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Author Topic: 45 ACP Handy Range Report  (Read 1175 times)

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Offline gjdykeman

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45 ACP Handy Range Report
« on: May 14, 2011, 12:32:16 PM »
Fired it today. 9 rounds Trailboss 230g cast, fired fine, not accurate. 20r Unique 255g Copper plated. Good for accuracy 6" group 50y but too hot, cratered and flat primers. Then fired three rounds W231. Guess what that sucker moved, about an 8th of an inch out of the sleeve. I was using way too hot of a load also. Messed up and had about a double charge of W231. I miss read the load data. Too much powder and too heavy a bullet. Fired three rounds and quit. Blew the primers right out. Not pierced but out of the case and the shells separated. The shell on the left is the Unique, the next is the last one fired. Receiver fine, barrel looks good. Need to press er back in and pin it better. I bought a lottery ticket on the way home, I felt very lucky. Also learned a valuable lesson. Double check all data and use light bullets in the ACP.
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Offline Dinny

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #1 on: May 14, 2011, 12:49:03 PM »
"He stated a press fit would never come out."  Quote from the machinist.

That's why they say, "never say never".

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Thanks, Dinny

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Offline tacklebury

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2011, 01:27:59 PM »
I load a really light load for my blackhawk in .45 acp with 5 gr. Unique and a 200 grain Dardas RNFP lead bullet.  Shoots great and might be a great plinking load.  When bumping things up a tad and when loading for my EAA Tanfoglio Witness Match, I use at least 6.5gr Unique since that pistol has an 18 pound recoil spring and less than that doesn't cycle cleanly.  I have loaded quite a few 250gr. Hornady XTP bullets though with 5.5gr Unique for defensive/hunting level loads and gotten good performance.  One thing you might consider is trying the .452 Hornady FTX bullets either the 200 gr. sized for the .460 S&W should work excellent in your rifle, although they wouldn't cycle through any .45 auto that I know.  You could also play with some slower burning powders that way and take advantage of your longer tube.  ;)  Glad you didn't get hurt though. 
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Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.

Offline gcrank1

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #3 on: May 14, 2011, 01:56:19 PM »
I understand that the W231 loads finished you off, but HOW many grains of Unique?
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Offline gjdykeman

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #4 on: May 14, 2011, 02:28:01 PM »
I used 10g of unique. I actually filled the case to touching the base of the bullet and then measured. It came out to a little less than 11g. I adjusted to 10. I shoot this in my 45LC as a standard load. A stout load in the pistol but shoots well in the rifle. I will be adjusting down to about 7.5. The Trail boss I did the same and it felt and sounded like a 22LR. I will be working some more with the unique and cast. Have to repair the ACP barrel first. Fri, back to the deer camp. PS I figgured i was using about 9 to 10g W231 under a 255g bullet, bad. Manual said 5.6g under 230g bullet was max and 4.6 for 250g. I have a mold that throws 454 dia 230g bullets and i size them 452. They did shoot fine.
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Offline tacklebury

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #5 on: May 14, 2011, 02:52:38 PM »
Yah, I use 10 gr. in the Colt also w/ 300gr XTP magnums, but there's a bit more case space.  Hottest .45 ACP I did was one based on handloads.com, but it appears to be down now.  8(  Hogdon's site states 5.3gr max with a 230gr LRN.
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Tacklebury --}>>>>>    Multi-Barrel: .223 Superlite, 7mm-08 22", .30-40 Krag M158, .357 Maximum 16-1/4 HB, .45 Colt, .45-70 22" irons, 32" .45-70 Peeps, 12 Ga. 3-1/2 w/ Chokes, .410 Smooth slugger, .45 Cal Muzzy, .50 Cal Muzzy, .58 Cal Muzzy

also classics: M903 9-shot Target .22 Revolver, 1926 .410 Single, 1915 38 S&W Break top Revolver and 7-shot H&R Trapper .22 6" bbl.

Offline McDerry

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #6 on: May 14, 2011, 08:59:09 PM »
Did the reciever pop open??

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Offline Airsporter

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2011, 02:54:02 AM »
Lyman manual (49th ed) lists 7.3 gr Unique as maximum charge with a 225gr lead bullet!  :o
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #8 on: May 15, 2011, 03:18:50 AM »
Quote from: Airsporter on May 15, 2011, 02:54:02 AM
Lyman manual (49th ed) lists 7.3 gr Unique as maximum charge with a 225gr lead bullet!  :o

Don't be confused. The thread started as ACP but morphed into a long colt recipe. ;)

10g of unique is quite hot for the ACP!!!!! But damn nice warm load for stronger long colts!!!

CW
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #9 on: May 15, 2011, 04:17:12 AM »
Yeah, this morphing of calibers is a problem fraught with danger  :o :(;

Book data on Unique loads will usually get good results, you can fine tune from there while having something to shoot.
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Offline gjdykeman

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #10 on: May 15, 2011, 01:02:25 PM »
Worked all morning on the ACP. Called the machinist. he said it pressed into the sleeve not out of it. .050 farther in. Should a could a pressed it in on his 2 ton hydraulic press then finished the face. Does it fire?  I don't know. Recycled the W231 loads and filled the rest. 50R 255g bullets and 7.3g Unique. Drilled and tapped 4 holes and mounted up a scope. Off to the range. Bore sited the scope and put one in, fired, rejected, worked great. The opinion is it is head-spacing on the ejector. not an issue. The scope was crap, shot out of focus every shot and broke the crosshairs. 50r all worked well, brass good, primers good. I am leaving it that way. Them loads were hot, hurt me a little. Trailboss and some cast next.
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Offline bikerbeans

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #11 on: May 15, 2011, 01:32:26 PM »
45 ACP in a 1911 tends to headspace off the extractor.  45 ACP brass after a bunch of resizes tends to shrink so if it didn't headspace on the extractor you would have to headspace on the bullet. 

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Offline trotterlg

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #12 on: May 15, 2011, 02:54:57 PM »
Well, lets see, you pressed it in with 4,000 pounds and un-pressed it with 15,000 pounds.  Wonder why it backed out?  Larry
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Offline Spanky

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #13 on: May 15, 2011, 04:12:24 PM »
I would have threaded the barrel and screwed it into the stub. Just my 2 cents.



Spanky
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #14 on: May 15, 2011, 05:04:00 PM »
All things considered, we will not know how this build would have performed and lasted had normal hardball pressure loads been the max used in it. Shame, really  :-\.
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"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974

Offline trotterlg

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #15 on: May 15, 2011, 05:20:11 PM »
Yes, that is true, however, the very last thing that should fail is to have the barrel shoot out the front of the stub no matter what loads are used.  I am not a gunsmith or a machinist, but I do know they are different skills and I know the difference between them.  If you are going to press a barrel into the stub, at the very least a flange should have been machined at the rear that would not fit through the barrel.  Then the barrel pressed into the stub from the rear.  I know it is a pain to cut threads, but it does work.  Larry
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Offline gjdykeman

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #16 on: May 16, 2011, 02:42:23 AM »
Quote from: trotterlg on May 15, 2011, 05:20:11 PM
Yes, that is true, however, the very last thing that should fail is to have the barrel shoot out the front of the stub no matter what loads are used.  I am not a gunsmith or a machinist, but I do know they are different skills and I know the difference between them.  If you are going to press a barrel into the stub, at the very least a flange should have been machined at the rear that would not fit through the barrel.  Then the barrel pressed into the stub from the rear.  I know it is a pain to cut threads, but it does work.  Larry

Just a note, The barrel was cut with a stepped cut. The front to the bore the rear to the chamber. Shouldered on the forcing cone, pressed in from the rear. Exact measurements made. The 12g chamber was also slightly tapered, rear to front and a matching cut made. It protruded out the back about 1-16th and was milled off flush. It cannot come out forwards without splitting the stub, unlikely. Just should have been pressed harder. It actually chambers the rounds much easier and allows a little leeway with different bullets. a longer chamber.
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Offline Airsporter

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #17 on: May 16, 2011, 12:27:33 PM »
Quote from: cwlongshot on May 15, 2011, 03:18:50 AM
Quote from: Airsporter on May 15, 2011, 02:54:02 AM
Lyman manual (49th ed) lists 7.3 gr Unique as maximum charge with a 225gr lead bullet!  :o

Don't be confused. The thread started as ACP but morphed into a long colt recipe. ;)

10g of unique is quite hot for the ACP!!!!! But damn nice warm load for stronger long colts!!!CW

Not confused.  This is/was a .45ACP thread.  10g of Unique is way overboard for any firearm using a 45ACP case.  Case capacity (volume) of 45 Colt case is substancially greater than the 45ACP case (i.e., less pressure for same load).  Apples v. Oranges.
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Offline 45-70.gov

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #18 on: May 16, 2011, 02:16:49 PM »
if you want that much  power why not another chambering
45lc  454 cassul...460 smith......45-70

10 gr of unigue is what i load in a 44mag


i bet a 45 acp would be real  cool.......BECAUSE IT IS SO LOW POWERED
also it would make a nice companion gun to you hand gun
is a handi  easey to feed from a clip??....rather than loose ammo
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Offline bikerbeans

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Re: 45 ACP Handy Range Report
« Reply #19 on: May 16, 2011, 04:59:42 PM »
Quote from: 45-70.gov on May 16, 2011, 02:16:49 PM
is a handi  easey to feed from a clip??....rather than loose ammo

Use a 1911 Mag as a speed loader for a 45ACP Handi?!?!  Hmmmmmh, I like that idea, will try as soon as mine is done.

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RIP Tom: Tom Nolan, ( bikerbeans) passed away this afternoon (02-04-2021).

Why be difficult, when with a little extra effort you can be impossible?

Wife's Handis;  300 BLKOUT

MINE:  270W, 308x444, 44 Bodeen, 410 shorty rifled slug gun, 445 SuperMag Shikari, 45 ACP shorty,  45-70 Shikari, 45 Cal Smokeless MZ, 50cal 24" SS Sidekick, 50 cal 24" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Huntsman, 50 cal 26" Sidekick, 50-70 Govt Shikari, Tracker II 20 ga shorty, 20 ga VR Pardner, 20ga USH, 12ga VR NWTF, 12ga Tracker II shorty WITHOUT scope, 12ga USH, 10 ga  Pardner Smoothbore slug gun & 24ga Profino Custom rifled slug gun.
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