Pistol Loads - .45 ACP

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Pistol Loads - .45 ACP

Over time I have settled on 2 loads for .45 ACP. One is a gentle, general plinking load, easy on the pistol and easy to shoot. The other is a more stout self-defense, training, or pin shooting load. Muzzle velocities are out of a 5" barrel.

I load on a Dillon 650 XL with case feeder and powder check station, and can easily and safely do 400 rounds an hour. Maximum is about 600 rounds an hour, but it's a rather frantic pace. I preload 5 primer tubes - 100 primers each - and take a break after they have all been emptied. The dies are Dillon carbide pistol dies and work well. .45 ACP is a low pressure forgiving round to reload.

Plinking load

Powder:     Winchester Super Target (WST)
Charge:     4.8 grains
Bullet:      Montana Gold 230 grain FMJ
Primer:     Winchester Large Pistol
Over All Length:     1.265"
Muzzle Velocity:     750 FPS

WST is a fast, flattened spherical shotshell powder. It is a very clean powder, with low muzzle flash. It meters extremely well in the Dillon powder measure. It is not quite as fast nor quite as clean as Hodgdon Clays, but it's close.

Stout load

Powder:     Winchester Super Field (WSF)
Charge:     6.6 grains
Bullet:      Montana Gold 230 grain FMJ or Winchester 230 grain JHP
Primer:     Winchester Large Pistol
Over All Length:     1.265" (FMJ)      1.250" (JHP)
Muzzle Velocity:     850 FPS

This load will handily take a bowling pin off the table with a single solid hit.

WSF is another flattened spherical shotshell powder, slower than WST. It is very similar in performance to Hodgdon Universal Clays, but with a much lower muzzle flash.