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What you guys using?

For paper punching / other sundry shooting chores, not self defense:

200 grain lead SWC over:

6.7 gr PowerPistol
5.2 gr Bullseye
5.2 gr SOLO 1000

MM

This.

230 over 4.8 gerains of TG

185 swc over Unique or accurate #5.

The following are good with any quality H&G #68 or close copy. 1.250" OAL, W231 powder, Winchester primers and a good snug taper crimp to prevent bullet setback.

4.0 grains, for 626 fps. Cycles & feeds perfectly in my USGI pattern 1911, really thumps pests/small game load & shoots to the sights at 20 yards or a tad further. Quiet enough that a few rounds w/o earplugs will not deafen you. Will just shoot through a pine 2x4 and sink the nose in another behind it. A friend pointed out that the ballistics of this load is a near match for the old .38, 200 grain Super Police load and I would not hesitate to use it for indoor defense. I use this load to 'cycle-out' worn-out casings and stain them black to make them readily identifiable. A favorite 'fun load' and perfect for introducing small folks to the 1911.

Same as above except 5.0 grains, for 826 fps. Good accurate load with negligible recoil, groups right along with decent JHP's like WW/USA 230; shoots to the same POI out to 50 yards. Would serve fine as a defense load if that what happens to be in the gun.


I also use Missouri Bullet�s 225 grain Flathead loaded to 1.220� OAL over 5.4 grains of W231 for 840 fps from a 5" Rock Island 1911.



Shoots pretty good at 50 yards.



Closing thoughts- according to some references this is a tenth of a grain over the recommended max, for a similar 230 grain bullet. Use at your own risk. Also, at 1.220� OAL the shoulder of this bullet is just kissing the rifling of the Rock Island�s barrel. I was tempted to shorten it, but at that length it feeds perfectly in 1911 barrels with either the wadcutter or GI throat. At 770 or so fps, I was getting a bit of leading in the grooves. At 840 fps, it has all but disappeared. I�m guessing the bullet is obturating and filling the grooves better at the higher velocity. The load shoots great and it produces the numbers I wanted. It works- and I sure ain�t fixing it.

More here: http://www.thesixgunjournal.net/missouri-bullets-225-grain-flathead-for-the-45-auto/

230gr XTP, 7.2 gr Unique. 950 fps from my G21.

Those the #45160 Hornady's? I just picked up a bunch of these if so and I also have plenty of Unique on hand as well.

Yes.

They have a little more shazam than most 45ACP, but Quickload puts pressure around 21K PSI, so it's really only on the border of +P pressure.

In my G21 it runs fine with the factory spring, or with a Wolff 22-lb spring.

My 4506 would digest that and ask for more...

I don't doubt that.

The G21 would take more too, some folks run 45 Super through the Glocks, as issued.

8 grains of #5 with 230 grain XTP's, bulk Remmys or Montana Gold HP's or FMJ's, Starline brass and CCI-300 primers, 1.20" OAL. Getting right at 900 FPS out of a 5" Ruger 1911.

Haven't chrono'ed them yet out of my 4" XD Compact. Just got a pound of CFE Pistol, gonna use that with the same bullets. Pistol powder's scarce here.

5.2 HP 38 1.240 OAL 230 grain FMJ. works well in my 1911's

6.5 grains Unique under whatever 230 grain jacketed bullet comes to hand...OAL varies. Rem,Win or Federal brass and a Federal Large Pistol cap.

Developed that load for the 625, but it works so good in 1911s that I just standardized on it.

Many years ago I found that a good 200 gr. lead semi wadcutter at 850 fps or even less can do alot of things well while being cheap to shoot. It lacks nothing as a target round, or a small game load.
I suggest you try any of the faster powders, varing the charge by .3 grs. until your gun shoot them accurately. Don't be surprised if even a service grade 1911 will put five into 1.5 inches at 25 yds. The trick is to use good brass, and find just what the gun likes. E

200 gr cast SWC over 5.0 Tite Group has been my best target/plinking load in at least one 1911...

...is what I generally load in my M&P.

To the OP:

That's a high book load. Start lower and work up. You might find your gun's max is a little lower.

Here's LBT'S 230 LFN at 50 yards with 5.8 grains W231 and 1.200 seating depth. Gun is a 4" 1911.

Hello
I Like using Accurate Arm's #5 & #7 Powder's using a 200 grain Rainier semi wad cutter style copper flashed bullet, it work's for me and my Classic Five screw S&W as shown. Regards, The General