.45 ACP using lighter bullets

CECannonJr

Well-Known Fanatic
Fanatic Family
Joined
Jan 15, 2021
Messages
6,181
Location
Eastern North Carolina
Anyone reload .45acp with 185gr bullets, what loads are you using and rusults are you getting.
No answers from me, but I'm thinking about doing this too. It's been difficult for me because I'm so used to that big 230gr boolit. ;)

It's like me....short, fat and slow....but it gets the job done.:D
 

joepistol

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Apr 23, 2020
Messages
1,135
Location
Rochester Hills, Mi
I've loaded several 185 gr. bullets, recently & in the past.
I've loaded both (? brand, maybe Rem .) jacketed 185 gr bullets , and am just finishing loading a batch ( 500) of Bayou bullets coated 185 gr. pills.
One Bayou coated load I use is 5.3 gr of HP-38 (est. about 850fps) another load using same bullet is 4.7 gr. Clays (est. about 890 fps)
My shooting consistency is variable..but both loads have produced "satisfactory" results in the 1911's I shot them in..
As far as what satisfactory means, ..my shots are consistently at or very near where I'm shooting. The target I shoot most often is a bullseye with a 1" box on top. I hit either in or around the box..usually along the left edge of the box, shooting a 7 yds. (I know, close..but I can see where my shots are hitting!)
I also rarely shoot the same 1911 on range trips..so my results would actually mean very little to other shooters. I will say I have no feeding of ejection issues with my loads.. From memory the jkt'd 185 gr. bullets did give me some chambering issues, until I adjusted the seating depth / OAL / crimp.
Don't have any of the Jkt'd 185 gr loads around @ present to share that load data.
 

Longcarbine

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Mar 31, 2022
Messages
82
Location
Butler, Mo.
I wanted something a little faster for coyote and deer hunting, ended up going with 12.6gr's of Vihtavuori N105. Very accurate, have not chrono'ed it yet but should be in the neighborhood of 1100fps. I really like Viht powder, burns very clean. I use their N350 for some faster .44 special loads.
 

Mike A1

Well-Known Fanatic
Fanatic Family
Joined
Sep 18, 2018
Messages
5,471
Location
USA
I have loaded the .44 mag & the .357 mag with Hot lightweight bullets for game like Deer etc.
However that's in a heavy 7.5" barrel single or double action with much better sights than any 1911 I own.
I carry 230gr Ball for self defense & can handle the recoil very well, only not with CorBon 185gr +P loads
I have always seen the 1911 as the US Military did when it came to hunting for food.

 

Bob Lee

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Jul 27, 2018
Messages
2,913
I have loaded the .44 mag & the .357 mag with Hot lightweight bullets for game like Deer etc.
However that's in a heavy 7.5" barrel single or double action with much better sights than any 1911 I own.
I carry 230gr Ball for self defense & can handle the recoil very well, only not with CorBon 185gr +P loads
I have always seen the 1911 as the US Military did when it came to hunting for food.

Hey Mike, I'm glad to hear someone else carries ball ammo for s/d. My L/W commanders shoot it well, and never a feeding issue either. I'm too old fashioned to use special hp's in my l/w guns. I guess I don't figure hollow points will expand that much from a shorter barrel. I know this is heresy to most folks, so let the comments commence :)
 

Mike A1

Well-Known Fanatic
Fanatic Family
Joined
Sep 18, 2018
Messages
5,471
Location
USA
. I guess I don't figure hollow points will expand that much from a shorter barrel. I know this is heresy to most folks, so let the comments commence :)

I trust my 1911, however I do not trust my ammo or mags until I run the hell out of them.
Ball is 100% reliable in all my Colt 1911s & I have seen how this 230 grain thumb sized slow bullet stops with one painful hit.

The Ol man was somewhere in Germany when he came across a wounded Kraut who started to raise his rifle.
Dad took a shot with Betsy & when he walked up to help the guy up, his arm slipped out of his sleeve blew apart at the shoulder.

Every body want's to believe that the new wonder HP in 45acp will expand to 75 caliber.
People are softer compared to game animals & a fat slow bullet imparts a lot of shock.

As for over penetration all 45 bullets will over pernitrate even a partially open ragged HP.
 

HooDoo Man

Well-Known Fanatic
Fanatic Family
Joined
Jan 17, 2021
Messages
915
Location
Peoples Republic of California (Northern)
Maybe a little off topic but I tested my self-defense guns thoroughly with HST's and GD's with all bullet weights 100% sure they would feed with no problems. Same with the Mags. But that was before the insanity set in with prices nowadays. And it was still expensive then. But worth it when your ass is on the line. It's your ass, take it or leave it.
 
Last edited:

Bob Lee

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Jul 27, 2018
Messages
2,913
Maybe a little off topic but I tested my self-defense guns thoroughly with HST's and GD's with all bullet weights 100% sure they would feed with no problems. Same with the Mags. But that was before the insanity set in with prices nowadays. And it was still expensive then. But worth it when your ass is on the line. It's your ass, take it or leave it.
I do use 230 gr hp in my 5" guns. I may occasionally carry silvertips in my 4.25" guns. Regardless of what's being fired regardless of caliber, I don't want to get shot with anything PERIOD!
 

Mike A1

Well-Known Fanatic
Fanatic Family
Joined
Sep 18, 2018
Messages
5,471
Location
USA
All semiautos were designed for use with FMJ ammo.
A 125gr hp in a 4" 357 magnum at 1400fps could expand in a human, if all factors are just right.

Yawl have met Mr. Murphey & understand the drill.
If anything can happen to screw everything up, it will happen to me at the worst possible time.
So Semper Fi !!

I would rather have a round that will chamber & fire and then eject every single time.
The ammo makers will brew up anything they think you will buy, just look at all the many different tacticool loads offered
for self defense.

12114i_ts.jpg
 
Last edited:

CECannonJr

Well-Known Fanatic
Fanatic Family
Joined
Jan 15, 2021
Messages
6,181
Location
Eastern North Carolina
All semiautos were designed for use with FMJ ammo.
A 125gr hp in a 4" 357 magnum at 1400fps could expand in a human, if all factors are just right.

Yawl have met Mr. Murphey & understand the drill.
If anything can happen to screw everything up, it will happen to me at the worst possible time.

I would rather have a round that will chamber & fire then eject every time.
The ammo makers will brew up anything they think you will buy, just look at all the many different tacticool loads offered
for self defense.

View attachment 25958
I agree that a FMJ is the best round for proper function and it's more than adequate for defense. But those HST's that might jam your gun sure look cool don't they? :cool:

For what it's worth, my 1911's have never had a FTF except for with one round that I will never buy again. That was the Hornady Critical Defense ammo. That red rubber insert in the hollow point worked like a door stop on the feed ramp. I trimmed it even with the end of the bullet with a razor blade and then they would feed. But, I will never trust them.
 

Mike A1

Well-Known Fanatic
Fanatic Family
Joined
Sep 18, 2018
Messages
5,471
Location
USA
That was the Hornady Critical Defense ammo. That red rubber insert in the hollow point worked like a door stop on the feed ramp. I trimmed it even with the end of the bullet with a razor blade and then they would feed. But, I will never trust them.
LOL I saw those Hornaday rubber stoppers in the nose of their new bullets & just had to laugh, a nose stopper made of rubber. Really :p

The bullet is for imparting Shock & awe in the target body. The size & speed that a bullet uses is key to shock, so a .451 da. flat nose round nose
bullet it does not matter, it hurts. The dia. & the slow speed are enough to take the starch out of their sails with a good center hit.
 

Bob Lee

Well-Known Fanatic
Joined
Jul 27, 2018
Messages
2,913
I agree that a FMJ is the best round for proper function and it's more than adequate for defense. But those HST's that might jam your gun sure look cool don't they? :cool:

For what it's worth, my 1911's have never had a FTF except for with one round that I will never buy again. That was the Hornady Critical Defense ammo. That red rubber insert in the hollow point worked like a door stop on the feed ramp. I trimmed it even with the end of the bullet with a razor blade and then they would feed. But, I will never trust them.
Thank you CE, I think I have some of those for my 9mm. I'll have to see. It's the ones with rubber tips anyway. I have no problems with HP ammo of any kind I've tried in My Glock 9's or my Hi Power 9's. 9 is one round I always carry hp's in. My snubbie 38's get semi wadcutter standard pressure ammo. my L/W Commanders use ball.
 
Top