Most factory loads are fairly warm and while OK some new reloaders have made the mistake of using jacketed loads with lead projectiles, no inference, just a note FYI, leading of the barrel is the negative result, that plus harsh use of brushes to remove it makes an added amount of wear which can be avoided.
I have owned three .45's, my last a much modded Colt Gold Cup Nat Match and while my only purpose of any was to punch holes in targets using lead 200g SWC projectiles, changing simple thigs like extended mag release, extended safety, return spring and slide release makes an easier functioning pistol, no matter what else is done to it or it's purpose, creature comforts don't ever hurt anything, sear mods even on stock guns are a must no matter the gun, rarely is even the best gun 100% ready, get it done by a pro.
Always chamfer the case mouths to an even amount on all cases (use all the same brand too), the swinging link design means any case mouth sharp edge will certainly catch eventually and always in competition when feeding, so it pays to do the small basic things and do them properly, the use of different primers makes makes an insignificant difference so buy whatever you prefer or what is cheaper, Win, Rem, CCI or Federal all much the same in the .45.
I have shot maybe 50,000 rounds or more from my Gold Cup 45, I love the thing, there might be better but a good 45 is hard to beat, Used Win 231 powder for a while but found it to have a slightly sharper recoil but was more touchy to even the slightest load difference, the Red dot load of 4.2g was the most accurate 45 load I ever found, 2 1/4" at 50 yards in the Colt was common place, Win 231 might have topped out at 3", still good but it's all about having it shoot where you point it, I had a 9mm race gun that would easy shoot 2" at 50 yards but it had the works done to it so it was expected, and the .45 from the bench with open sights, I see some shooters that are happy with 5" off the bench at 50 yards, should be able to manage that freehand with a good 45.
My all time favourite go to load was always 4.2g of Hercules Red Dot behind the 200g bullet, this load is by no means heavy, and as such the main spring needs changing out to a slightly lighter version, or jams will be virtually certain, check the mark made to the case by the ejector, this will help making spring choice.
Another load I found very accurate was 4.9g - 5.0g ADI AS-50 behind a 200g SWC lead bullet, same gun and similar accuracy, at 25 yards was easy 1.5" these loads were used with more rounds that I can remember, but cases were replaced a few times, usually when headstamp was impossible to read, very good service from Speer cases BTW.
The 230g stock load was one I never really bothered with, but having a hundred rounds of Hornady 185g XTP JHP rounds at 4% off a max load was a serious bad guy stopper, for sure to spoil his day no matter where the round landed, and keeping a mag of these XTP's handy was a good security option.
Happy shooting.
