.45ACP reloading

HOSSONE

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
16   0   0
Location
Southern Ontario
Getting ready to reload some .45ACP for the first time and i need some bullets. I am not really clear on the difference of using lead or jacketed bullets? Also what is the best source for bullets?
 
The main difference is different load data for lead, plated or jacketed bullets.

I mainly use 230gr jacketed bullets for regular loads but I also like 230gr lead projectiles for soft target loads using Trail boss powder.

I have several local sources for bullets but you might want to check out Hummason in Ontario or Xreload in Québec as suggested by silverfoxdj.
 
Custom Reloading In Maple Ridge, B.C.
carries the full line or Berry's Bullets
45 x 230 r.n. --$77.00 /500

All other types from 185 to 230 r.n. available.
Take care.
John (curese)--jpar@shaw.ca
 
I often use DRG 200 grain lead SWCs in my .45. They work well and they're less $$$ than plated.
 
We could give you better shopping ideas if you put your city on your profile.

The difference between jacketed, copper plated and lead is cost and accuracy. Lead bullets are the cheapest and the most accurate.

An accurate load with lead bullets involves a small charge of fast powder (700X, Bullseye, Titegroup or 231) at moderate velocity.

I buy DRG brand cast lead bullets for around $31/500.

I shoot lead bullets in all my pistols and have not yet seen a leading problem - even in the Glocks.

When I take the pistol out of the range bag I give it 4 strokes with a bronze brush. Some crap comes out and that is it. Most of my pistols have never seen a wet or dry patch.

In 9mm I found the 135gr RN the most accurate. 3.5gr TG

In 38 Spl I found the 148gr WC the most accurate. 3.4gr TG

In 45 ACP I found the 200 SWC the most accurate. 4.3 TG
 
Cam-Pro bullets are nice- less smoke than cast bullets, and Berry's prices have just skyrocketed thanks to the weak Loonie. That said, I prefer a cast 200gn SWC. Ganderite's loads above should be pleasant to shoot, and as the DRG 200gn SWC is a copy of the H&G 68 bullet (or near enough) it should be as reliable as RN, if not more so. Titegroup is a good powder, and available to boot. VV N-310 is supposed to be good too. I might get some to try next year.

I don't have a lot of love for the 230gn roundnose. Accuracy tends to be worse than the 200 SWC, there's more muzzle rise to contend with, and worst of all- they are more expensive to buy. About the only good thing about them is that they will flatten steel targets with marginal hits (oh the joys of hard set poppers and 9mm lead bullets), but unless you're in the habit of creasing pepper poppers I see little use for them.

Keep an eye on primer sizes, and segregate LP and SP cases. Of the SP cases Blazer Brass is the easiest to reload, as they don't have crimped primers. Winchester NT have a firm crimp that has to be removed prior to reloading.
 
Ganderite's synopsis is wonderfully elegant and concise, but I cannot agree with it.

I would explain it as jackets allow a bullet to be more tolerant of high performance or non-ideal conditions. In particular a jacketed bullet will be much more tolerant of poor bullet to bore fit than will a lead bulle (lead bullets must fit the bore closely, if they are undersized accuracy will suffer and accumulation of metal fouling will be atrocious). A jacketed bullet will be more tolerant of a wide range of peak pressures and burning curves than will a lead bullet (lead bullets are notorious for shooting poorly if accelerated quickly by moderate charges of fast powders, such as using Unique in a .40 S&W.) Jacketed bullets can be pushed faster than lead bullets. Jacketed bullets may be used without lubricant, while lead bullets must have some kind of grease- or wax-based lube.

The primary advantage of lead bullets is that they are more economical and they are easy to customize to work well with a specific gun. But the corollary to that is that the user must have the knowledge and patience to do that customizing, or they may not shoot well at all. In that sense, jacketed bullets are plug-and-play, you just buy some and load them up. Making cast bullets work to their best potential becomes a hobby over and above reloading (which is a hobby over and above guns and shooting).

The production of mass volumes of factory ammunition, suitable to give acceptable performance in guns of wide range of manufacturer and vintage, would be much, much more difficult without jacketed bullets. Though of course, that is not what you are trying to do here. The .45 Auto cartridge is inherently low pressure and low velocity, and is a very friendly round to load cast bullets for. It's a very good place to start learning.
 
We could give you better shopping ideas if you put your city on your profile.

The difference between jacketed, copper plated and lead is cost and accuracy. Lead bullets are the cheapest and the most accurate.

An accurate load with lead bullets involves a small charge of fast powder (700X, Bullseye, Titegroup or 231) at moderate velocity.

I buy DRG brand cast lead bullets for around $31/500.

I shoot lead bullets in all my pistols and have not yet seen a leading problem - even in the Glocks.

When I take the pistol out of the range bag I give it 4 strokes with a bronze brush. Some crap comes out and that is it. Most of my pistols have never seen a wet or dry patch.

In 9mm I found the 135gr RN the most accurate. 3.5gr TG

In 38 Spl I found the 148gr WC the most accurate. 3.4gr TG

In 45 ACP I found the 200 SWC the most accurate. 4.3 TG

DRG projectiles are very good.

The price locally is closer to $65/500 tho...... (At least it was in Nov.)

Cheers!
 
little trick if u want it to shoot relatively clean- make your last round JACKETED- that way it picks up all the lead on the way through- other than that, you really have no justification for jacket bullets in a 45- velocities aren't high enough
 
You might try AIM bullets in Hamilton Ont. Plated bullets made in Canada. Avoids the lead smoke for indoor shooting as some indoor require this type. If you are just starting out and not blasting thousands a year it can cover all forms of shooting. Yes DRGs are good, I use the 200 RNFP intended for 45 colts as the round nose profile feeds well in many 1911 .
 
I have loaded ten of thousands of cast lead bullets throughout the last 30 years. When I do use cast lead bullets because I am a high volume shooter, I always use latex gloves to minimize the effect of elevated blood levels. Something to consider if you are a heavy volume reloader.
 
Back
Top Bottom