I went to MCFG today to work up a pin load for 45ACP using Missouri Bullet Company 250-grain "pinbuster" bullets. I was looking for a load that really clears pins off the table.
I have read on other forums that Power Pistol is the ideal powder for heavy 45ACP loads. Unfortunately, I didn't have any, and I haven't seen it for sale around here. I did not want to put in an order for 8lbs of it either, since I only shoot pins once per month and it would take me forever to use that much powder. Hazmat and shipping make buying smaller quantities online uneconomical.
So, I used what I had on hand, HP-38 (also known as Win 231).
The data appears below. The first load shot really soft for the recorded power factor. The second two loads, not so soft. The third might be a bit too hot for pins, as shot recovery time was increased.
None of the loads showed pressure signs. I believe I could get this load over 900 fps without worry. I’m surprised at the velocity I am able to get with this combo. Standard 45ACP hardball is about 195 power factor. The last load got up to 215PF without difficulties.
Now, the data:
Gun: G21, stock barrel
Cal: 45ACP
Bullet: 250 grain Missouri Bullet lead
Case: Win
OAL: 1.18
Powder: 5.0 grain Win 231 / HP-38
Primer: Win LP
1) 765.6
2) 766.6
3) 772.4
4) 767.3
High: 772.4
Low: 765.6
E.S.: 6.8
Ave.: 768
S.D.: 2.6
95%: 5.5
PF: 192
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Powder: 5.3 grain Win 231 / HP-38
1) 839.7
2) 834.8
3) 841.8
4) 818.6
5) 819.6
High: 841.8
Low: 818.6
E.S.: 23.2
Ave.: 830.9
S.D.: 9.9
95%: 15.4
PF: 207.725
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Powder: 5.65 grain Win 231 / HP-38
1) 853.6
2) 863.6
3) 872.0
4) 861.1
5) 847.2
High: 872
Low: 847.2
E.S.: 24.8
Ave.: 859.5
S.D.: 8.5
95%: 13.2
PF: 214.875
YMMV; test in your own gun, start low and work up!
I have read on other forums that Power Pistol is the ideal powder for heavy 45ACP loads. Unfortunately, I didn't have any, and I haven't seen it for sale around here. I did not want to put in an order for 8lbs of it either, since I only shoot pins once per month and it would take me forever to use that much powder. Hazmat and shipping make buying smaller quantities online uneconomical.
So, I used what I had on hand, HP-38 (also known as Win 231).
The data appears below. The first load shot really soft for the recorded power factor. The second two loads, not so soft. The third might be a bit too hot for pins, as shot recovery time was increased.
None of the loads showed pressure signs. I believe I could get this load over 900 fps without worry. I’m surprised at the velocity I am able to get with this combo. Standard 45ACP hardball is about 195 power factor. The last load got up to 215PF without difficulties.
Now, the data:
Gun: G21, stock barrel
Cal: 45ACP
Bullet: 250 grain Missouri Bullet lead
Case: Win
OAL: 1.18
Powder: 5.0 grain Win 231 / HP-38
Primer: Win LP
1) 765.6
2) 766.6
3) 772.4
4) 767.3
High: 772.4
Low: 765.6
E.S.: 6.8
Ave.: 768
S.D.: 2.6
95%: 5.5
PF: 192
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Powder: 5.3 grain Win 231 / HP-38
1) 839.7
2) 834.8
3) 841.8
4) 818.6
5) 819.6
High: 841.8
Low: 818.6
E.S.: 23.2
Ave.: 830.9
S.D.: 9.9
95%: 15.4
PF: 207.725
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Powder: 5.65 grain Win 231 / HP-38
1) 853.6
2) 863.6
3) 872.0
4) 861.1
5) 847.2
High: 872
Low: 847.2
E.S.: 24.8
Ave.: 859.5
S.D.: 8.5
95%: 13.2
PF: 214.875
YMMV; test in your own gun, start low and work up!
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