Hey all, looking to reload for friday night steel this year (local steel plate competition) and I’m wondering if anyone has some good starting loads for 45 auto. I will be shooting a 625 this season and I have a pound of Unique powder but I can find other powder if need be. If anyone has any good combination suggestions that would be much appreciated.
~Butcher
What bullet?
For Unique, I’m running 5.8/9 grains with a Widners LHC 230 Ball, a Wolf LP primer @1.260 oal in a Kart barrelled 1911 for an honest 850 fps and 2.25" @ 25m. I also run the same bullet from MBC with this recipe and it does a little better. As far as bullet quality goes, MBC casts a nice bullet. Widners HC230 looked like factor seconds and were a deal a few years ago @ $150 for 2K. The bullets had alot of wrinkles from a cold mold or casting temp. The whole 6k was consistant. Their 9mm 124s have been better quality over the years, hence the move to MBC in 45 cal.
For steel/plinking matches, I’d drop down to a 185-200 LSWC since there is no power factor and dial the velocity down to 750-800 and have a ball and save alittle lead. I’m doing some load development right now for a newly barreled Colt GC with 185s and 200 swc from MBC with Titegroup, Clays-, BE and Unique. When it quits f******g raining up here for a few days I’ll bench them and report back.
For the lighter bullets you’ll want to move to a faster powder maybe. I’ve been experimenting with Titegroup and found it a good performer in 45 Colt and 9mm. It’s cleaner but quite scarce lately and is far cleaner than BE or Unique.
I clicked this thread thinking it was going to be about loading .45ACP steel…
