in 45acp 5.3 gns with mag primers would be fine i use 5.5 gns with cci large pistol good for around 850 fps with a 230 pill.out of my springfield mil spec.

 

Magnum primers in your .45acp should not make a major difference. I use WLP primers, which are advertised as being for "Standard and Magnum" loads. If you are planning on staying around 800fps you might drop a tenth of a grain from the recommended charge just to be on the safe side. Winchester doesn't show 244 with anything heavier than 200gr. So, if it were me, I'd load some 185gr or 200gr cast bullets. Starting loads for both are in the mid to upper 800fps range. The 244 might run a bit faster than your intended goal, but you should be fine IMO.

Grumpy

 

Winchester doesn't show 244 with anything heavier than 200gr.

Where did you look? The Win page has lots of data.



@snuby642 The page here has Data from 118gr to 230 and everything in between, lead and jacketed. Just select pistol then 45acp

Winchester WinClean® 244™

Winchester WinClean 244 is a ball powder developed for medium handgun loads. It is ideally suited to 38 Special, 45 Auto, and 9mm standard loads. Consistency, low flash, and a broad range of applications make this powder a choice for any handgun cartridge loader. Since it is a ball powder, it...

hodgdonreloading.com

 

So hogden shows 230g loads with modest fps.

Seems backing off 2-3 tenths for the magnum primers is prudent. Glad it's not forbidden juju.

Fairly confident since at the moment just a range toy. It would need new springs and way more range time before trusted.

I also need to reload way more 45 acp rounds before trusting in them.

My son approached me for 357 carry loads headed for bear country. A week out. Hard no on my part not enough time to test / perfect.

Sadly I realise my reasonable limmits.

By the way not that it will he utilized on his trip but what would constitut a viable 45 acp bear round ?

 

Meanwhile back at the ranch.
I opened 3 reloading manuals and was not happy to find W244 missing ? Darn

Plenty of W231loads which I could have gotten . Oh oh

Then I checked and W244 came out in 2018 . My books printed just prior to that.

I had used the Hodgdon site for the reference to select it in the first place.
Pretty confident with thier data and quality.

Almost all powder I use is from Hodgdon.

Can't wait to load some of this up, the reviews are favorable.

As always thanks for the help gentlemen.

 

IMHO 45ACP is not a viable bear defense round. It's better than nothing, but there are much better choices such as 10mm.
With magnum primers in traditionally non magnum pistol rounds, you're likely to see higher velocities dependent on the powder.
I tested this in 45ACP with 230gr RN plated, WSF and Longshot powders. WSF was more effected than Longshot, but both were higher velocity with LPM versus SP, SPM and LP primers.

 

Don't use a magnum primer with Unique, it produces very high pressure even with what should be a mild load!

 

I've been using Winchester Standard/Magnum primers with Unique powder for over 20 years and never had pressure problems.

 

Let us know how the 244 runs as far as the “clean” factor goes. It’s supposed to just be a clean version of 231. Wouldn’t mind getting some, but at this point I can’t justify it. Gotta dig out from under all the 231 and HP38. Then again, once the dope is out of office and prices come down, I might store some in my neighbors garage!

 

Got half my run of 45 acp brass sized on the Lee app. It runs that function and swaging just fine.

Will cut out 50 for a run with the W 244 and set the powder drum.

My son the " pistolaro " has not yet shot tha last small rifle primer / cfe test yet. It will be a better accuracy indicator than I can provide.

 

.45 ACP is not a good Bear round.
Period.

 

Here's a video where they tested different small primers in 9mm for velocity and pressure differences. They found hardly any difference in pressure and velocity.

Are Small Pistol Magnum & Small Rifle Primers Safe in 9mm? - YouTube

 

Last year I tested standard SPP’s against SPP’s Magnums and found virtually no difference. When I tested standard LPP’s against Magnum LPP‘s I found about a 25 FPS difference. Of course my powder and primer brands were different.

I did some ladder tests building up to my standard loads first with the chrono and checking for any pressure issues.

 

I loaded some 41 mag with a mild load of unique and magnum primers. I had to drive the cases out of the cylinder with a steel rod, flattened primers etc. I dismantled the rest of those loads and double checked the powder charge , no mistakes. Actually I was told here on this forum that magnum primers and unique don't play well together. Sure didn't for me

 

I use the Winchester 244 powder in .45ACP, .38Sp, and 9mm, all with loads in the mid-range of what the Hodgdon website lists for charge. It works like a champ. I cannot speak to magnum primers, as I've never tried them.