Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Need Load Data for 250gr bullets in .45 ACP (For Revolver Use Only)

Fellas,

I have a Ruger Bisley .45 Colt / .45 ACP convertible. I plink and target shoot with .45 ACP. For no real reason in particular I'd like to shoot some 250gr ACP loads (bigger bullet and I can load them on the Dillon rather than have to single-stage them).

These loads will never be fired through a 1911, so there is no need to start that discussion. I have found a few recipes online, but I thought I'd check here. FWIW, I realize I can start with 230gr data and extrapolate, but I am hoping for some more precise answers--like specific loads from guys who have actually shot what they're recommending to me.

I am happy to shoot FMJ, plated, or lead projectiles. For powders, I'll go buy whatever, but if you have loads for Titegroup, W231, Clays, or HS-6, that'd be appreciated.

Thanks!

Our friends Snake River Marksman and ScottF sent me some cast bullets that weigh in the range of 240 ish to a bit over 270 grains, I put 8 grains of Longshot under all of them, I load them in 45 ACP brass with the full moon clips and the excellent Starline 45 Auto Rim cases, WLP primers get it all lit.

My revolver is a 6" barreled S&W model 1955, these bullets are lubed cast lead flat points, and some being ceramic coated hp's, the best I can tell [shoot] they all hit plenty close enough to poa at 25 yards, easy on the gun and fun as hell to shoot, iirc, velocities run between 965 and 1000 fps.

Thanks, gunner500!

Anybody else have a favorite load?

From Speer Manual #13



I've loaded Beartooth Bullets 265gr SWC with 6.5gr of Longshot and it shoots pretty good in several different platforms I've tried it in. Probably somewhere between +P and Super -- proceed at your own risk.





Paul

The Speer manual also has good data with 250 cast loads in the 45 AR. Blue Dot and Unique iirc stood out.

My main load is with the 240 gr. Keith 453423 with 7grs. Longshot in AR/45 Super cases. This is obviously plus p.

A good 260gr. load is 10 grs. Blue Dot; this is with an LBT mould and should definitely be reduced when subbing any and all other bullets.
Right now I'm tinkering with a 300 LBT (which again doesn't seat in the case as deep as the 453423 Keith) with 10.5 grs of 2400 for 800 fps.

Hand loader 306 has a lot of heavy bullet data for the 45 AR.

L to r, 230 HP Remington factory, 230 Win. factory Black Talon, 225 LBT FNB 5grs. 231 (std. hand load for automatics), 453423 Keith 7 grs. Longshot, 300 LBT WFN 10.5 grs 2400 for revolvers.

Thanks fellas!

I'm shooting this 255gr SWC from MBC over 6.0 gr Unique in the Ruger Blackhawk 45ACP cylinder. Haven't chrono'd it, should be around 800 fps or so.

http://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=210&category=5&secondary=14&keywords=

Excellent! Thanks, Shane! Those rounds look great.

I just ordered some coated 250 gr RNFP Pinbusters from Missouri Bullet Co. I'm interested to see how well their coating holds up. I'm hoping to use Titegroup mainly (I've got a bunch of it), but it burns really hot--I fight leading in my everyday .45 ACP rounds (Uncoated 230gr TC from Penn Bullets). Hopefully this coating solves that. I've been meaning to get some Unique, though. When I do, I'll give it a go with this bullet.


And, for .45 Colt loads, I got some 325 gr (315 actual weight) Slammers. I don't think I'll be loaded them to full-house John Linebaugh velocities, but he does have some moderate loads over HS-6 that I'm going to try--I think 12.0 gr of HS-6 will spit them out at about 900 fps. That should keep me awake at the firing line.

I was glad to see this. 25 years ago, we were loading 9.0 grains of Blue Dot under a generic 255 grain SWC* for a chrono'ed 870 fps from my old AMTU built Ithaca. I shot a 400 pound hog through the shoulders with that load and it penetrated about 16 inches grinding bone on the way across; It was found under the hide of the offside shoulder.

My 45 ACP bulk load is a near-duplicate of your #3 load, I'm using Missouri Bullet's 225 grain Flathead under 5.4 grains of HP38 or 231 for 864 fps from a Colt 1911A1. It will keep 4 out of 5 shots in 2" at 50 yards and sail through six gallon water jugs and bury in a Brownells catalog behind them.

* I got this load from Shooting Times Magazine years ago where it was used with a 260 grain Speer JHP. I can't source it today so I don't recommend anybody else use it..

Those look nice.

I haven't experienced any leading with the coated MBC bullets.

Ken Waters Pet Loads has, since his first edition on the 45 Auto in 1978 and 1990 additions, nothing but good reports of Blue Dot with 230 gr. bullets in a 1911 and Colt Double Eagle using 8.5-10.5 grs..


Speer lists its 250 swaged bullet with 9 grs., keeping in mind it used the lower pressures of the Auto Rim cartridge.
Ive ran my load (260 LBT LFN/ 10 grs. Blue Dot) without a hitch from a 1917 Smith, 1917 Colt and a 25-2 1955 Target. I would say the Speer data of 9 grs. and most any 250-260gr. cast bullet would be safe and perform as well in most any sound 45 AutoColt chambered revolver.

Thanks for the confirmation on the Speer loading data, Hawk. I really appreciate it.

I load a 244 grain cast lead bullet with 5.5 grains of Unique for 822 fps.

Here's a follow-up just in case it will help anyone:

The 250 grain Pinbusters (pictured below) loaded in .45 ACP brass would not chamber in my Ruger .45 Colt/.45 ACP Convertible Bisley. With Ruger's tight throats, the .452 bullet is too big. I made some dummy rounds and I can get them to chamber by lightly tapping them in with anything handy (mallet, piece of wood, etc.) but obviously I don't consider that a long-term solution.

I also made some dummy rounds with an uncoated 250 gr RNFP from SNS Casting and got the same problem. Either the SNS rounds were softer or imperceptibly smaller, but I could force them in the chambers by pushing hard with my thumb. On both types of bullets you could see light scarring/rub marks where the bullet was hitting the sides of the chamber. I suppose I could seat the bullets even deeper so the natural taper of the round will come into play and I can get them to drop in freely, but I'm not that interested in trying to get a 250 gr ACP round for my revolver.

Interestingly, the dummy rounds chambered fine in a Kimber 1911. Maybe the Kimber is a smidge more accommodating, or perhaps the slide slamming forward works as the necessary tapping, but for whatever reason, they chambered. But, I don't want to shoot 250 gr bullets out of a 1911; I was just wondering if they'd fit.

Finally, the 250gr Pinbuster bullet seats and chambers easily in .45 Colt brass. I haven't shot any of them loaded in 45 Colt yet, but they do fit. I'll post a range report when I do.