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Joined: Jan 2010
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Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,890 |
I have recently acquired a new S&W M&P M2.0 Compact .45 ACP. This is the first .45 ACP that I have loaded for. I used range pickup brass, 200 grain Hornady XTP JHP bullets and 7.4 grains of Hodgdon CFE Pistol powder with a COL of 1.23". Powder was weighed on an electronic scale (each load). Barrel length is 4". Primers were Remington Large Pistol. The average of 10 shots was 910 FPS. Frankly, I was expecting a bit more. Hodgdon's website says for a 200 gr JHP bullet, I think Speer from their abbreviation, with a 5" barrel and a COL of 1.155" (seems too short to me), and 7.2 gr of CFE Pistol powder I should get 1010 FPS with 20,200 PSI. I purposely loaded mine 0.2 gr higher to compensate for the 1" shorter barrel and knowing that my pistol is factory rated for 23,000 PSI (SAAMI max for .45 ACP+P). As expected, there was zero indication of any pressure issues. So, my question for those that are experienced with loading .45 ACP, especially with CFE Pistol powder, does this seem right? I was expecting, or at least hoping for, another 50-75 FPS. Thoughts? Suggestions? Should I call this good and go with it?
"...why, land is the only thing in the world worth working for, worth fighting for, worth dying for,... because it is the only thing that lasts."
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,634
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,634 |
IMO only, CFE pistol isn’t worth beans in 45 ACP. Never could match a load of 8.5 grains AA5 which out of a 4” Kimber w/200 gr. hard cast or XTP gives ~ 1020 fps. Can also get close to that with Red Dot.
Swifty
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 2,340
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 2,340 |
CFE is touted as a good powder in .45 ACP but, I've heard it's not that great either. I tried 185 gr. XTP with Accurate No. 7 and couldn't get over 1,000. The load was worked up to and was listed as max but, primers seemed unflattened and when resized, sized easy. I know No. 7 isn't really a great powder in .45 ACP but, couldn't find a "good" powder.
Why do I have to press 1, for English?
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,373
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,373 |
I have recently acquired a new S&W M&P M2.0 Compact .45 ACP. This is the first .45 ACP that I have loaded for. I used range pickup brass, 200 grain Hornady XTP JHP bullets and 7.4 grains of Hodgdon CFE Pistol powder with a COL of 1.23". Powder was weighed on an electronic scale (each load). Barrel length is 4". Primers were Remington Large Pistol. The average of 10 shots was 910 FPS. Frankly, I was expecting a bit more. Hodgdon's website says for a 200 gr JHP bullet, I think Speer from their abbreviation, with a 5" barrel and a COL of 1.155" (seems too short to me), and 7.2 gr of CFE Pistol powder I should get 1010 FPS with 20,200 PSI. I purposely loaded mine 0.2 gr higher to compensate for the 1" shorter barrel and knowing that my pistol is factory rated for 23,000 PSI (SAAMI max for .45 ACP+P). As expected, there was zero indication of any pressure issues. So, my question for those that are experienced with loading .45 ACP, especially with CFE Pistol powder, does this seem right? I was expecting, or at least hoping for, another 50-75 FPS. Thoughts? Suggestions? Should I call this good and go with it? If the cases are not sooty, then you're getting the pressure high enough for that powder to burn clean. I see a 60fps difference between 4" and 5" barrels. I don't like to run powders slower than AA5, power pistol, Silhouette, etc. In 45acp.
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 2,340
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 2,340 |
I shot 12.0 gr. AA7 and CCI 300 primers with 185 XTP, and got sooty cases. I just don't think the powder was burning efficiently. 185 was the only JHP I could find at the time and I think No. 7 would work better with a heavier bullet.
Last edited by roverboy; 01/21/22.
Why do I have to press 1, for English?
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