45ACP, 185 JHP Loads?

I've used lead 185 & 200 gr. SWC projectiles exclusively of late but found a small stash of Nosler and Hornady 185 gr. JHPs that I would like to try out.  My Lyman manual shows a starting HP-38 load of 3.5 grs.  Any other load suggestions?  I have a good selection of different powders.

I might suggest browsing the sticky for pet loads.

4.2-4,5 BE have given me good results.  

For 231 Winchester had a start load of 5.1 at 760 fps.  The good old “Super Match” 185 JSW was about 770-800 fps.  So I’d start at 4.5 and maybe go as high as 5.5.  If you only have a very few (less than 1000) I’d just load 5.2 231 and go play.

What other powder do you have? BE, Titegroup and VV N310 have worked the best for me.

Vinkemulder wrote:What other powder do you have?   BE, Titegroup and VV N310 have worked the best for me.

I have all of the above and quite a few others.  Looking back at my reloading notes I'm surprised at not loading a 45 ACP, JHP in before.  5.2 grs. of W231 looks good.  I'll give that a try.  I'll probably throw a chronograph on it but what velocity can I expect out of it?

4.4gr of VV N310, WLP, 1.20" OAL Works very well

A very esteemed shooter and highly regarded pIstolsmith/builder told me in late 2019 to save my 185 Jacketed projectiles for matches and shoot the 180/185 from Magnus and/or Brazos.

I was loading 4.2 VV N310 which is close to 4.3/.4 Bullseye.  Did quite well.

He told me his pet loads for the cast SWC 180/185 was VV N310 > 4.0 or Bullseye > 4.1.

I burned up over 2K of these with great results.  That is, they were much better than my skill and the folks that shot my BE SA ROO by said Pistolsmith sure liked them....and drooled over his work.

Hope this helps....I could not see much difference, if any, in the POI of the Jacketed vs cast SWC...@ 25 yards.  I ain’t up to 50, yet

I have had very good results using 4.7 to 4.9 WST with 185 JHP in 45ACP

I think 5.2 W231 is the magic load for 200gn swc. 4.6 was stupid accurate for me and soft. However i4.6 was filthy dirty and unreliable. I would start at 5.2 and work up.

4.2 N310

Hello,

Alliant Bullseye = 4.5 grains
Hodgdon CLAYS = 4.2 grains
Vihta Vuori N310 = 4.2 grains
Winchester WST = 4.7 grains
Hodgdon 700X = 4.8 grains

Jim

The original formula for VV310 was 4.2 gr.  with Nosler 185 at about 1.20 OAL.  
Based on my experience with production lots of VV310 newer than about 2010 or so you might want start there and even go up to 4.4 gr.  
4.4 gr along with WLP primers (which are for standard and mag loads) seems to reduce the low temperature sensitivity as well. 

CR

All interesting loads but I'm surprised VihtaVuori N320 wasn't mentioned.  I just opened up the Nosler box and a chart showing 5.2 - 6.2 N320 loads were included.

I tried it for 45acp and it was ok not great.

beeser wrote:All interesting loads but I'm surprised VihtaVuori N320 wasn't mentioned.  I just opened up the Nosler box and a chart showing 5.2 - 6.2 N320 loads were included.

From my experience VV320 while billed as a W231 replacement it is not. I got great accuracy in 38 special 158 swc but I got pressure signs at 3.5gn and dirty burns. In 45 acp I found the powder inconsistent, harsher than W231 and very temperature sensitive even when compared to V310 and WST.  

From what I hear their better mid range powder is VV340 which may be a little hot for BE. 

Aside it being filthy dirty for Lead SWC, W231 is an excellent do all powder and soft shooting too. I shot a 10x 2 times years ago and both times were with W231 and a 200gn SWC, I think I was using 4.8gn at the time and it smoked like a steam ship. 

I think WST is better than W231 for lead and at 5.2 gn or more W231 should burn clean. 

My go to load for JHP is either 4.6 BE or VV310 and 4.5 WST. 4,2 is good if you plan on shooting them for the short line too. 

However, if you are not married to JHP heads I would try 3.9 WST and 200GN SWC out my guns that load has always shot nearly as good as JHP's if not better from a bench rest at 50 yards. The last time I did that I got a 1 5/8 group with JHPs and 1 1/2 with SWC Kart Barrel , KC Crawford Wad Gun.