25 and 50 Yard ARX .45 ACP Results

By Joe Berk

I am giving the .45 ACP ARX 118-grain bullets a thorough evaluation in my Springfield 1911.   I’ve been using my Winchester 231 load (7.0 grains, to be precise), and I continue to be impressed with just how accurate these bullets are.

One day recently when I was on the range with the 1911 and my ARX reloads, it was very windy.  I shot at 25 yards, had a decent group, and then two things happened:

• • • I moved the target out to 50 yards, and
    • The wind picked up significantly.

You might call someone who evaluates a load for accuracy under high wind conditions not very bright.  Hey, guilty as charged.  That’s exactly what I was doing.

Under those extremely windy conditions, I was surprised.  The bullets impacted the 50-yard target a foot to the right.  I kept cranking in windage adjustments on the 1911’s rear sight and I still couldn’t get the bullets back on target.

Realizing there had to be more to the story, I went out to test the load again at 25 and 50 yards a few days later when the wind had died down.  It was cold and foggy, but there was no wind.

I put the target at 25 yards and fired 5 rounds with my ARX load.  Nice, I thought, as I looked through my spotting scope.  All five shots were in the 10-ring, and 3 of those were in the X-ring.

I then moved the same target out to 50 yards and fired another five rounds.  Wow, was I ever pleased.  The 50-yard group was right on top of the 25-yard group, with a couple that went a little high (but they were still in the black).

The above results and my experience the preceding week convinced me of three things:

• • • The ARX bullets are probably more affected by wind than conventional bullets at longer ranges (not surprising, as they are half the weight of normal 230-grain hardball bullets),
    • The ARX bullets are exceptionally accurate, and
    • The ARX load is a relatively flat-shooting load (I didn’t have to make any sight adjustments when going from 25 to 50 yards).

I like these ARX bullets, and I like this load.

Next up?  I’ll be evaluating this .45 ACP ARX load in a couple of my revolvers.  That’s going to be interesting.  I promise.

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Prior ExNotes ARX bullet evaluations are here:

Winchester 231 and Alliant Power Pistol .45 ACP ARX Results
Dialing In A .45 ACP ARX Load
9mm and .45 ACP ARX Load Testing
ARX Bullets In Two 9mm Pistols

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