WARNING: These are just a few experiments, do not try these at home. Your results may vary, and could be dangerous. Only follow manufacturer's data, for their projectiles and powder.
Recoil is judged by my own subjectivity. However this is a good guideline becuase my USPSA times reflect better recoil. I tune my loads for recoil first. So the loads listed are the lowest (felt) recoiling out of a stock set up gun, that meet major power factor that I can produce. Accuracy or group size is not given. The test is hitting a 6 by 6 inch square at 50 yards. If the load cannot achieve this, it is not listed. These loads are accurate. If you want to fine tune it from there, be my guest, and please share what you have learned.
Powder |
Charge |
Primer |
Crimp |
Bullet Manufacturer |
Bullet Type |
Bullet Weight |
O.A.L. |
Case Length |
Speed |
| Bullseye | 4.4gr. | CCI LP | .471" | X-Treme | RNP | 230gr. | 1.280" | .888 min .898 max | 717FPS |
Firearm |
Cartridge |
Powder |
Charge |
Primer |
Case |
Crimp |
Bullet Manufacturer |
Bullet Type |
Bullet Weight |
O.A.L. |
Case Length |
Estimated Speed |
| Springfield XD-45 Tactical | .45 ACP | Accurate #7 | 9.9 Grains | CCI Large Pistol Standard Magtech also good. | Starline (Mixed brass is fine) | .472 | Sierra 8805 | Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) | 230 Grains .4515" | 1.21" | .888 min .898 max | 800+ FPS |
| Springfield XD-45 Tactical | .45 ACP | Accurate #7 | 9.9 Grains | CCI Large Pistol Standard | Starline (Mixed brass is fine) | .472 | X-Treme Bullets | Total copper plated Round Nose (CPRN) | 230 Grains .452" | 1.245" | .888 min .898 max | 800+ FPS |
| Springfield XD-45 Tactical | .45 ACP | Accurate #7 | 9.9 Grains | CCI Large Pistol Standard Magtech also good. | Starline (Mixed brass is fine) | .472 | Valiant | Lead Round Nose (LRN) | 230 Grains | 1.245" | .888 min .898 max | 850 FPS |
| Springfield XD-45 Tactical | .45 ACP | Bullseye | 4.6 Grains | CCI Large Pistol Standard | Starline (Mixed brass is fine) | .472 | X-Treme Bullets | Total copper plated Round Nose (CPRN) | 230 Grains .452" | 1.245" | .888 min .898 max | 800+ FPS |
| Springfield XD-45 Tactical | .45 ACP | Accurate #7 | 9.9 Grains | CCI Large Pistol Standard Magtech also good. | Starline (Mixed brass is fine) | .472 | Golden West Bullet | Jacketed round nose (JRN) | 230 Grains .451" | 1.27" | .888 min .898 max | 800+ FPS |
| Springfield XD-45 Tactical | .45 ACP | Accurate #9 | 12.5 Grains | Winchester Large Pistol (LP) | Starline (Mixed brass is fine) | .472 | Berry's MFG | Plated Round Nose (RN) (#00216) | 230 Grains .452" | 1.274" | .889 min .898 max | 800+ FPS |
I try to produce OALs within .001 (+- .0005), with the "first seating" I group each case with others of a similar length, then I go back group by group for the "second seating" to get all my cases to the same length. Do I need to do this? No; but it's good for pride. The XD does not really care too much about case length either. Unless they are REALLY long or REALLY short, if it will chamber, the XD will probably shoot it. This should also be a good time to mention that the XD does not like SWCs. Period. Anything else it doesn't seem to have a problem with.
To put this into perspective I measured, common albeit made-in-the U.S.A, Winchester "White Box" .45 ACP. I sampled 25 out of the box of 100. The maximum OAL I encountered was 1.2715" and the Minimum was 1.257" this gives a spread of 0.0145' or 0.013" to be safe. Divide that by two, and that gives us a +- of .0065" tolerance.
I am experimenting with aerogel semi-powders, to temporaraly raise the pressure. This is not a good idea and I do not recommend it. Don't try any of the information on this page, stick to the recipie given to you in your loading manual. I am also experimenting with titanium dioxide, graphite, and flash and smoke reducers. These can all effect pressure, and tinkering comes at a price.
Another note probably worth mentioning, is that making a cartridge short enough to feed through your magazines and in the chamber is not enough. You must size them so that an unfired cartridge (with a bullet in the case) can also be manually ejected, if you are making combat loads. Otherwise I keep them as long as possible.