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HankB wrote:

Jumping Frog wrote: I've always heard when you get much below 700 fps you are risking getting a bullet stuck in the barrel.

The 3.5 Bullseye / 200 LSWC load clocks about 630 - 650 out of a 5" 1911 - I've fired thousands of rounds of this with nary a problem.

Yeah, there is more leeway with lead. Jacketed creates more resistance against the rifling and at 630 would be a far larger risk.

A-R wrote:(but perhaps I was ignorantly taking risks).

Yep.

A-R wrote:But they were out of Titegroup so the helpful sales guy steered me toward Bullseye.

a) shoot a bit cleaner - Bullseye is not horrible dirty like Monarch or Wolf ammo, but I'd say it is probably on par with WWB - ultimately would like something a bit cleaner if possible

b) meter a bit better - of course, this could be a slight problem with either my RCBS powder measure, RCBS 5-0-5 scale, or just that I'm a bit to anal retentive with such things. But I did notice some slight variations in powder throw when I checked every 5-10 throws as recommended (and it usually varied upward - meaning if I started with everything checked, rechecked, and triple checked at 4.6 grains - it would inch up to 4.7 or even 4.8 grains after about 10 throws.

Am I being TOO particular about it?

I wouldn't sweat a variation of 0.1-0.2 gr. I don't notice any difference in accuracy with that kind of variation.

Clays is cheap like Bullseye, but burns cleaner. It doesn't measure as easily as Bullseye. It measures close enough for me.

A-R wrote:But how low can you get a 230 gr. .45? SSP pf is 125,000 = 230 x 545 ... probably too low, but what's a good muzzle velocity to aim for in a consistent .45 load (600? 625? 650?)

I've always heard when you get much below 700 fps you are risking getting a bullet stuck in the barrel.

One of the properties I like about reloading .45 ACP is that it is a very forgiving cartridge with relatively low pressure levels, and here are a LOT of powders that will work.

I did an analysis in Jan 2010, where I looked at powder cost per hundred rounds for 200 gr LSWC bullets. Powder prices were as of that date at Powder Valley, Inc., and reflect the largest size cannister sold (4#, 5# or 8#).

Sorted from least expensive to most expensive. These cost calculations assume MAXIMUM published loads for powder charge/round (most expensive case scenario).

Cost/100 = $0.77 Alliant Red Dot ---> 4.5 grains; 831 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.79 Alliant Bullseye ---> 4.6 grains; 807 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.80 Ramshot Competition ---> 4.3 grains; 896 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.83 Hodgdon Clays ---> 4.3 grains; 888 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.93 Alliant Unique ---> 5.4 grains; 790 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.98 IMR 700-X ---> 5.3 grains; 921 fps.
Cost/100 = $0.99 Accurate S1000 ---> 5.3 grains; 952 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.00 Hodgdon Titegroup ---> 5.4 grains; 957 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.05 Winchester WST ---> 5.1 grains; 910 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.08 Hodgdon HP-38 ---> 5.6 grains; 914 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.09 Accurate No.2 ---> 5.8 grains; 939 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.16 Winchester 231 ---> 5.6 grains; 914 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.28 Hodgdon Universal ---> 6.3 grains; 962 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.29 Vihtavuori N310 ---> 4 grains; 892 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.31 Ramshot ZIP ---> 6.2 grains; 997 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.34 IMR Trail Boss ---> 5.5 grains; 816 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.38 Winchester WSF ---> 6.7 grains; 970 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.45 IMR PB ---> 5.7 grains; 915 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.46 IMR 800-X ---> 7.7 grains; 958 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.49 Winchester AutoComp ---> 7.2 grains; 914 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.64 Vihtavuori N320 ---> 5.1 grains; 958 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.65 Ramshot True Blue ---> 7.8 grains; 990 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.78 Ramshot Silhouette ---> 8.4 grains; 1071 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.78 IMR SR 7625 ---> 6.9 grains; 952 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.79 IMR SR 4756 ---> 8.2 grains; 966 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.80 Accurate No.5 ---> 8.7 grains; 1025 fps.
Cost/100 = $1.87 Hodgdon HS-6 ---> 8.4 grains; 907 fps.
Cost/100 = $2.12 Vihtavuori N340 ---> 6.6 grains; 1039 fps.
Cost/100 = $2.38 Accurate No.7 ---> 11.5 grains; 1022 fps.

I've used a lot of Clays, since it burns much cleaner than Bullseye, but it does not meter as well as Bullseye. I've got about 7 lbs. of Clays left right now.

I have had a really good experience with every Ramshot powder I have tried, so I'll probably try some Ramshot Competition in the future (I really like both True Blue and Zip). My least favorite powder was AA No. 7. Noticeably sharper recoil and more than twice as expensive.