45 ACP and heavy hardball

tvd

tvd

Member
Rating - 100%
6   0   0
Location
Badford
Greetings fellow CGNers,

I am not sure if this has been discussed, a search of the board revealed nothing, but what stops me from loading cast lead bullets that are heavier than normally loaded in a cartridge.

Specifically, I want to try to load .45 Acp with a 250 Gr RN lead bullet. No particular reason other than I have some extra 250 Gr RN lead and no 45 colt brass nor gun to load it nor shoot it from.

Has anyone tried this? Thoughts? Will it be accurate? Dangerous? Just plain stupid?

TvD
 
heavy 45 bullets

I may be mistaken but I believe 45 ACP bullets are usually .451-.452" while 45 Colt bullets run .454". If this is the case you may cause a pressure problem if the rounds are loaded hot.
 
willwagspal:

thanks for the idea, I thought of that but you have prompted me enough to actually measure them...going to mike the bullets and see if they fall near the .452"

d.bala :

what do you use as a powder charge? have you chronied them?

Thanks to you both for the info!!

TvD
 
45 bullets

you could just run them through a sizing die if they're a few thou too big. Run you maybe $15
Click to expand...

Yes, sizing .454" down to .451-.452" should cause no real problems in terms of deformation, etc.
 
.45 acp heavy loads

A recent Handloader magazine had an article on loading heavy bullets in the .45 acp. Now where did I put that!

Outdoors
 
Modern .45 Colt bullets are .452 v .451 for .45 ACP. One 1/1000 won't result in dangerous pressures, the difficulty comes when seated in .45 ACP brass the outside diameter may cause chambering problems in a tight (match) chamber. Also 45 Colt bullets (factory) are much softer than aftermarket cast lead and will swage down easier with less pressure. If the bullets will chamber O K they will be fine to use.
Early 45 Colt bullets (pre 1900) were larger, .454-.456, but the factories standarized on .451 to .452 later. If there are chambering problems, size them to .451.
Another problem I found is that the heavier bullets are longer than 45 ACP and extend deeper in the case to keep overall length within specs to work through magazines. When deep seated they will bulge the case, as the 45 ACP case wall is sharply tapered inside. This bulge will cause chambering problems. I did at one time load 260gr soft lead 45 Colt for my 1911 Colt and found the loaded rounds had to be run through a taper crimp die to reliably chamber. Where there is a will, there is a way.
 
Heavy Bullets in 45 ACP

Accuracy was O K, but not as good as H & G 68 200gr, either target load, 4.2 gr Bullseye, or IPSC major power, my favourite was 5 grs Bullseye.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom