
Instructions for Loading the .45 ACP Shotshell

     Complete instructions for reloading the .45 ACP shotshell
appeared in American Rifleman, April, 1976 p.20.  This article was
reprinted in the NRA reprint on The .45 Automatic, which may be
obtained from NRA Books.
     To briefly summarize the article, cases should be made from
.308 Winchester or 7.62 NATO cases, using the RCBS trim die
provided in the die set.  Use of .30-'06 cases or others which have
a narrrower extraction groove may cause extractor breakage, and is
not recommended.  Cases should NOT be annealed because the
extractor will tear through the rim, due to the mouth obturating
into the rifling upon firing.
     The correct powder charge is 6.2 grs. of Olin W-W231.  I do
not recommend any changes to the powder charge other than minor
adjustments in the order of +/- 0.2 grain to obtain reliable
functioning.  No other powders are recommended.
     The correct wad is the Remington SP410 shot cup used for 1/2
oz. .410 bore skeet loads.  No other wad may be substituted.  Seat
the wad firmly over the powder charge using a dowel and a few light
blows with a plastic mallet, then trim the wad off flush with the
case mouth using a sharp knife.  A shot charge of 105 +/- 5 grains
of No.8 or #9 shot should be measured with a Lee No.065 dipper.
The Lee dipper numbering system has been changed since the article
originally appeared, so you may have to improvise a measure to
throw the correct amount of shot.
     The top wad is a 7/32 or 10mm disk cut from .005" thick
acetate plastic "sheet protectors" from an office suppy store.   You can use an
Osborne punch from the hardware store or make your own
punch.  The plastic top wad should be sealed with lacquer. Velocity is  about
1200 fps in the M1911A1 pistol.  Typical patterns are 70% in a  15" circle at
25 feet, with an average of 10 pellets in a 5" diameter  target, simulating a
small game animal.  This is the maximum effective  range for this shothell on
snakes or small game.
     For defense use larger shot up, such as 28 pieces of No.4, may
be used, and a single piece of 00 buckshot crimped in the case
mouth in place of the top wad.  The buckshot does not impair the
shot pattern, but will string out ahead of it.  The single buckshot
will hit within 8" of point of aim at 25 feet and #4 shot will
penetrate a 3/4" pine board at this distance.
     The shot load, when correctly prepared, will function the  Government
Model pistol semi-automatically, so that a shotload can be  carried in the
chamber, with service loads in the magazine, and the  pistol fired immediately
in an emergency without having to extract the  shotload. You should, of course,
fire enough of these loads in your  own pistol to ensure they function
reliably, as with any handload.

