NateTSU Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 New 45 loader here, I have several years expirence with other calibers though. The pistol is a Ruger sr1911 and will be used for USPSA SS, falling steel and paper punching. I have a few general questions, first is small primer or large primer brass? Does it really matter? Second is powder choice, I have unique, hs-6, red dot and titegroup. Looks like most people like go for clays or bullseye. Last is bullet choice I was planning on using coated lead, 200gr RN or LSWC. I am buying sample packs of both to test accuracy and reliability. Is there anything else to look out for? Thanks Nate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben b. Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Titegroup works fine in.45, but is smokey with lead bullets. Large primer .45 cases are easily found, small primer .45 case are the scourge of .45 reloading. If you enjoy sorting cases, go for it. I hate it and wish small primer .45s weren't ever in my area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njl Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Red Dot should work fine. I've been using Promo recently for most of my .45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 Claydot works well for 200gr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lee blackman Posted February 19, 2017 Share Posted February 19, 2017 WST is like the go to, and has been for maybe the last two decades for 200gr lead bullets in the 45acp. There really isn't anything better. For plated lead I prefer N320 or even Solo1000. But WST is the way to go in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOA1911 Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 NateTSU, I would suggest using Red Dot since you have some in your inventory. I have used lots of Titegroup with several styles of bullets, and it performs very well. The downside with Titegroup is that it burns very hot; therefore, in my opinion, it is not ideal for lead bullets. With either a 200 gr. LSWC or 200 gr SWC Hi-Tech coated bullet, I would go with WST, True Blue, Clays, Bullseye, or Ramshot Competition. I have just began using the later with a 200 gr. SNS Hi-Tech coated SWC with excellent results. In addition, I prefer a larger primer because I have thousands of LP brass cases. Be that as it may, I will stick with large primers in the .45 ACP until empirical data proves that small primers are better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 On February 18, 2017 at 0:28 PM, ben b. said: Titegroup works fine in.45, but is smokey with lead bullets. Large primer .45 cases are easily found, small primer .45 case are the scourge of .45 reloading. If you enjoy sorting cases, go for it. I hate it and wish small primer .45s weren't ever in my area. Thanks, am planning to use coated bullets. I am buying large primer brass, that seems to be most commonly available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 I will give red dot a chance first. My brother in law has some clays that I can use for a test batch so I will try that as well. I will also try titegroup with coated bullets as suggested above, I have around 5 lbs left that I use for 9mm so it would be nice to only stock 1 main pistol powder. HS-6 data seems to favor lighter jacketed bullets so I will try that for a JHP load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njl Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 For 200gr coated, I'd suggest right around 4.6gr Red Dot. From your 1911, I'd expect about 800fps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 Thanks for the load data, I will try it. My 1911 is a 5" barrel if that changes anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njl Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Longer barrel may give you more FPS...but you never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 Try 4.2 of Clays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted February 20, 2017 Author Share Posted February 20, 2017 Thanks Steve, I will give it a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mont1120 Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 (edited) With the powders you have on hand, I'd go with Red Dot, I have not had good results with Titegroup in the .45. HS-6 is going to be somewhat slow for the heavier .45 bullets. After you try Clays I think you will want to find more of it. It is about the softest powder out there with WST and Nitro 100 close behind. (I am correcting an error when I said fastest, it is the slowest, sorry for the mistake, thanks njl) Edited February 20, 2017 by mont1120 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njl Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 12 minutes ago, mont1120 said: Witht he powders you have on hand, I'd go with Red Dot, I have not had good results with Titegroup in the .45. HS-6 is going to be somewhat fast for the heavier .45 bullets. After you try Clays I think you will want to find more of it. It is about the softest powder out there with WST and Nitro 100 close behind. Huh? HS-6 is the slowest of the powders he has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mont1120 Posted February 20, 2017 Share Posted February 20, 2017 3 minutes ago, njl said: Huh? HS-6 is the slowest of the powders he has. You are right, I meant to say slowest, sorry on that one.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted February 21, 2017 Author Share Posted February 21, 2017 Well I have new dies, a shell plate and some 200gr coated SWC coming from Blue Bullets. I have some load data for all three powders, now I have to wait on UPS. Hopefully I can get out to the range this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dons1911 Posted February 28, 2017 Share Posted February 28, 2017 Nate TSU, Did you make it out? How'd it go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 I didn't make it to the range last weekend, my bullets delivered on Monday. I have my press set up now I just need to make some time to get some loaded up. Hopefully I have time to make it to the range this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted March 4, 2017 Author Share Posted March 4, 2017 Well I loaded some test rounds tonight. I started with 4.1gr Clays 5.1gr Titegroup and 4.6gr of Red Dot Winchester WSP primers and Blazer Brass COAL is 1.258. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted March 4, 2017 Author Share Posted March 4, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustybayonet Posted March 4, 2017 Share Posted March 4, 2017 (edited) On Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 11:50 AM, NateTSU said: New 45 loader here, I have several years expirence with other calibers though. The pistol is a Ruger sr1911 first is small primer or large primer brass? Does it really matter? Second is powder choice, I have unique, hs-6, red dot and titegroup. Looks like most people like go for clays or bullseye. Last is bullet choice I was planning on using coated lead, 200gr RN or LSWC. I am buying sample packs of both to test accuracy and reliability. If your a reloader, .45 acp is real easy. I have not found a differance between large and small primers, but for competition I use large just to be safe. I have used Unique and Red dot with excellent resaults. My 1971 Colt 1911 only likes RN due to the steep feed ramp. The LSWC get a FTF every so often. My M&P FS runs anything. Edited March 4, 2017 by rustybayonet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlm Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Can use Winchester 231 or HP-38. Either powder 5.2 grains OAL 1.245-1.250 also check your taper crimp, .466-.468. Should run like crap through a goose. IMVHO. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateTSU Posted March 12, 2017 Author Share Posted March 12, 2017 Well I got out and shot today. I shot 3 5 shot groups of all the loads and was pretty happy with the results. The load of Clays was the softest shooting and most accurate at about 2". The load of Titegroup was a close 2nd on accuracy but had the most recoil, it wasn't terrible by any means. The Red Dot load was the least accurate at about a 3" group. Recoil was not far from Clays in my opinion. I will probably go with the clays load. Testing was done at 10yards standing. My pistol ran like a top with these loads, no FTF's or FTE's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 I wouldn't write off powders based on firing only 15 shots ... And, I'd do my accuracy testing at 20-25 yards, with a solid bench rest, and larger groups (more like 10-15 shots fired/group). Just me..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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