45 ACP & 45-230CM bullet

Cherokee

Medina, Ohio
I've been using the Lee group buy 45-230CM (copy of RCBS) in my 45 Colt for a long time. IIRC some people back then bought it for their 45 ACP use. Today I tried it myself, spurred into action by a question PM'ed to me on the CB forum. Works !! Cast at 234 gr from 2/3/95 alloy (TAL), sized .452 and powered by 4.8 gr 231 @ 1.25 OAL. Feed and function 100% in my AMT Long Slide. Shot one target of 12 from a rest, then the remaining 10 in my own two hands. I think I'll try some more.
45 ACP 230CM #51 - 01.jpg
 

gman

Well-Known Member
Nice job. I’ve had very good results with HS6 for cast in the 45ACP. Not a paper punching target load but accurate. Similar bullet weight to yours.
 

Ian

Notorious member
I haven't met a 230-grain bullet yet that didn't respond well to 4.8 grains of 231. Looks good to me!
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have not tried 231/HP38 in 45 ACP. Might need to change that.
That would mean using a 230 gr bullet instead of a 200 though
 

Ian

Notorious member
231/HP-38 ain't what it used to be as far as consistency of combustion goes (new stuff must be more position sensitive?) but it's still just about the best possible burn rate for .45 ACP and Colt with a 230 grain bullet.
 

Longone

Active Member
Any idea on what year 231 changed?
I still have an 8lb jug from 98' waiting for for it's turn.
 

Cherokee

Medina, Ohio
Ian - I've been using 231 since shortly after it came out. In all those years I have not noticed any change in the results and I'm using powder now that is not more than 3-4 years old.
 

Ian

Notorious member
I have some from the '90s that is the "old" stuff, the flakes are more dull grey. When Hodgdon acquired Winchester powder, 231/HP-38 became exactly the same product, and that's about the time that I noticed the change.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I have a 225gr rnfp mold that would be pretty hard to part with.
it is accurate in the acp and is respectably accurate with colt type loads in the wheel guns.

I doubt you could get my dad to use anything other than 231 in his handgun loads.
I still have some of the old cardboard 8 lb containers kicking around the gun room for garbage cans.
I still recall him looking in the cabinet and seeing red-dot or something else I had in there and going to the gun store to buy more 231 rather than try something else.
his load was 5grs and a 230...... period. not 4.sumthin, not 5.2, not bulls-eye, not a 200.
 

Cherokee

Medina, Ohio
Loaded and shot some more of this load, tried it in the Para 7" long slide I built back in the 80's...shot 2-handed, I think it'll work out OK

45 ACP 230CM #51 in Para #69  01.jpg
 
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