Spike12

I'm trying to develop a load for my Para Slim Dawg, .45ACP. Basically a 1911 w/ a 3in barrel. (you can keep all the short jokes )

Today I took it down for cleaning and noticed A LOT of carbon and a fair amount of un-burned powder.

While I shoot some factory, most of my .45 is reloaded with Bullseye and I prefer 185 or 200g bullets (XTPs) in this small/light(er) gun. My goal is to make it one of my carry guns.

I have a speed table from Hodgdon that lists 145 powders by burn rate. Bullseye is #13 and Normal R1 the fastest. Red Dot is #8.

Given the 3in barrel, is there a faster powder I should use or is Bullseye fast enough?

Thanks,
Spike

mikld

Personally, I can't remember load data for powder faster than Red Dot for .45 ACP in any manuals I've read. I doubt if you can get rid of the carbon, but mebbe a slightly higher charge of Bullseye will give a more effecient burn. Personally I'd stay with Bullseye or try W231. Try Google; "Red Dot in 45 ACP". You'll get lots of info...

andybothel

I use W231 in my 45ACP rounds for my SR1911 and happy with it. Granted it has a 5" barrel but I don't see that making much difference.

The gun gets dirty after a while, but don't feel it's dirtier than any other ammo/powder.

I use it for a few reasons:
- I can get it locally
- I use it in all calibers I reload and happy with the results
- It meters great in my Lee Autodisk

terry_p

How tight is your crimp and at 185 gr you may want to go to a heavier bullet. According to the Hornaday manual the only powder faster than Bullseye is VHT N-310. Both Hornaday and Speer list Red Dot as slightly slower than Bullseye. I would stiffen up the crimp and if that doesn't work use a heavier bullet like a 230 gr JHP.

scattershot

I would check another burn rate chart or two. Red Dot is generally slower than Bullseye on just about all the charts I have seen..

Personally, I would use Unique, Bullseye, or 231 in the .45 ACP.

Nick0410

The whole time you were describing the gun, I was thinking Bullseye would be good. Its all I used in my 2.25in SP101 for .38spls

Hornady 8th lists 142 and Bullseye is #2. I would check seating depth also.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...35&bulletid=59

Its not the same bullet but if you're OAL is way off of this, I'm sure you can seat a little deeper

Spike12

Thanks to all of you! Great information...

Quick feedback: I use 185/200g bullets for better control - old hands.

TMan51

I've used Bullseye, Red Dot, Green Dot, and Unique from Hercules/Alliant, and W231 in my 185/200gr cast and jacketed loads in various .45's. They all burn cleanest at the upper end of the pressure range, and that's pretty much true for any powders.

I have a Springfield compact that shoots the best with bullets in the 200gr range, but it has a narrower range of load tolerance for reliable operation than full size .45's I have owned. The shorter the slide, the lower the mass, the more the spring does the work. As you have a 3" barrel on board, you probably have less tolerance for variation, and likely need to work at the upper end of any appropriate powder. The slower powders will produce more velocity and recoil as you hit the point where function is reliable.

My thought is that Bullseye and Red Dot are likely the best Alliant options, W231 is a very good .45 propellant, but it's pretty close to Unique as a power level goes, not the best for low recoil.

TMD

Try some Titegroup.

GaCop

How many times has the brass been reloaded? I run into unburned powder witgh my 44 mag carbine when using brass that is getting old and doesn't hold the bullet tight enough. With old brass, a heavy crimp won't help. Try your same load with new or once fired brass to see if the unburned powder problem is eliminated.

Tom

Dale53

Bullseye is an excellent powder for the 1911 (short or long). However, it IS dirty.

The cleanest powder I have shot in my 1911's and Smith 625's is Hodgdon's Clays (NOT Clays International but plain "CLAYS"). It is faster than Bullseye but burns VERY clean. Use Hodgdon's data for reloading.

Incidentally, the length of the barrel has little to do with clean burning. I have a Kimber 3" CDP Ultra II. I shoot the same loads in it as I do in my 5" barreled 1911's.

All the best,
Dale

RockDoctor

Here's an excellent chart from Hogdons of the burn rate of 145 powders:

Burn Rate