 |
ZIP | 6.2 gr. | 939 Hi=974, Lo=913, ES=61 |
Titegroup | 5.4 gr. | 860 Hi=888, Lo=845, ES=43 |
Competition | – try 4.0 to 5.0 grains. |
185 grain Matt’s Lead HP bullet
Titegroup | 4.9 gr. | 926 | Hi=941, Lo=909, ES=32 (good) |
Titegroup | 5.2 gr. | 942 | Hi=960, Lo=921, ES=39 (also good load) |
185 grain JHP or JSP (Jacketed Hollow or Soft Point)
Nitro 100 +P | load, use 6.2 to 6.8 gr. | HOT +P load 1,050 fps. |
Bullseye | 5.3 gr. | 914 FPS |
Unique | 7.0 gr. | 928 |
Unique | 6.0 gr. | 765 (actual in Colt45 ACP for mild load) |
Unique | 7.2 gr. | 988 MAX |
Universal | 6.0 gr. | 908 start |
Universal | 6.4 gr. | 977 max |
Clays | 4.5 gr. | 855 start |
Clays | 4.9 gr. | 981 max |
Titegroup | 5.0 gr. | 892 start |
Titegroup | 5.5 gr. | 956 max |
PowerPistol | 9.1 gr. | 997 near max |
HP38/W231 | 5.0 gr. | 762 start |
HP38/W231 | 5.9 gr. | 906 max |
HS-6 | 8.6 gr. | 917 |
No. 2 | 7.5 gr. | 1,077 |
No. 5 | 10.2 gr. | 1,102 |
540 | 10.0 gr. | 1,015 |
WST | 5.6 gr. | 935 |
WAP | 8.9 gr. | 1,045 |
200 grain LSWC or LRN (Lead, SWC or Round Nose)
Nitro 100 | use 5.0 to 5.5 grains | max |
Bullseye | 4.2 gr. | 790 FPS |
Bullseye | 4.8 gr. | 815 |
Unique | 5.1 gr. | 814 |
Unique | 5.6 gr. | 904 |
Unique | 5.7 gr. | 842 (different gun) |
Unique | 6.0 gr. | 867 Max |
Universal | 5.4 gr. | 804 |
Universal | 6.2 gr. | 955 (MAX) |
Titegroup | 4.9 gr. | 874 |
Titegroup | 5.4 gr. | 957 (MAX HOT) |
Clays | 4.3 gr. | 888 |
HP38/W231 | 4.4 gr. | 771 start |
HP38/W231 | 5.6 gr. | 914 max |
231 | 5.5 gr. | 910 |
231 | 6.0 gr. | 942 max (old book load) |
ZIP | 5.8 gr. | 971 max |
HS-6 | 8.4 gr. | 907 |
No. 2 | 5.8 gr. | 939 |
No. 5 | 8.7 gr. | 1,025 |
540 | 8.3 gr. | 925 |
WST | 5.1 gr. | 910 |
WAP | 7.6 gr. | 970 |
Trail Boss | 3.5 gr. | 652 |
Trail Boss | 4.5 gr. | 783 RNFP lead, Hi=820, Lo=758, ES=62 Works Action-Mild |
Trail Boss | 5.5 gr. | 816 max |
200 grain FMJ full jacketed RN Hornady
Nitro 100 | use 5.4 to 6.0 grains | max *(old powder loads) | |
Nitro 100+P | use 5.9 to 6.2 grains +P | max *(old powder loads) | |
Titegroup | 4.7 gr. | 812 | start |
Titegroup | 5.4 gr. | 944 | max |
No. 2 | 6.1 gr. | 921 | near max |
HP-38/W231 | 5.2 gr. | 794 | start |
HP-38/W231 | 5.9 gr. | 906 | max |
HS-6 | 8.2 gr. | 868 | start |
HS-6 | 9.0 gr. | 948 | max |
Universal | 5.8 gr. | 889 | start |
Universal | 6.2 gr. | 949 | max |
ZIP | 6.4 gr. | 955 | |
Unique | 5.6 gr. | 692 | mild target load |
Unique | 7.0 gr. | 882 | and 929 in different guns |
Unique | 7.2 gr. | MAX | 894 and 945 in different guns |
205 grain Matt’s Lead HP bullet
Titegroup | 5.4 gr. | 920 | Hi=962, Lo=905, ES=57 (Good) |
ZIP | 6.2 gr. | 986 | Hi=1006, Lo=965, ES=41 |
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 |
ZIP | 5.8 gr. | 812 |
230 grain LSWC or LRN (Semi-Wad Cutter or Round Nose)
(these loads work for the RN Plated bullet,too-don’t use max)
Bullseye | 4.0 gr. | 810 FPS (target accuracy load) |
Bullseye | 4.8 gr. | 884 hot load/Maximum. |
Nitro 100 | use 4.8 to 5.3 grains | max (use 10% less if NEW formulation) |
Clays | 3.5 gr. | 716 start |
Clays | 4.0 gr. | 793 MAX with LRN |
ZIP | 5.2 gr. | 828 |
ZIP | 5.5 gr. | 873 |
ZIP | 5.8 gr. | 915 max |
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 | 4.5 gr. | 703 start |
Universal | 4.8 gr. | 782 |
Universal | 5.4 gr. | 857 max |
Red Dot | 4.0 gr. | 808 |
Red Dot | 4.4 gr. | 807 max |
Green Dot | 4.3 gr. | 810 |
Blue Dot | 10.0 gr. | 855 |
Titegroup | 4.0 gr. | 751 start |
Titegroup | 4.3 gr. | 788 |
Titegroup | 4.8 gr. | 855 (MAX) |
No. 2 | 5.6 gr. | 870 |
No. 5 | 8.5 gr. | 968 |
540 | 7.6 gr. | 860 |
Trail Boss | 3.5 gr. | 658 start |
Trail Boss | 4.4 gr. | 748 (using Carolina Cast bullet) |
Trail Boss | 4.5 gr. | 778 Hi=803, Lo=756, ES=47 RNFP bullet |
Trail Boss | 4.6 gr. | 756 max (Hi=769, Lo=741, ES=28) Carolina Cast RN |
WST | 4.5 gr. | 805 |
HS-6 | 8.0 gr. | 858 MAX |
WAP | 7.3 gr. | 915 |
HP-38/W231 | 4.3 gr. | 699 start |
HP-38 | 5.1 gr. | 785 (Near Max) |
HP-38/W231 | 5.3 gr. | 834 Maximum |
231 | 5.1 gr. | 850 (I got 734 in my S&W) |
True Blue | 6.7 gr. | 820 |
True Blue | 7.4 gr. | 913 max |
Silhouette | 7.0 gr. | 882 max |
Competition | 3.6 gr. | 725 |
Competition | 4.0 gr. | 805 max |
* Alliant shows this a Maximum load
230 grain FMJ or JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point)
Nitro 100 | use 5.0 to 5.6 grains | max |
Bullseye | 4.8 gr. | 884 FPS |
Clays | 3.7 gr. | 670 start |
Clays | 4.0 gr. | 732 MAX |
Competition | 3.8 gr. | 694 |
Competition | 4.2 gr. | 771 max |
HS-6 | 8.0 gr. | 790 start |
HS-6 | 8.2 gr. | 825 max |
Silhouette | 7.3 gr. | 868 |
Silhouette | 8.1 gr. | 964 max |
Tightgroup | 4.4 gr. | 744 |
Tightgroup | 4.8 gr. | 815 max |
Unique | 5.3 gr. | 880 |
Unique | 5.8 gr. | 901 max |
Universal | 5.1 gr. | 716 start |
Universal | 5.6 gr. | 844 max in Hodgdon manual |
HP38/W231 | 4.2 gr. | 751 start |
HP38/W231 | 5.3 gr. | 832 max |
HS6 | 8.0 gr. | 815 |
HS6 | 8.2 gr. | 825 max |
PowerPistol | 6.8 gr. | 815 |
No. 2 | 6.1 gr. | 874 max |
No. 5 | 8.7 gr. | 927 max |
231 | 5.1 gr. | 785 |
540 | 7.6 gr. | 800 |
WST | 4.9 gr. | 800 |
WAP | 7.4 gr. | 885 |
True Blue | 6.8 gr. | 802 |
True Blue | 7.1 gr. | 804 |
True Blue | 7.6 gr. | 889 max |
CCI commercial comparison | 875 Hi=881, Lo=868, ES=13 (excellent load) | |
Blazer Brass 230 FMJ | 812 Hi=888, Lo=735, ES=152 |
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 |
*If you have an older can of Scot Nitro 100 or Accurate Nitro 100, please note, it is NOT the same as the new formulation at Western Powders. I have been told as of 2011 that the NEW and current N-100 is faster burning in pistol calibers than the old. Use 10% UNDER any values you see here for older N-100. The older was slower burning in pistol calibers.
Discussion: The small case and short powder burning time of the .45 ACP requires a faster burning powder, like Bullseye or Unique. Trail Boss is new for the .45 ACP, but it shoots very well with a lead bullet (you can use jacketed also) and is quite mild but works the slide well in loads I have tested so far. The almost standard bullet is the 230 grain round nose (lead, jacketed or plated), since it feeds so well in autos. More shooters are using the 200 grain SWC as of 2011 that in the past. You need the driving bands to hold the bullet tightly with just the taper crimp on the .45 ACP. Be careful with the lightweight bullets. If they get driven into the case with recoil or feeding, you are in for a lot of trouble and possibly an explosion.
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 consider using a jacketed or copper plated bullet indoors unless well ventilated.
*
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.
One Response
Thanks for all the info!