155g .45 ACP?

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Veovius

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I was looking at Wolf Bullet's website and noticed that he had some 155g lead bullets for .45. I don't reload, but a friend reloads for me for my 1911 so I can shoot the club matches. I'm currently using a 200g SWC. How do you think a 155g would compare? I'd just have to make minor power factor with those, so power isn't much of an issue.
 
Though making power factor is not an issue for you, making your 1911 cycle might be. In order to get my 1911 to cycle reliably with 185gr jswc bullets I'm running with MV in the 960-970 f/s range. Be prepared to use more powder.
 
The pistol may need for it to be throated to accept that short of a bullet, also the mags tuned for them too.

The 185's are problematic for most.

Stay with the 200's or 230's only.
 
I Have used 155, 175 and 200 grains SWC... when I was buying them I was shooting 175 because they where the cheapest... now that I am casting my own I shoot the 200 grains they work flawlessly in 3 1911's I have tested... I dont think you will need special springs or modifying the gun just load them up to the normal levels you'll be find at least I was when testing...

If your shooting them from a compensated gun you might not want to try the lighter bullets as they might not operate the gun correctly without lighter springs and hot loads.
 
No compenssator, just a stock para single stack. Are the 155gs shorter? I wasn't sure how they shaved the weight off. Any idea how they might affect recoil?
 
Veovius said:
No compenssator, just a stock para single stack. Are the 155gs shorter? I wasn't sure how they shaved the weight off. Any idea how they might affect recoil?
Click to expand...

Well, hollowed out bullets would be very costly to produce and probably not very accurate. That leaves just one other option, ... a shorter bullet.

Short bullets are nothing new. Wadcutters have been around for a long time.
 
recoil will be lighter, they look shorter but in reality when loaded they all look identical.. the additional weight is added below the lube grove... all depends what mold they came from these are some examples 155 175 200

19-45-SWC-BB-155gr-lg.jpg

20-45-SWC-BB-175gr-lg.jpg

21-45-SWC-BB-200gr-lg.jpg


Here are some of my own cast and loaded up
P1010158-3.jpg
 
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155 loks just like those on pictures above, as you can see weight is saved by making nose cone so thin and shoulder way too abrupt. Loaded by the book they do not affect cycling but still jam because of such rough shape. Accuracy was also so-so making me steering away from 155grainers.

My fav load is 175 grainers SWC lead cast bullets over Universal powder. Cycle well and recoil is negligible, doesn't pound the sheat out of my accurized 1911 like factory 230-grainers FMJ ammo does.
 
Your pistol will need to be set up to shoot those wee SWC bullets. Throated(extending the feed ramp about half way up the sides of the chamber) and a lighter spring.
"...Are the 155gs shorter?..." Yep. It's the only way to get a lighter bullet of the same diameter.
 
I set my COL at just a tad over 1.20" with the 185's and they seem to feed ok. From the above pics it looks like the 155's would seat to the same COL.
 
Before you go customizing the pistol you could try what HKMark mentioned above seat the bullets out a bit further you dont want the sholder of the bullet and the end of the case flush the sholder of the bullet should be up a bit from the edge of the case... this will eliminate 90% of feeding issues at least it did when I was playing with them.
 
I use the Magma Star Sizer its regarded as one of the best in the industry... It set me back about 1000 dollars or more fully kitted up... to do a few different calibers... there equiptment is top notch... sshhh dont tell anyone but I bought one of there casting machines... as I am going to switch to makeing more of the bullets I sell instead of relying on the states.

The lube is lyman gold lube... its worth the money... I use it for 45 40 and 44 and get no leading in the barrel is great stuff...

Last night I was out shooting my own cast and reloaded bullets... the first box all 50 shots touched each other at 7 yards, rapid fire, slow and precise, double taps, from behind barracades etc... all those differnt methods of fireing and they group all 50 shots under 3"... thats as good as many other cast bullets I have used ot compare the quatliy and accuracy of mine.

You can go and shoot 200 for the price of a box of 50 FMJ its win win for everyone !
 
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I have fired a couple thousand 155s out of my STI 2011 for both club and ISL matches here on the Island. I load to 135 power factor and use a 14 lbs recoil spring. No problem making the COL 1.20" and I can't remember ever having a FTF. At minor power factors they are joy to shoot and recoil less than a factory 9mm load.
 
Lone Wolf 21Tactical Slide.

I purposely purchased a Lone Wolf tactical slide and barrel for my G21. It consists of a longer S/S steel conventional lands & grooves barrel housed in a LW top end. I bought it to specifically fire the 150/152/160 grain light 45acp cast lead bullets.
Had some very good sucess with 5.3grains of ClayDot with a 150 grainer. Am about to try a 160 grain 45Colt bullet sized to .452 with 7.4grains of WW231. Using that much 231 is a complete waste of course, but I got a pound for free. Would rather use Aliant's Claydot. Its more efficient and a whole lot cheaper.
 
you will find that the gun will have more "twist" to it as you will have to load to a higher velocity to make major. you would load a 230 grain bullet in the 760 to 800 foot range but with a 155 you would load it in the 1130 to 1170 range.
 
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