Can I load .451 diameter .45 ACP bullets in .45 LC

[mlehtovaara]

Ok guys anyone doing this. Figure it would save a littel cash and .45 acp bullets are easier to find. I have read that the newer .45 LC are really .452 diameter but looking to see if anyone actually does this without accuracy going to ####.
Thanks
Mark

 

[OneBarfly]

Typical .45 colt bullets are .454" dia. I have shot light 185WC 45ACP out of my Ruger, but was not impressed with the accuracy. The bullets were not keyholing or tumbling, so perhaps I just needed to work up a good load for it, but gave up after trying a couple of combinations. I'd just stick with the intended heavier 45 colt bullets.

 

[t-star]

the ruger blkhwk is a 451 bore- so yes you can- i've done it with the 45colt/45acp convertable- it shoots way low, but there's no reason you can't- however my acp load is a 200 grainer( i get nothing but trouble with the 185's) over 6.0 gr of 231- right at the top end of the acp spectrum- this is a pussycat in the 45 colt- you can also go the other way- 45colt bullets on the 45acp- but they're real mule stompers-

 

[tjhaile]

.451" jacketed bullets for .45 ACP should be OK in .45 Colt. Remember to taper crimp instead of roll crimping, as they generally don't have a crimp groove. Keep in mind that standard cast bullet sizes are typically .001" over the jacketed bullet diameter.

The best lead bullet diameter is whatever fits the chamber throats of your gun with moderate finger pressure. This is often .454" or more, as many .45 Colt guns have oversized chamber mouths. Bullets so sized will tend to provide best accuracy and the least leading due to gas cutting.

 

[.45colt]

Ok guys anyone doing this. Figure it would save a littel cash and .45 acp bullets are easier to find. I have read that the newer .45 LC are really .452 diameter but looking to see if anyone actually does this without accuracy going to s**t.
Thanks
Mark

I have used .451 230 gr 45 ACP bullets with no problem what so ever in my Vaquero.

 

[Short Knife Johnson]

OK. From 1873 to the Second World War, .45 Colt cartridge and chamber specs called for a .454 groove diameter bullet. Post WWII specs were changed to .451" due to the tooling that was in abundance from making .45 ACP barrels for the 1911. I'm sure there would be no problem in using bullets intended for the ACP in a .45 Colt, but you might want to crimp them on the bullets ogive slightly to prevent creep under recoil. That's how the originals were loaded.

 

[Canuck44]

I do all the time. Previous poster nailed the groove dameter issue. 200 gr LSWC work great in my SAA clone. I size my case bullets .452 and they work just fine as they should.

Take Care

Bob