I've run into a good bit of small primer .45acp as well. Don't think I've loaded any yet. I use light charges of Unique to power 230 gainers. If I was going to switch to small primer brass, I would drop back to starting load with Unique, load a few and see what happens. Thinking the same can be done with your 231, but not really sure, as I know nothing of that powder. How close is your load to maximum?
Loading .45 ACP brass w/ small primer pockets
I seem to have accumulated a fair amount of .45 ACP brass with small primer pockets. At first, I intended to toss them, but then it occurred to me it would be the ideal stuff to shoot on those rare occasions when I'm shooting somewhere where I can't retrieve my brass. My question for those who have experience with this brass is, can I use the same load with no change other than the small pistol primer? I'm loading a 225 gr. truncated cone polycoated lead bullet ahead of 5.7 grs. of WW 231.
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
I have not read where load data changes in the 45 ACP when using small pistol primers.
Having said that, my standard load with WW 231 for a 225 gr. bullet was 5.1 gr. 5.7 seems hot to me.
Having said that, my standard load with WW 231 for a 225 gr. bullet was 5.1 gr. 5.7 seems hot to me.
According to the Lyman manual, max with that bullet & powder is 5.8. I realize dropping back & working up would be the textbook answer. In these days of limited and/or expensive powder & primers I was hoping to avoid that, if someone could say they'd switched with no problems.
The results you read online are inconsistent. This video (just skip to minute 9 and pause the screen to see the results) got absolutely no velocity difference between standard LP and SP but had slightly more velocity spread with the LP. This article's author got a small velocity increase with SP but, opposite to the video, had twice as much velocity spread with SP. This article is a little more careful, but the sample sizes don't produce very good confidence in the results, so I threw away his powder segregation and just averaged all his numbers. The result was the large primers produced 6.5 fps more velocity, 6 fps lower ES, -2⅓ fps smaller SD, and produced 0.15" bigger groups at 25 yards. The samples should have been at least twice as big, but, on average, the result differences are small enough to be random and thus constitute no significant difference to me.
I agree that SPP .45 ACP brass is troublesome, but it's not without SOME virtues. If I run out of LP primers or .45 ACP brass that takes them, I'm still shooting.
I'm done caring about "hot-rodding" the .45 ACP anymore, but if the need arose tomorrow, I'd probably start over using brass made to take the SPP. I'd ALSO probably substitute SPPs with SRPs, as an extra safety margin against pushing things too hard.
I'm done caring about "hot-rodding" the .45 ACP anymore, but if the need arose tomorrow, I'd probably start over using brass made to take the SPP. I'd ALSO probably substitute SPPs with SRPs, as an extra safety margin against pushing things too hard.
Back in a millennium far FAR away, I remember using 5.5/W231/225 TC and it chronographed almost 950 f/s, when I was looking for more like 875 f/s or so. I dropped the charge weight to 5.3/W231/225 T/C, but did not have opportunity to rechronograph (someone else's). I may not have hit 875 f/s right on the mark, but it felt far enough down from 950 f/s that I could discern and appreciate the difference!Having said that, my standard load with WW 231 for a 225 gr. bullet was 5.1 gr. 5.7 seems hot to me.
I load both primer sizes the same, sub max, with no difference that I can tell. I always assumed that there would be less pressure with the small primers. I know enough not to load by assumption but could not seem to find info that would dispute that.
Like mikekoch, I load both. Couldn't tell any difference[5.4gr Universal], 230gr LRN coated. Even over the screens, wasn't enough to record a difference.
Just as accurate. You'll be fine.
Just as accurate. You'll be fine.
Same as others posted, noticed no differences in med loads with SPP and LPP in 45 ACP, 230 FMJ or Berry's RN. I used Bullseye and Unique across various brands of brass, large and small primer.
I separate them when I pick them up since they are easier to load in 100s of the same type of primer with my old hand primer. After they are primed, I load them mixed again and it doesn't bother me at all when plinking.
I separate them when I pick them up since they are easier to load in 100s of the same type of primer with my old hand primer. After they are primed, I load them mixed again and it doesn't bother me at all when plinking.
Thanks to all who replied. A few days ago I had the chance to try some out. I loaded just 5 rounds & fired them. Everything functioned fine & primers weren't flattened, so I think I'm good to go. When things warm up a little & I get a chance, I'll chrono them, but I don't expect to see any significant difference.
I also reload both small pistol and large pistol primers with no noticeable difference. I current load 230 gr FMJ-RN with Winn 244 at 5.4 gr which gives me an extreme spread of 16, standard dev. 6, at an average 819 fps. That is what runs good in my RI 1911 CS45 with 4.5 barrel. .
1 - 11 of 11 Posts
Shooters Forum
A forum community dedicated to Sport shooters, owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about optics, hand casting bullets, hunting, gunsmithing, styles, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Recommended Communities
